How to choose the right elevator system for your high-rise in the GCC

The Gulf is home to some of the world's most ambitious tall buildings. From Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 projects to the growing skylines of Riyadh, Dubai and Doha, the need for well-designed elevators has never been greater.

Choosing the right system for a tall building in the GCC takes more than standard international practice. The climate, local codes, cultural habits and the way buildings are run here all affect the choice.

This is what developers, architects and project managers need to know.

Factor 1: climate

The Gulf's extreme climate affects elevator design directly.

Heat. Summer temperatures above 50°C change how much cooling the machinery needs. In machine-room-less designs the machine sits in the shaft, which must be ventilated well enough to stop the motor overheating. A traditional machine room needs heavy-duty air conditioning, which costs a lot of energy.

Humidity. Coastal cities such as Jeddah, Dubai and Doha are humid, and that speeds up corrosion of unprotected steel. Specify marine-grade finishes for exposed metal, and make sure electrical cabinets are sealed and climate-controlled.

Sand and dust. Fine dust gets into door mechanisms, guide shoes and control cabinets. Specify sealed door tracks, filtered ventilation and dust-resistant electrical enclosures.

Power quality. It is improving, but some places still see voltage swings and short power cuts. Specify drives and controllers with proper protection, and make sure the building's emergency power can bring elevators to a floor and keep them running.

Factor 2: height and zoning

Above 25 to 30 floors, one group of elevators serving every floor stops being practical. The cars spend too long passing floors, and service suffers.

These are the common ways of dividing a tall building into zones.

Low and high zones

• The low group serves the ground floor up to the midpoint.
• The high group runs express past the lower floors and serves the upper ones.
• Best for buildings of 30 to 50 storeys.

Sky lobby

• Shuttle elevators run express from the ground to a sky lobby.
• Local elevators serve the floors above it.
• Best for buildings over 50 storeys and very tall towers.
• Fewer shafts are needed at ground level, which frees valuable space on the lower floors.

Double-deck elevators

• Two cars stacked one above the other serve odd and even floors at the same time.
• Best for very busy buildings where shaft space is tight.
• The lobby must be designed carefully to separate passengers for odd and even floors.

The right approach depends on the building's height, where its people are, and the balance between core space and lettable area. This is where traffic analysis becomes essential.

Factor 3: speed and technology

Tall buildings in the GCC often need fast elevators to keep journeys short:

High-speed elevators need:

• Streamlined cars to reduce wind noise
• Pressure control to protect passengers' ears
• Very accurate guide-rail alignment and vibration damping
• More headroom at the top of the shaft and a deeper pit

Not every building needs the fastest elevator available. Speed should match the real travel distance and traffic. Paying for more speed than you need wastes money without making the service noticeably better.

Factor 4: local codes and standards

The GCC has no single elevator code, so you need to know which standards apply.

Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Building Code (SBC) refers to both ASME A17.1 and EN 81. Projects must comply with the SBC and with any extra requirements from the municipality (Amana) or the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).

UAE. Requirements can differ by emirate. Dubai follows the Dubai Civil Defense code, which is based on EN 81 with local changes. Abu Dhabi follows the Abu Dhabi International Building Code.

Qatar. Qatar Construction Standards (QCS) are based on EN 81 with local changes.

Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. They generally follow EN 81 or ASME A17.1, plus local authority requirements.

Code points that matter most for tall buildings:

• Firefighter-elevator requirements, which vary from place to place
• Accessibility: cars that take wheelchairs, with audible and tactile signals
• Earthquake requirements in some areas, particularly western Saudi Arabia
• Evacuation elevators for very tall buildings

Factor 5: destination dispatch

In commercial towers in the GCC, destination dispatch is now the norm. Its main benefits:

• Average journey time 30 to 40 per cent shorter than with conventional controls
• More people carried at peak times
• Better security, because access can be controlled floor by floor
• In some cases, fewer elevators needed

It also needs:

• Enough lobby space for the keypads
• A clear screen design, including Arabic
• A link to the building's access-control system
• A way of handling visitors

Factor 6: VIP and service needs

Many GCC developments have premium features that affect elevator design:

• VIP and executive elevators. Dedicated cars for certain floors, with premium finishes and usually card access.
• Residential privacy. Separate elevators for residential floors, with no access from the commercial areas.
• Service and goods elevators. Sized properly for furniture and equipment deliveries. This is often underestimated at design stage.
• Car park shuttles. Dedicated elevators from basement parking to the lobby, sized for peak arrivals and departures.
• Prayer rooms. Allow for elevator service to prayer-room floors at peak prayer times.

Factor 7: choosing a supplier

All the major international manufacturers operate in the GCC. When choosing between them, look at:

• Local presence. Is there a service office in your city, or would technicians travel from another country?
• Spare parts. For high-speed and specialist equipment, parts held locally are essential to keep downtime short.
• Track record. Has the manufacturer delivered similar systems in the GCC? Ask for specific projects.
• Maintenance terms. Negotiate the maintenance contract while you are buying, not after installation.

An independent consultant can run the tender, compare the offers objectively and make sure the chosen manufacturer meets every technical and commercial requirement.

Getting it right

Getting elevator design wrong in a tall building is expensive, both in money spent and in how the building performs and how satisfied tenants are for years afterwards. Independent advice pays for itself through a better design, competitive buying and mistakes avoided.

Talk to us about your high-rise project

Doug & Danny are independent vertical transportation consultants with offices in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. We specialise in elevator design for tall buildings, traffic analysis and tender advice across the GCC and the UK.