One Central is a new business district in the center of Dubai.

Driving along Sheikh Zayed Road towards the old city, you may come across the World Trade Center building, modest by the standards of modern high-rise Dubai.

Not everyone knows that during construction in the late 70s, this 39-story sand-colored skyscraper was the tallest building not only in Dubai, but in the entire Middle East, for which it even made it onto the 100 dirham bill.

But today's post is not about the WTC, but about the 160,000 meter modern business cluster that was recently built near this building. The entire block falls under the single WTC freezone, which means that all entrepreneurs opening businesses here have 100% ownership with no local partner and zero income taxes for 50 years. 

The Central One project consists of five low-rise office mansions and a 580-room hotel. Between the buildings are cozy green areas with dense trees for a conversation over coffee or a thoughtful puff of aykos. And on the streets around the perimeter of the entire block - quality retail with built-in awnings for restaurants, cameras in the color of the facade and other cute details that my inner aesthete appreciated.

Entryways with spectacular canopies, a monochromatic warm pattern on the facade and landscaping look unofficially cozy.

Inside the building between the elevator areas are beautifully designed shopping galleries, where each block of shop windows, like a painting, is framed by a massive multi-layered wooden frame with warm lighting. There are also many warm colors and wooden surfaces in the decoration of the common areas of the project.

The LEED Gold-certified Class A office mansions themselves are designed by UK-based Hopkins Architect. The facades are made of dark glass with reflective blinds built into the architecture for protection from direct sun. The buildings are 9-13 stories high. On the upper levels are offices with terraces and live plants hanging from balconies.

Rental rates range from 40,000₽ per meter per year for 250 meters in concrete to 93,000₽ for small finished offices. For example, a 37-meter furnished office will cost 290,000₽ per month.