A joint venture between Drake & Scull International (DSI) and the Dubai-based developer Omniyat has begun work on a $544m residential scheme called "One at Palm Jumeirah".
The 25-storey tower, which is located on the "trunk" of the Palm Jumeirah resort in Dubai, will contain 90 apartments ranging in size from 2,500 to 20,000 square feet.Â
The tower will have indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a cinema, a cigar lounge, a "super luxury" spa and a yacht club.
Khaldoun Al Tabari, the chief executive of DSI, said: "One at Palm Jumeirah is specially crafted for the most privileged of the privileged few."
Mahdi Amjad, the chief executive of Omniyat, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to break ground today on what will be, in the near future, one of the finest residential developments anywhere in the world."Â
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2017.
Meanwhile, developer Nakheel has awarded Dubai-based contractor Overseas AST a $40m deal to build an 11km boardwalk along the Palm. The aim is to attract more visitors to the artificial island by creating an esplanade lined with kiosks selling snacks and souvenirs.
There will also be two piers stretching 100m out to sea at either end of the crescent which will include cafes and restaurants.
In January Nakheel said it had named engineer Halcrow as design consultant for the boardwalk. Construction is due to start before the end of the year and is expected to be completed in 2016.
