The Municipality of Dubai and ThyssenKrupp Elevator have announced the launch of an international design competition for the conception of a tall emblem structure to promote the new face of Dubai. The competition is open to architects and teams of architects worldwide who are licensed to practice in their own countries and there is no registration fee.

Located within the Za'abeel Park the structure should promote tourism, have a unique state of the art design, include cultural and leisure activities, conference and theatre facilities. Local climatic conditions should be taken into account, as well as urban and landscape aspects. Passive construction principles should be applied and the structure should respond to the seismic constraints of the region.

The registration deadline is August 31st 2008. The deadline for dispatch of entries is January 31st 2009 and the deadline for the receipt of entries is February 28th 2009. Announcement of the results and official awards ceremony will take place in Dubai in May 2009.

The following prizes will be awarded
1) A first prize of USD 100,000
2) A second prize of USD 50,000
3) Three prizes of USD 20,000 each

The international jury is composed of Mr Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum chairman of Dubai Municipality, Mr Hussein Nasser Lootah director general of Dubai Municipality, Mr Javier del Pozo Portillo chairman of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Business, Southern Europe, Africa & Middle East and Mr Jaime Duróy Pifarre former president of International Union of architects.

In conformity with the UIA-UNESCO regulations for international competitions, the competition has been approved by the Union Internationale des Architectes.