The Middle East's Leaning Tower

Beneath the clear blue sky, the shimmering glass structure of Capital Gate catches the sunlight, while the bustling lobby sees people coming and going.

High above, barely visible, window cleaners – suspended by ropes and harnesses – carefully polish each of Capital Gate’s 728 unique glass panels, custom-crafted to match the building’s distinctive tilt.

These daring 'cliffhangers' are seen daily cleaning the building's diamond-shaped windows. A dedicated team of 12 workers completes two rounds around Capital Gate every month.

Referring to the 35-story Abu Dhabi structure as just a skyscraper misses its essence. The vision given to engineers and architects was not about height but about defying architectural conventions to create a building that would put Abu Dhabi on the global map,” explains Ahmed Al Mansoori, Lead Engineer for Capital Gate and Director of Engineering at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.

Nearly a decade later, Capital Gate still holds the title of the world’s ‘most tilted man-made structure,’ according to Guinness World Records. The building leans 18 degrees westward – about five times the angle of the Leaning Tower of Pisa – with the top 17 floors ‘hanging over,’ creating immense pressure on the core of the building, says Al Mansoori.

‘Nature wants to see it collapse. Every aspect of the tower is designed to make it fall, yet it’s engineered to stand strong,’ Al Mansoori explains.

A groundbreaking achievement.

The immense gravitational force from the 18-degree tilt is balanced by the world’s first ‘pre-cambered core,’ which consists of 15,000 cubic meters of concrete reinforced with 10,000 tons of steel.

This core was intentionally built off-center, but as the building rose, it straightened, compressing the concrete and gaining strength, while moving into a vertical position as each floor was added.

Capital Gate is held steady by 490 piles, which are drilled more than 30 meters deep. ‘We created two different sections of piling, one deeper than the other. The opposing forces they create help keep the building stable,’ says Al Mansoori.

The building houses 15 floors of office space, four restaurants and bars, and the Andaz Capital Gate hotel. In addition to nearly 200 rooms, the hotel features a luxurious Presidential Suite on the 33rd floor, directly aligned with the dramatic 18-degree tilt.

‘Due to the building’s unique shape, no two hotel rooms are the same,’ says Andaz employee Julia Gimadyeva.

The view from the hotel’s upper floors is simply spectacular.

The Andaz hotel’s 18 Degrees Restaurant overlooks the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, a prominent venue for corporate events. ‘An oil conference is underway, along with one on military and defense,’ says Gimadyeva. ‘This place attracts some of the brightest minds!’

Directly ahead, the stunning Persian Gulf and Abu Dhabi's islands stretch out. Private palaces, off-limits to the public, dot the closest island, encircled by the sea and desert sands. The natural beauty of Abu Dhabi, including its sweeping dunes and the rolling waves of the Gulf, inspired the design of Capital Gate,” says Al Mansoori.

The hotel's restaurant and swimming pool, both positioned on a platform at the building's edge overlooking the exhibition center, were added a year after construction began, presenting one of the greatest challenges for the engineering team.

The solution came in the form of a curving mesh 'skin' that cascades against the building, ending in the platform. This 'skin' also provided shade for the offices below, according to Al Mansoori.

Asad Haroon, another hotel staff member, reflects on how drastically Abu Dhabi has transformed since he arrived in 2011. 'The city is nothing like it used to be,' he comments, while taking in the panoramic city views.

Haroon, like 80% of UAE residents, is an expatriate – originally from Pakistan. His colleague, Gimadyeva, hails from Russia.

A symbol of architectural strength.

From the restaurant, Haroon reflects on how the area has transformed since he first moved to Abu Dhabi. 'This was almost a blank canvas. Outside the exhibition center, there was nothing,' he recalls.

Many of Abu Dhabi's iconic buildings, like Etihad Towers, the Aldar Building, and Ferrari World, were built around the same time as Capital Gate. Recently, the city has also become a cultural destination, especially after the completion of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017, housed under a 'floating dome'.

While Dubai has traditionally led the UAE's tourism industry, Abu Dhabi is now positioning itself as the country's cultural epicenter.

At the Andaz, art and design are a deliberate tribute to Emirati culture, with a ground-floor gallery showcasing a diverse range of works by local artists, complemented by culturally inspired furniture and upholstery throughout the hotel.

'Abu Dhabi will never try to be Dubai, because it's not interested in being that,' says Haroon. 'If you're looking to party for a few days, Dubai's your spot. But for a deeper dive into UAE's culture, Abu Dhabi is where you need to be.'