#Product Trends
The luminous arches of Dubai
Gate Avenue in the DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) is an 880 m long promenade with shops and restaurants that leads into a triumphal arch.
It is modelled on the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The Gate Building, which stands at the end of Gate Avenue, is the headquarters of the DIFC and symbolically stands as the gateway to a new financial district. It houses the world's leading financial companies. The building is on an axis with the Emirates Towers and the World Trade Centre, framing these two Dubai landmarks.
This axis was extended by RMJM architects with three glass versions of the Gate on Gate Avenue. They are designed to reference the Gate Building and extend the DIFC's trademark across the entire site. Backlit with changing colours in the dark, they are visible from afar. The gates connect the 660,000-square-foot promenade level with stairs to the shops below. The architects' brief was to make Gate Avenue at DIFC a unique cultural experience in the region. It was to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors with vibrant retail and sophisticated dining.
A diverse retail environment spans three integrated zones linked by the promenade level. The North Zone, adjacent to the Gate Building, serves as a meeting place for business people and offers luxury and exclusive retail outlets. The Central Zone, which has a connection to the DIFC metro, concentrates shops with high-end branded products and many restaurants with indoor and outdoor spaces. In the South Zone, which is primarily residential, the two-storey complex, along with the various amenities, is designed to provide a family-friendly community experience. The planted outdoor promenade level, shaded structures and kiosks provide an elegant atmosphere for people to enjoy day and night. Gate Avenue also hosts cultural events such as live concerts and festivals, with the gates serving as a backdrop for digital projections.
