SOM's as a global architectural engineering firm had already developed the abilities to accommodate for different cultural preferences and designed for variety of building conditions. These experiences had prepared the multidisciplinary design team to envision what the tower would become. They would have to design for numerous challenges that would become intensified when scaling up to meet the height requirement. Piecewise this included the hot, costal environment where the soil conditions were poor, the solar heat gain would be high, the wind speeds would have to be considered from the beginning of the design, even small earthquakes could be a disaster, the culture would be from the other side of the planet and many more. 

          The design really had to be developed with an integrated process since all parties in the design had to communicate with one another, compromise with and concede to the structural engineers. The architecture would almost be the last thing added since there were so many other requirements that had to be met beforehand.

          Structurally, the building had to have a large base and a tapering shape to the spire so that it would be stable. This form would counter the lateral forces caused by wind and earthquakes and transfer the loads into the poor sandstone base over a large area. To these parameters the design was fixed, from there the architectural license could begin to be exercised and the structural engineering and architectural features we intelligently designed to work together. 

            The tiered upward spiraling setback system has a duel function that helps shed the wind vortex forces and mimic the Samarra minaret. The ribbed sides of each leg help visualize the compartmentalization, ease the view of the tapering structure, and create numerous observation platforms as well as facilitate the tapering and simplify the structural and facade design. The building would be further compartmentalized through the division of the design's three primary uses into three different entrances, helping to organize the massive building. The overall structure became to have a floral structure when seen from directly above, had legs that took shaped of pointed arches or onion domes and provided an efficient and maximized viewing space created by the concave sides. This would cut down on the structural load of the building helping the foundation succeed to disperse the load adequately, but would cause an increasing surface area, taxing the HVAC system. The advantages of the hot environment would be taken advantage of to reduce the needs for heating equipment, by using a solar water heating strategy to supply hot water, use the altitude and winds to take in and expel air from the system, and includes reflective low-e windows and shading devices to keep the sun from heating up the interior. The site landscaping would in some ways mimic and contrast the design of the building with a complicated geometric and fluid design. The landscaping would include extensive gardens accompanied by water elements, typical of Islamic designs.