Al Maryah Tower

Al Maryah Tower is a 26-storey, 87,570m² development in Abu Dhabi with three podium and six basement levels. Originally designed as a single-tenant building, it stood vacant for several years before being repositioned as 49,110m² of Grade A commercial space. Today, it is subdivided into 68 tenancies, including five retail and food and beverage outlets, with a direct connection to the adjacent Galleria Mall. Once at risk of becoming a stranded asset, Al Maryah Tower has been reimagined through one of the region’s largest and most complex commercial retrofits and now stands as a scalable model for repurposing underutilised buildings across the GCC.

Cundall was initially engaged to carry out pre-acquisition Technical Due Diligence (TDD) which identified several major building services upgrades, before being appointed to lead the design and construction supervision of a major retrofit and base build enhancements. Our building services team focused on optimising systems for multi-tenant occupancy, ensuring regulatory code compliance, extending the building’s lifespan, and improving overall energy performance and flexibility.  The works included a full Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) overhaul, upgraded fresh air handling units, domestic water upgrades, energy-efficient LED lighting, and measures to enhance indoor air quality. The existing Variable Air Volume (VAV) system was replaced, and the chilled water system upgraded, resulting in significant power savings across the tower. A major achievement was delivering these upgrades while keeping the building fully operational and coordinating with incoming tenants. Through carefully phased construction, we accelerated the programme, minimised disruption, and delivered results faster.

Marc Lynch, Associate said: “Our team was proud to lead one of Abu Dhabi’s most ambitious retrofit programmes, transforming a commercial tower into a resilient, energy-efficient, and future-ready workplace. In close collaboration with the client, project manager, cost consultant CSQ, and Structural Middle East, we delivered critical building services upgrades, dramatically improved energy performance, and enhanced tenant flexibility, all while keeping the building fully operational. The result is a showcase of what strong partnerships and technical excellence can achieve, and a beacon for future-proofing existing buildings across the UAE.”