Herzog & de Meuron has unveiled its first building in the United Arab Emirates. Janu Dubai, developed by H&H in partnership with Aman Group, introduces a compact, mineral architecture to the Dubai International Financial Centre, bringing hospitality, residences, and social spaces together in a single vertical address.
Spanning 121,000 square meters, the tower houses a 150-room hotel, 57 branded residences, a private members’ club, plus office and retail spaces. Positioned between Al Mustaqbal Street and 17th Street, it occupies a strategic plot amid galleries, restaurants, and international headquarters in the heart of DIFC.
Sculptural Presence
Rising in contrast to Dubai’s glass-heavy skyline, the building’s sculptural volume is defined by recesses and projections that create depth and shadow. The façade prioritizes materiality over transparency: terraces, balconies, and planted edges punctuate the mass, producing a series of suspended outdoor spaces.
Image courtesy Herzog & de Meuron.
Greenery climbs the elevation, softening the tower’s perimeter and introducing a rare natural dimension for a high-rise in the Emirates. The layered, tactile form engages in a dialogue with the surrounding high-tech context.
Residences with Panoramic Views
The 57 residences occupy the tower’s uppermost levels, from two-bedroom apartments to a 1,000-square-meter triplex penthouse. Interiors feature ceilings up to 3.5 meters high, expansive glazing, and a refined palette of hand-finished plaster, natural wood flooring, and monolithic stone kitchens and bathrooms.
Image courtesy Herzog & de Meuron.
A landscaped drop-off guides residents away from the street, while the eighteen-meter-high lobby creates a shaded, cinematic entrance. Private car lifts, high-speed elevators, and a dedicated concierge connect homes seamlessly to the city.
Hotel and Club as Extensions of Home
Upper-floor amenities include an infinity pool, lounges, dining areas, terraces, and a fitness center. Access to the Janu Spa and Club links residents and hotel guests in a shared wellness and social ecosystem.
Image courtesy Herzog & de Meuron.
Vlad Doronin, Chairman and CEO of Aman Group, says:
"With Janu Dubai, we are creating more than a place to stay. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the tower’s sculptural, mineral form gives it a distinctive identity in Dubai’s polished skyline while introducing a more human scale to DIFC. Expansive terraces and abundant greenery create a verdant, pedestrian-focused environment, rare for a high-rise in the UAE. DIFC is the perfect setting for this vision, and we look forward to writing the next chapter of Janu’s residential journey."
With Janu Dubai, Aman Group extends its high-end urban lifestyle into the Middle East, while Herzog & de Meuron deliver a hybrid tower that fuses multiple functions into a single, sculptural form—marking a bold first entry into the UAE architectural scene.
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Cover image: Courtesy Herzog & de Meuron.
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