Almas Tower, JLT

Located on its own island, Almas Tower (also known as Diamond Tower) is a super-tall skyscraper and an undeniable centrepiece of Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT). Translating to ‘diamond’ in Arabic, the building’s name and its striking diamond-shaped architecture take influence from the purpose it was built for which was to promote Dubai as one of the top five diamond trading destinations in the world. With the successful establishment of the Almas Tower, Dubai became the world’s third-best trading hub for diamonds. Being the focal point of gemstone industries, the commercial high-rise features a number of businesses such as Dubai Diamond Exchange, Dubai Pearl Exchange and Dubai Gems Club. Almas Tower is also home to the corporate office of the developer and the award-winning global commodities trading free zone called Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).

Inspired by the kite-shaped facets of a brilliant-cut diamond, Almas Tower boasts a three-storey podium that has been sculpted into eight interlocked triangles. Through the podium rise two elliptical towers that gracefully converge around the central core. Launched in 2005 and completed by 2008, the skyscraper rises up to 68 floors above ground at the height of 1,180 ft. (360 metres). Additionally, there are five basement levels and a total floor area of over 1.7M sq. ft. While the developer behind Almas Tower is DMCC, the stunning high-rise project has been architected by Atkins.

Jumeirah Lake Towers is among the top areas in Dubai with beautiful waterfront promenades. It has clusters named from A to Z, each with three buildings. The area mostly has skyscrapers with both residential and commercial varieties. It also houses the famous JLT Park, known for its pet-friendly nature.

• Owned by Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)
• Engineered and designed by Atkins
• A commercial high-rise with a number of office units
• 1,180 ft. tall and contains 68 floors above ground
• Includes 35 top-speed elevators
• Nestled between Almas West Lake and Almas East Lake
• The seventh tallest building in Dubai
• 10th tallest building in the Middle East
• Close to Sheikh Zayed Road (E11)
• A short walking distance of DMCC Metro Station

Almas Tower, JLT is a purpose-built building that has all the required yet winning facilities. It is an A-grade business centre with reserved parking, conference rooms, prayer rooms and an impressive, high-end lobby. The restaurants and cafes on the ground floor has both indoor and outdoor dining options with splendid views of the lakes.

A total of 1,700 parking spaces in Almas Tower, DMCC are available. However, depending on the deal and the property type, the parking spots offered for each office unit may vary. There is also ample parking space for visitors.

One of the crucial aspects of engineering this 1,181 ft. tall skyscraper is the appropriate vertical transportation technology. Since it is a super-tall building, 35 elevators in Almas Tower with multi-speed motors have been installed. This allows efficient and comfortable transportation of a large number of people at a given time.

An integrated facilities management company called Concordia manages the security and maintenance in Almas Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers.

Fidelity Fitness Club is a luxury health club in Almas Tower, JLT Cluster that offers a range of latest equipment and fitness classes. Gym-goers have the option of either going for either personal training or group exercise sessions.

Since it is a commercial building, a majority of properties in Almas Tower consists of office units used by local and international commodity-related businesses. The ground floor is dedicated to retail units, restaurants and cafes whereas the other remaining floors are reserved for office spaces. The types of offices available are:

• Shell-and-core offices
• Partially fitted offices
• Fully fitted offices

Shell-and-core offices in Almas Tower are an option ideal for those clients who want to furnish their workspace from scratch. This is why these types of units are mostly available in raw form, which is, without floor and ceiling work. Office owners can choose their pick in floor tiles and the ceiling design. A partially fitted office comes with basic infrastructure which includes fittings and fixtures such as tiled flooring, false ceiling and air-conditioning vents. A fully fitted office includes furnished interiors equipped with partitions, filing cabinets, premium furniture and high-quality fittings.

Almas Tower is a highly revered and most sought-after commercial building to rent or buy offices. Since the tower has a high occupancy rate, vacant office units are sometimes tough to find. The total office space spans over an area of 1,300,000 sq. ft. with each unit ranging from 800 sq. ft. to 3,000 sq. ft.

The rental rates of shell-and-core offices in Almas Tower lie between AED 156k and AED 433k. An area as large as 3,068 sq. ft. can be rented for AED 368k. The rents of fully fitted offices start from AED 170k and go up to AED 650k.

The buying cost of shell-and-core offices in Almas Tower starts from AED 5.79M and goes up to AED 10.9M. A space that measures 3,068 sq. ft. can be bought for AED 5.79M, while a larger unit with an area around 5,000 sq. ft. is worth AED 10.9M. Clients can find a fully fitted office space for the prices starting from AED 1.6M.

The ground floor is reserved for the retail shops, restaurants and cafes in Almas Tower.

•  The price of shell-and-core offices for rent in Almas Tower ranges between AED 156k and AED 434k
• The price of fully fitted offices ranges between AED 170k and AED 650k
• Shops for rent in Almas Tower are available for an average annual price of AED 15k

• The demand for shell-and-core offices lies between AED 5.79M and AED 10.9M
• The average demand for fully fitted offices for sale in Almas Tower is around AED 8.8M

These figures are based on the services charges for Almas Tower* as per the Dubai Land Department.

There are many different types of Dubai service charges, read up on the service charges guide if you are interested in buying a property in Dubai.

*These charges are subject to change.

Almas Tower is strategically situated between interchange no. 5 and interchange no. 6 on Sheikh Zayed Road. This offers convenient commuting distance when driving to key places such as Dubai International Airport, Mall of the Emirate, Ibn Battuta Mall and Jebel Ali Free Zone. Apart from the private conveyance, modes of transportation near Almas Tower include bus, metro and tram services.

The nearest bus station is JLT, Silver Tower where the JLT2 bus line stops. It is located at a 4-minute walking distance from the tower. Another option is JLT, Dubai Star Tower Bus station located 9-minute away from the building.

Serving as one of the city’s busiest metro stations, DMCC Metro Station is the nearest one to Almas Tower. It is located at 7-minute walking distance.

Dubai Marina Mall Tram Station is just an 8-minute drive away. Also, Jumeirah Residence 1 Tram Station is another nearby option located at a 12-minute drive.

The dining scene in Jumeirah Lake Towers is quite vibrant. Therefore, you will find a diverse variety of eateries surrounding the skyscraper.

Casual dining restaurants near Almas Tower include:

• Canadian 2 for 1 Pizza
• Hanoi Naturally
• Delhi Darbar Express
• Greek & Delicious

Fine dining restaurants near Almas Tower include:

• The Cavendish Restaurant
• Cafe Isan
• Nais Italian Kitchen
• Couqley French Bistro & Bar

A pizzeria called Canadian 2 For 1 Pizza and a Vietnamese restaurant called Hanoi Naturally are located in the adjacent Cluster C which requires a 9-minute walk to access it. Cluster D, which is also next to Almas Tower, is home to Chalco’s Mexican Grill, a health-food restaurant called Kcal and an Indian eatery called Delhi Darbar Express. Almas Tower itself houses several dining options such as La Terrazza, Yugo Sushi, Zaatar W Zeit and Common Grounds.

If you are looking forward to a romantic dinner with a table reservation option, then The Cavendish Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in JLT, will fit the bill. It is only a 4-minute drive away. However, if you need to host a business lunch then Couqley French Bistro & Bar at Movenpick Hotel in Cluster A will be an ideal option. It will take a 5-minute drive to get there.

Nightlife options near Almas Tower include:

• Healey’s Bar & Terrace
• McGettigan’s
• Nola Eatery & Social House
• Urban Bar & Kitchen – UBK

Based in the Bonnington building, Healey’s Bar & Terrace is a stylish chrome-and-glass cocktail bar located just a stone’s throw away. An Irish pub, McGettigan’s JLT is also located in the same tower. It is known for featuring live sports entertainment and a wide selection of drinks. A New Orleans-inspired lively spot called Nola Eatery & Social House offers traditional South American fare. Appropriately tagged as a social house, this favourite nightspot is present in Armada BlueBay Hotel, which is accessible in 9-minute, by car.

Almas Tower is surrounded by JLT Cluster B, C and G. There are many buildings surrounding the tower, such as:

• Lakeside Residence – Residential Building
• Preatoni Tower- Mixed-use Building
• The Dome, JLT – Commercial Building
• Dubai Arch Tower – Mixed-use Building

All these buildings are situated within a 5-minute distance from Almas Tower. Most of these towers offer beautiful views of the surrounding artificial lakes and features a boast of amenities.

Lakeside Residence is located in Cluster A, Preatoni Tower in Cluster L whereas Dubai Arch Tower is a part of JLT, Cluster G.

One of the things to keep in mind is that only certain types of companies can operate from Almas Tower, which is subject to approval from DMCC.