UAE gets world's furthest leaning manmade tower

A tower in Abu Dhabi has been certified as the world's 'furthest leaning manmade tower' by the Guinness World Records, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company has said.

The 160-metre Capital Gate tower, developed by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company, leans at 18 degrees -- over four times the angle of Italy's famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, the company said in a statement.

It said that the tower earned the recognition after rigorous evaluation by the Awards Committee since January, when the exterior of the 160-metre, 35-storey tower was completed.

"Capital Gate is a landmark development for Abu Dhabi and with this recognition the tower takes its place among the world's great buildings", ADNEC's chairman Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan was quoted in the statement as saying.

Capital Gate's floor plates are stacked vertically up to the 12th storey after which, they are staggered over each other giving rise to the towers dramatic lean.

The tower features other innovative construction techniques including the world's first known use of a 'pre-cambered' core, which contains more than 15,000 cubic metres of concrete reinforced with 10,000 tons of steel.

When fully complete by the end of this year, Capital Gate will house the five star Hyatt Capital Gate hotel as well as approximately 20,000sqm of premium office space.

"Capital Gate has been a true design-and-build project from the very start.

"There have been numerous challenges, which I am pleased to say we have surmounted thanks to a structured partnering programme and the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.

"Both ADNEC and our partners have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to create an iconic structure which is not only distinctive in appearance but also extremely functional," said Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, ADNEC's managing director.

UAE is home to another world record building, the 828-metre Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is the tallest building in the world.

Image: Capital Gate tower, Abu Dhabi