"A skyscraper is a boast in glass and steel," wrote Mason Cooley, an American university professor. Skyscrapers became possible thanks to two advances in building techniques in the late nineteenth century. Firstly, the use of steel beams and columns to support the skeleton of a building and, secondly, the essential invention of Elisha Graves Otis in 1853 - a safe elevator that didn't crash to the ground if the cable snapped. With these fundamentals in place the world set about a race to reach for the skies. Chicago claimed the first skyscraper, the ten-storey Home Insurance Building completed in 1885; London and New York swiftly joined in the contest and by the 1930s even Asia and Latin America had jumped on the bandwagon.

Skylines across the world are now defined and transformed by their skyscrapers. Now there is one nation that is pushing the boundaries, claiming all the 'world's tallest' titles: Dubai.

Dubai is skyscraper obsessive. Business Bay – a sort of Canary Wharf-on-sea – symbolically set around Dubai Creek, where the first people of Dubai came to settle, will host 500 skyscrapers when complete and be to Dubai as Manhattan is to New York. And then there's Downtown Burj Dubai, also vying for the global business community, including the Burj Dubai tower speculated to be anywhere between a world record breaking 800 to 900 metres high. The exact dimensions have not been revealed but with 3,000 workers on-site helping it to grow at one storey every three days, we'll find out soon. Rumour has it that the tower, which will house an Armani Hotel amongst others, is to have a spire that can be added to with ease should any other beastly country come along and build anything taller. Although direct competition will shortly come from within in the shape of the Al Burj, a tower proposed for Dubai Waterfront which is pencilled in for 1,200 metres in height and to begin construction later this year.

Whilst the Burj Dubai tower will be of mixed use, accommodating a hotel, office space and apartments, Dubai is also going for the 'tallest residential building in the world' record. So confident are they that the 107-storey Princess Tower (pictured) in Dubai Marina will dwarf the competition that they have already registered the edifice with the Guinness Book of Records. The setting, Dubai Marina, is another world's best - the world's largest man-made marina, meticulously designed in Venetian tradition for chic waterfront living. Strategically located at the heart of 'new Dubai' on Interchange 5 between Jebel Ali Port and Dubai Media City, it will cover 4.9 million square metres and span over 3 kilometres of coastline.

The Princess Tower will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in Dubai with fully fitted and equipped kitchens as well as smart home technology which will operate many appliances remotely. A whole host of on-site amenities complement the apartments and include a business centre, his 'n' hers gyms and saunas, crèche, coffee shop, restaurant and swimming pool. Prices for these high-rise apartments start from £165,600 with payment terms spread across eleven instalments up until completion in 2010. Those with lofty aspirations can also consider the purchase of floor 90 as a single residence. With generous terraces, five bedrooms and bathrooms and a private swimming pool, people would certainly look up to you. Price on application to Dream Homes Worldwide, the company marketing the project.

But this being Dubai there's more than one way to soar above your neighbours. Take Pentominium, for example, which is slated to involve Swarovski, Tiffany & Co, Six Senses, Davidoff, Bang Olufsen and others in an all-out attempt to create - in the words of developer Trident International Holdings - "a new benchmark in luxury living," for those who can meet the £1-5 million price tags, that is. For that money, of course, you get more than just an apartment in Dubai. Instead, each of these penthouse apartments spans an entire floor of the 516-metre-tall building, which comprises 120 floors in total. The top floors will contain a Sky Lounge, Sky Pool, Business Centre and a private observation deck along with ladies and gentleman's health clubs and a cigar lounge, squash courts, a banqueting hall and private theatre.

Alternatively, you might wish your uber apartment in Dubai to boast other unique features - like 360-degree panoramas, for example. If this is the case, look no further than the Rotating Residences, the apt name for what is billed as the World's first tower with four rotating penthouses and one rotating villa. Rotating at 360 degrees at four different speed levels (once in three hours, once in six hours, once in 12 hours, once in 24 hours) is a feature that each penthouse or villa has individual control over. The project will be located in a landmark building in the Jumeriah Village South and will be minutes away from the Dubai Media Production Zone (where about 80,000 new jobs will be created), Dubai Internet City and Jebel Ali Free Zone. Price on application to Signature Properties Worldwide, the company marketing the project.

So, when it comes to finding apartments with a difference, Dubai's obsession with skyscrapers could provide you with your very own boast in glass and steel.

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Many thanks to Sarah Drane (sarah@purplecakefactory.com) for providing the basis of this article

Article first published 25 July 2007