Meet Yahya Jan, the architect behind the world’s tallest hotel, Ciel Dubai Marina

When you gaze at the Dubai skyline, you’re likely admiring the remarkable work of Yahya Jan.

As the president and design director of the renowned architecture and engineering firm NORR, Jan has been the mastermind behind some of Dubai’s most iconic structures, including the Atlantis and Shangri-La Hotels.

Currently, he’s working on one of his most ambitious projects. Slated for completion by the end of 2024, Ciel Dubai Marina (formerly Ciel Tower) will feature over 1,000 rooms and suites across 82 floors, soaring to 1,200 feet (365 meters), and will soon claim the title of the world’s tallest hotel.

A passion project

For the project, Jan was given the challenge of designing a skyscraper on a triangular plot of land in Dubai Marina, covering just 2,500 square meters—an incredibly tight space for a building of such height.

“It’s a very compact site,” Jan explained to Dinogo in 2021. “It’s the kind of challenge you’d encounter in places like Manhattan or London. The constraints were immense, but we had to find a way to make it work.”

A glass observation deck will provide panoramic views of the city, coastline, and iconic landmarks such as the Palm Jumeirah man-made island. Additionally, visitors will be able to enjoy the sights from a rooftop pool and a selection of restaurants, according to the developer, The First Group.

In addition to engaging the senses, the project is highly energy-efficient, utilizing 25% less power for air conditioning compared to typical buildings of its size, according to Jan.

“This project is more than just architecture. It’s the seamless integration of architecture and engineering,” Jan explained. “That’s what excites me about it—the fusion of science and art. It’s my passion.”

Throughout the construction process, Jan has remained “extremely hands-on.” “With a complex project like Ciel, you can never relax, you can never declare it complete,” he said. “It’s an ongoing journey.”

An extended stay

When Jan arrived in Dubai in 1996, he never imagined he would go on to leave such a lasting mark, designing some of the city’s most recognizable office buildings, residential towers, and shopping malls.

Jan was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, and moved to the United States at the age of 18 on a scholarship. After earning a degree in structural engineering from Princeton, he pursued a Master's in architecture. He then spent nine years working in the US, with no plans to leave, until he was offered a position as a senior designer on the Emirates Towers office and hotel project in Dubai.

Now 61, Jan reflects that he never intended to stay in the UAE for so long. Having spent 28 years in Dubai, he admits, “I got swept up in the excitement here.”

As for Ciel Dubai Marina, named after the French word for 'sky,' Jan hopes it will become a timeless architectural icon, much like the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building in New York City.

“I’m drawn to the name Ciel because, for me, the sky represents boundless possibilities,” Jan shared. “This has been true in my own journey—I've had opportunities to grow and accomplish things I never thought possible. It’s been an amazing experience.”