Dubai’s Muraba Veil by RCR Arquitectes Offers Serenity Above the City

Amidst the hyperbolic skyline of Dubai, a new tower is set to rise. The Muraba Veil is a four-cornered, 380-metre long skyscraper designed by RCR Arquitectes. The Spanish 2017 Pritzker Prize Laureates drew the plans for the skyscraper on behalf of Dubai-based Muraba Residence, marking their fifth collaboration. 

Measuring only 22.5 metres in width - the width of a single apartment - the 73-storey building houses 131 units, with options from two to five bedrooms. Designed as a sanctuary hovering above the city, the Muraba Veil is located along the canal and adjacent to Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s main transport artery. 

Draped with a ‘veil’ like structure, from which the tower takes its name, this pale gold stainless steel mesh covers the facade from top to bottom. Functioning like a modern mashrabiya, it provides both privacy and shade, reducing the building’s overall energy consumption while blending seamlessly with its surroundings. 

The veil’s porous and reflective qualities allow natural light to filter through, elegantly illuminating the residences. At the same time, the reflective surfaces mirror the surroundings, giving the tower a visually light, almost dematerialised, appearance. 

Inspired by the traditional Arabian house, where nature and living are interwoven, the Muraba Veil offers security and refuge, as well as a close relationship with nature through futuristic innovation. The interior, featuring double-height ceilings and nature-inspired tones, unfolds in layers softened by shade and greenery, leading to the inner courtyard - the cool, social and inviting heart of the home.

Beneath a towering, dune-inspired structure at the base of the structure lies a sprawling subterranean wellness club. The space features a range of experiential pools, treatment rooms, a gym, along with a restaurant and an amphitheatre. This immersive experience extends beyond the expansive rooms and terraces of the individual residences, seamlessly integrating with the Veil's otherworldly environment.

Photography Credit: Muraba