WATCH: Abu Dhabi Etisalat HQ loses iconic 'golf ball'

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WATCH: Abu Dhabi Etisalat HQ loses iconic golf ball

Etisalat's 'golf ball' dismantled in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - Orb-shaped feature was declared unsafe after being damaged in a storm earlier this month.(KT photos and videos by Syed Hameedudin Quadri)

By Staff Reporter

Published: Sat 26 Mar 2016, 5:32 PM

Last updated: Sat 26 Mar 2016, 11:23 PM

The ‘golf ball’ atop the etisalat headquarters in Abu Dhabi has been taken down after it was severely damaged during a storm earlier this month.
The iconic orb-shaped feature was declared unsafe after the Capital witnessed winds that reached speeds of 130kmph. The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) had instructed Etisalat to take down the ball.

Etisalat's Abu Dhabi HQ's 'golf ball' completely dismantledEtisalat UAE's iconic 'golf ball', atop it's Abu Dhabi HQ, completely dismantled...(KT/Syed Hameedudin Quadri)Details here - http://ktimes.co/vbpky
Video by Syed Hameedudin Quadri on Friday, March 25, 2016

Video by Syed Hameedudin Quadri/Khaleej Times

Pieces of the orb, made from fiber-coated gypsum board pieces, were seen in Etisalat’s car park on Friday. The 27-floor building and its ‘golf ball’ was designed by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson and built in 2001. The spherical structures actually house the telecommunication company’s transmitters and receivers providing satellite and mobile phone connections throughout the UAE.
Throughout the country, there are nine etisalat golf ball buildings, but after the headquarters lost its spherical crown, only eight remain.“Spherical structures on other etisalat buildings across the UAE will not be impacted by this decision,” etisalat had earlier told Khaleej Times in a statement.
Etisalat has not specified whether it will build another orb structure for its head office building.

Etisalat Abu Dhabi HQ 'golf ball' dismantledDismantled pieces of Etisalat UAE's iconic 'golf ball' - which was atop it's Abu Dhabi HQ...(KT/Syed Hameedudin Quadri)Details here - http://ktimes.co/vbpky
Video by Syed Hameedudin Quadri on Friday, March 25, 2016

Video by Syed Hameedudin Quadri/Khaleej Times

Throughout the country, there are nine etisalat golf ball buildings, but after the headquarters loses its spherical crown, only eight will still stand.
A 100-metre perimeter around the building was closed to traffic and for safety reasons the ball was being dismantled. Located in the heart of the city, the area is densely populated with residential towers, including the Marks and Spencer complex, which houses a popular shopping centre.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com