Dubai (and the Arabian Peninsula at large) is already home to some of the most impressive buildings and magnificent engineering feats, including the world’s tallest Burj Khalifawhich kisses the gulf’s sky at a little shy of 830 metres. The more luxurious but shorter sister building, the Burj Al Arab, sits pretty on its artificial island and sports some of the most prestigious hotel rooms out there.
The UAE city officials have once again stunned the world by unveiling what they say will stand as the tallest resort across the globe. The so-called Therme Dubai – Islands in the Sky will be a 500,000-square-foot, retreat-style resort complex with a 100-metre-high feature that includes suspended indoor botanical gardens, three waterfalls, and cascading swimming pools.
Another world’s first architectural crown for Dubai’s skyline
Therme Group will handle this $545-million mega wellness resort project, with the New York architect firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) taking charge of the design end of things. DS+R is famous for their design works on Juilliard School and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.
The resort complex will rise from Zabeel Park, one of Dubai’s most sought-after green spaces, and provide sweeping views of the city’s storied skyline, which includes the iconic Burj Khalifa.
Elizabeth Diller, founding partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, was among the city officials during the announcement. She painted a picture of what visitors can expect: “It emerges from the lake of a revitalized Zabeel Park as a series of botanical islands stacked into a tower. Each island is a platform for thermal pools, decks, and verdant indoor and outdoor vegetation; each offers a distinctive atmosphere.”
True to her words, the plans indicate the wellness resort’s main showpiece will be its three waterfalls, each stretching 18 meters high, cascading down the structure’s face. Inside, visitors will find the world’s largest indoor botanical garden, which will house more than 200 plant species from around the globe.
The resort itself is centered around wellness and will mix relaxation with fun. Guests can unwind in the bevy of thermal and mineral pools spread across indoor and outdoor spaces. Others will find pampering and treatments in steam rooms and saunas.
As an active lifestyle-oriented complex, it will also be plenty for those looking for active entertainment and amenities. In this respect, Therme Dubai says it will install a wall to wall play area with waterslides.
Food lovers won’t be disappointed either, as the resort plans to open a Michelin-star restaurant. Artists and art fans will find plenty to admire too, as the complex will host regular cultural exhibitions and art installations throughout its spaces.
Going green in the desert
Despite its massive size, Therme Dubai isn’t turning a blind eye to environmental concerns. The resort will recycle 90% of the water used in its thermal pools, while 80% of its fresh air and cooling needs will come from clean energy sources. The project team is bringing in cutting-edge sustainable tech for water treatment, heating, and cooling to keep the resort’s environmental footprint as small as possible.
Therme Dubai will join an already world record-breaking clutch of architectural beauties that dot the city’s skyline and landscape. The Burj Khalifa, stretching nearly 830 meters into the sky, has been the world’s tallest building since 2010. The sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, while not as tall, has become equally famous for its unique design and ultra-luxury suites.
More cities are bringing up resort complexes to boost their economies
Dubai is far from the only city going heavy on resorts and wellness complexes to bump up visitor numbers. Therme Dubai is nosing for a little over 1.7 million visitors each year after its target 2028 launch, but this doesn’t come close to the 20 million tourists that the $8-billion Osaka integrated resort plans to bring into the western Japanese city when it opens sometime in 2029.
The Yumeshima resort off the coast of Osaka will feature a museum, casinos by the likes of MGM Resorts, a shopping mall, a conference centre, and even helicopter pads. Osaka is one of the three cities in Japan rushing to build integrated gaming resorts.
On its end, Las Vegas is pulling down some of its historic properties for huge resorts. Tropicana went down in late 2024 to make room for a world-class 30,000-seater ballpark for the baseball team the Athletics, with The Mirage closing down months earlier for a $5-billion spruce-up to become the city’s second resort complex for the Hard Rock brand. Some reports also claim that the iconic Casino Royale Las Vegas will shut down, to be replaced with a mega resort.
Project construction ready to get up and running
The crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, has already given his thumbs up to the project. Construction is set to kick off next year, with doors opening to visitors in 2028. By then, Dubai’s newest sky-high attraction will offer a fresh take on urban wellness, combining nature, technology, and luxury in ways never seen before.
“Cities must evolve to enhance human wellbeing, connection, and environmental harmony,” says Irina Matei, CEO of Therme Dubai.
When complete, this wellness retreat in the sky will offer everything from peaceful moments in hanging gardens to energetic splashes in cascading pools, all while showing off what’s possible when ambitious design meets wellness-focused urban development.
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