The Aeternitas Tower will be the world’s tallest residential clock tower at a staggering 450 meters (1,476 feet) tall — more than four times the height of London’s Big Ben, and just 22 meters (72 feet) short of the world’s tallest residential building, the Central Park Tower in New York City.
Set to become the world’s second-tallest clock tower (after the Makkah Clock Royal Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia), Aeternitas Tower is the result of a partnership between Dubai-based real estate developer London Gate and Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Franck Muller.
London Gate purchased the plot of land in Dubai Marina, which already had the beginnings of an unfinished 106-story structure — and knew that the tower’s monumental size needed a striking facade, said Tom Hill, media relations coordinator for the developer.
The clock will be seen from six kilometers away because of the sheer height of the building and the clock face will be an enormous 40 meters (131 feet) tall and 30 meters (98 feet) wide.
The Franck Muller Aeternitas Tower in Dubai, in partnership with property developer London Gate, will be the world's tallest residential clocktower. Render provided by London Gate. At 450 meters (1,476 feet) tall, the residences will tower over the neighboring skyscrapers in Dubai Marina and will replace Marina 101 as the city's second-tallest building. London Gate
The residential tower comprises 649 units, with a mix of one- to three-bedroom apartments, in addition to villa and mansion duplexes. With housekeeping, a concierge service, and a 24-hour valet and porter, residents will have access to hotel-like services and facilities, but with the privacy and comfort of home. Its shared amenities range from health facilities, including a gym, padel court, spa, yoga studio, and swimming pool, to arts and culture spaces such as a cinema, music room, and library.
Yet-to-be-built Dubai penthouse sells for record $136 million. The project will be handed over to residents in 2027, according to London Gate.
The tower’s name means “eternity” in Latin, and is inspired by the Franck Muller Aeternitas watch collection — one of the brand’s most complex designs which features an “eternal calendar,” said Erol Baliyan, managing director of Franck Muller in the Middle East and Africa.
The Franck Muller Aeternitas Tower in Dubai, in partnership with property developer London Gate, will be the world's tallest residential clocktower. Render provided by London Gate.
The Aeternitas Tower will have amenities for residents such as gym, yoga studio, cinema, and swimming pool, pictured in this digital rendering. London Gate. The Swiss watchmaker sees its step into real estate as a move that will help create a monument that “mirrors the brand’s innovation, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance,” said Baliyan.
Aside from the striking clock face (inspired by Franck Muller’s art deco-style Long Island Collection, which has irregular squashed and stretched numbers in a rectangular case), the watchmaker will infuse its design ethos throughout the residence, said Baliyan. He highlights luxury materials like brushed and polished metals, that will be contrasted with marble surfaces, textured fabrics and bold colors. Meanwhile, in the lobby and reception, the signature oblong face of the brand’s Curvex watch is represented with curved walls, archways, and oval furnishings.
