The Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid is located in the heart of Abu Dhabi at the site of the old Central Market, a traditional crossroads and meeting point in the city. The tower’s central location provides residents with easy access to major points of interest, including the nearby Mall at the World Trade Center and the Corniche, a waterfront promenade that runs along the coast. As part of the larger World Trade Center complex, Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid is just one element of a 700,000-square-meter mixed-use development, which also includes an office building and a hotel. The site also includes a traditional souk, up to seven levels of retail in the podium, a green roof above the market, and a bridge system linking these areas together.

The tower is intended to fit within its desert context. A smooth, sleek, and reflective façade is designed to require minimal amounts of maintenance in such a dusty environment. Meanwhile, layers of internal shading control glare and unwanted heat gain. The exterior envelope of the tower undulates in waves as it wraps around the core. This glass cladding creates a mirage effect that alludes to its geographic context. The billowing design generates unique floor plans that deviate widely from those found in a typical tall building, resulting in an assortment of multiform spaces.

A number of design elements have been integrated into the building in order to increase its energy efficiency, including solar collectors and a ventilated three-skin façade. Additionally, local building materials were used wherever possible during construction to reduce the economic and environmental costs of transporting imported materials.