Baikdoosan Architects & Engineers designed the pyramid-shaped tower, and construction began on August 28, 1987. Work halted in 1992 after the building reached its full height, and it stood as a bare concrete shell for over a decade. Orascom resumed work in April 2008, and the exterior was completed on July 14, 2011.
The roof stands 1,082.7 feet (330.02 m) high, with 105 floors above ground and three below. Three wings, each 330 feet (100 m) long and 59 feet (18 m) wide, slope at 75 degrees toward a common pinnacle topped by a truncated cone 130 feet (40 m) wide. Concern was raised about the concrete's quality and the alignment of the elevator shafts.
The plan called for five revolving restaurants and either 3,000 or 7,665 guest rooms, depending on the source. A partial opening announced for 2013 was suspended in March 2013, and the hotel remains closed.
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