Dubai’s Vertical Forest | © Stefano Boeri Architetti As ecological crises deepen and cities face mounting pressure to mitigate their environmental impact, architecture is increasingly being called to act as a regenerative agent. Few typologies exemplify this shift more than Stefano Boeri’s Vertical Forest, which merges high-density living with vertical biodiversity. This model is being reimagined for one of the world’s most extreme climates—Dubai. Presented at COP27 and currently under development, this project marks a significant evolution in the Vertical Forest series. It introduces a new paradigm for integrating architecture with ecological systems in the Middle East and North Africa region. Dubai’s Vertical Forest Technical Information Architects1-8: Stefano Boeri Architetti Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Project Year: 2022 – Ongoing Images: © Stefano Boeri Architetti The idea of building a tower completely surrounded by trees came to me in early 2007 in Dubai – one of the cradles of the new oil and financial capitalism. – Stefano Boeri Dubai’s Vertical Forest Photographs Model | © Stefano Boeri Architetti © Stefano Boeri Architetti © Stefano Boeri Architetti © Stefano Boeri Architetti Contextualizing the Vertical Forest in the MENA Region The Vertical Forest’s location in Dubai is far from incidental. It positions the project within one of the planet’s most environmentally and politically charged urban territories. Defined by vertical growth and resource-intensive development, Dubai represents both a cautionary tale and a unique laboratory for speculative urbanism. Introducing a Vertical Forest into this context asks pressing questions about the viability of ecological architecture in hyper-arid environments. Unveiled at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh—just one year ahead of Dubai’s hosting of COP28—the project was not merely an architectural announcement, but a symbolic gesture. It offered a prototype of what the future city in the MENA region might look like if environmental goals are integrated into the DNA of urban design rather than appended as technological afterthoughts. This is also the first Vertical Forest explicitly conceived for an arid climate. The departure from temperate zones, such as Milan, necessitates reconsidering both botanical strategy and environmental performance. This version is not a carbon copy, but a regionally attuned reinterpretation, raising vital questions about the adaptability of iconic ecological models across divergent environmental and cultural landscapes. Architectural Design and Spatial Strategies The design comprises two towers, rising to 190 and 150 meters respectively. Their proportions follow a principle of visual counterbalance while maximizing surface area for vegetation. The towers are not standalone monoliths but vertically orchestrated ecosystems. Their façades operate as living membranes, embedded with planters that accommodate 2,640 trees and 27,600 shrubs—creating a layered landscape from ground to sky. Spatially, the towers reflect a porous organization, with interstitial spaces where architecture and vegetation coexist. The integration of hydroponic gardens and greenhouses further challenges the conventional zoning of vertical structures. These programmatic insertions suggest a hybrid building typology—part residential, part agricultural infrastructure. Crucially, this vegetation is not an applied surface treatment. Instead, it is embedded into the logic of the architecture. The façade becomes a mediating threshold, negotiating between environmental exposure and interior comfort. From a spatial perspective, the vegetated envelope offers dynamic shading, enhanced privacy, and contributes to reducing urban heat through evapotranspiration. The result is a tower that functions not only as a container of domestic life but also as a scaffold for ecological processes. It shifts the conversation from verticality as a purely densifying strategy to one offering environmental reciprocity. Material Ecology and Technological Innovation Beyond its botanical ambitions, the Dubai Vertical Forest proposes a complex integration of renewable technologies and circular systems. Photovoltaic surfaces across the towers are projected to generate 5,100 kWh of clean energy harvested and stored using hydrogen batteries. This approach to energy independence is forward-looking, particularly in a region where fossil fuel dependency still defines the economic and infrastructural landscape. Water management, perhaps the most critical issue in this context, is approached with equal innovation. The towers employ desalination systems and greywater recycling to minimize water demand while maximizing reuse. These technologies are not peripheral systems but constitutive elements of the building’s performance and identity. From a material standpoint, the project remains in development, with ongoing research into construction technologies and material systems suited for the site’s climatic and ecological demands. The challenge lies in selecting systems that balance thermal resistance, structural efficiency, and environmental impact—particularly in light of the embodied carbon inherent in construction within the Gulf region. Integrating energy, water, and waste systems into the architectural narrative reflects a broader ambition: to dissolve the boundary between infrastructure and form. This convergence invites architects to consider the building as an active participant in its environment, rather than a static object. Dubai’s Vertical Forest Image Gallery About Stefano Boeri Architetti ​Stefano Boeri Architetti, founded in 1993 and based in Milan with offices in Shanghai and Tirana, is an international architectural firm renowned for integrating living nature into urban design. Their multidisciplinary approach encompasses architecture, urban planning, and interior design, strongly emphasizing sustainable development and urban regeneration. Notable projects include the Vertical Forest in Milan, a pioneering model of biodiversity in architecture. ​ Credits and Additional Notes Founding Partner: Stefano Boeri Director: Hana Narvaez Design Team: Yulia Filatova, Silvia Raiano Client: Impact One Botanical Consultant: Vannucci LCA (Life Cycle Assessment): ESA Tower Heights: Tower 1: 190 meters; Tower 2: 150 meters Vegetation: 2,640 Trees; 27,600 Shrubs; Integrated hydroponic gardens and greenhouses