Dubai has once again broken records with the opening of the One Za’abeel twin skyscrapers, now home to the world’s longest cantilever building, adorned with the UAE’s longest suspended infinity pool, stretching an impressive 120 meters (393 feet). This architectural marvel, known as “The Link,” extends 67.5 meters (221 feet) over the city, connecting the luxury development’s two towers.
Fadi Jabri, CEO of Nikken Sekkei Dubai, the architecture firm behind the project, describes The Link as a “levitating” engineering marvel that provides space for shared facilities and lifestyle amenities. The necessity for such a structure arose from the site being divided by a six-lane highway, making ground-level development unfeasible. This challenge led to the innovative overhead connection between the towers and a shopping mall beneath the roadway.
The cantilever, 25 meters (82 feet) high and wide, contains three floors and serves as a key attraction for hotel guests and residents of the One&Only Za’abeel resort. Badr Benryane, the resort’s director of food and beverage, highlights The Link as a vital recreational space, offering a futuristic boulevard with diverse dining experiences across its eight restaurants.
Among the highlights is the suspended infinity pool, offering guests the sensation of swimming among the clouds with panoramic views of the city. Temperature-controlled and featuring underwater speakers, the pool is accessible to hotel guests and residents, with day passes available starting from 1,000 dirhams ($272).