Does the Dubai Frame depict an ugly picture?

The United Arab Emirates is an architectural playground. Its existing man-made wonders include the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, while the world’s first rotating skyscraper has been proposed here by architect David Fisher.

Blink and you’ll miss the next superlative project.

One of its latest rising towers is the Dubai Frame – which quite literally looks like a giant, gold-plated picture frame. Located in Zabeel Park, it is expected to open later this year and attract nearly 2 million tourists annually.

The 492 feet (150 meter) tall frame aims to complement the rest of Dubai’s skyline by serving as an observatory, providing clear views of “Old Dubai” in the north and “New Dubai” in the south.

A digitalized image of what the Dubai Frame will look like once construction is completed.

Except there’s one problem.

Mexican-born architect Fernando Donis claims the idea was stolen from him, after he won a design pitch at an international competition in 2008, hosted by Dubai Municipality and ThyssenKrupp Elevator.

Intellectual property lawsuit claim

The terms of the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Architecture Award, which CNN has seen, were clear.

The winner’s design would be considered by the Dubai Municipality and, if commissioned, only be used once a contract had been signed by both parties. The design owner would retain copyright and their design could not be used – even in part – without their formal consent.

But in an intellectual property lawsuit filed in the US against Dubai Municipality (not ThyssenKrupp) in 2016, Donis claimed he had not been included in the frame’s construction process or been compensated for it.

Donis' original pitch from the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Architecture Award.

After beating more than 900 other contestants to win the award, Donis’ architecture firm entered into discussions with Dubai Municipality but ultimately, in 2013, rejected a final draft agreement because, he claims, it included several unexpected clauses.

For example, Donis wouldn’t be able to use the structure in any of his company’s promotional material, his team would have little involvement in the development and building process, and the contract could be terminated by Dubai Municipality at any time.

The Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates —

A new mega-tall skyscraper aims to be the tallest in the world, upon completion in 2020. "The Tower" will be built on the Dubai Creek Harbor, a massive new tourism development. The Tower will eclipse the Dubai's Burj Khalifa -- currently the tallest building in the world.
Height: 928m (3,044ft)
Architect: Santiago Calatrava

The Tower, Dubai, UAE —

The expected completion date for The Tower in Dubai is 2020.

Height: 928m (3,044ft)
Architect: Santiago Calatrava

The Tower, Dubai, UAE —

The building will hold several observation decks in its oval-shaped peak. One deck will offer a 360-degree view of the city.

Height: 928m (3,044ft)
Architect: Santiago Calatrava

Jeddah Tower, Saudi Arabia —

A threat to The Tower's tallest tower ambitions is the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia. This tower is currently under construction and due to top out at 1km at a cost of $1.23 billion.

Height: 3,280ft
Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

The Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE —

Currently world's tallest building, since it was completed in 2010, is the Burj Khalifa. It stands a massive 198 meters (650 feet) above its nearest competitor.

Height: 828m (2717ft)
Floors: 163
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Mecca Royal Clock Tower Hotel, Mecca, Saudi Arabia —

Situated close to the Grand Mosque of the holy city of Mecca, the tower complex is one part of the $15 billion King Abdulaziz Endowment Project, seeking to modernize Mecca and accommodate the ever-growing number of pilgrims.

Height: 601m (1972ft)
Floors: 120
Architect: Dar Al-Handasah Architects

One Vanderbilt Avenue, New York —

A new tall tower has broken ground in New York City. Named the One Vanderbilt Avenue tower, the building is designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox architects, and construction officially started today. At 1,401 feet tall, upon completion it will be the second tallest building in New York after the One World Trade Center.

Height: 427m (1,401ft)
Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox

Sky Mile Tower, Tokyo, Japan —

In February, a proposal for a mile-high tower in Tokyo was revealed.
Height: 1,600m (5,250ft)
Architect: Kohn Pefersen Fox Associates and Leslie E Robertson Associates

Sky Mile Tower, Tokyo, Japan —

The 1,600 meter tower is part of a future city concept named "Next Tokyo 2045," which envisions a floating mega-city in Tokyo Bay.

Height: 1,600m (5,250ft)
Architect: Kohn Pefersen Fox Associates and Leslie E Robertson Associates

1 Undershaft, London, UK —

In December 2015, plans were unveiled for the 1 Undershaft -- a 300m tall building that could become the City of London's tallest building.
Height: 300m (984ft)
Floors: 73
Architect: Aroland Holdings

1 Undershaft, London, UK —

1 Undershaft will sit across the river from London's tallest building, The Shard, which is 9.6 meters taller.

Height: 300m (984ft)
Floors: 73
Architect: Aroland Holdings

432 Park Avenue, New York, U.S. —

432 Park Avenue, the tallest all-residential tower in the western hemisphere, opened its doors in December 2015, recently became the hundredth supertall building in the world.

Height: 425.5m (1396ft)
Floors: 85
Architect: Rafael Vinoly, SLCE Architects, LLP

Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China —

Completed in 2015, Asia's tallest building surpasses the Shanghai World Financial Center and the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai's Pudong district. Estimated to cost $2.4 billion, its completion marked the end of a project in the financial district stretching back to 1993.

Height: 632m (2073ft)
Floors: 128
Architect: Jun Xia, Gensler

One World Trade Center, New York, U.S. —

Known as the "Freedom Tower," One World Trade Center stands on part of the site previously occupied by the Twin Towers. It's the highest building in the western hemisphere, and cost $3.9 billion according to Forbes.

Height: 541.3m (1776 ft)
Floors: 94
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan —

The first skyscraper to break the half-kilometer mark, the world's tallest building between March 2004 and March 2010 is also one of the greenest -- certified LEED platinum in 2011. Designed to withstand the elements, including typhoons, earthquakes and 216 km/h winds, Taipei 101 utilizes a 660-tonne mass damper ball suspended from the 92nd floor, which sways to offset the movement of the building.

Height: 508m (1667ft)
Floors: 101
Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partners

Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China —

Construction of Shanghai's third supertall building took 11 years, but the skyscraper dubbed "The Bottle Opener" was met with critical praise and high-end residents when it completed in 2008, including the Park Hyatt Shanghai and offices for Ernst & Young, Morgan Stanley, and BNP Paribas.

Height: 492m (1614.17ft)
Floors: 101
Architect: Kohn Pederson Fox

International Commerce Center, Hong Kong, China —

Hong Kong's tallest building has 108 floors -- but walking around it, you'd get a different story. The city's tetraphobia -- the fear of the number four -- means floors with the number have been skipped, and the International Commerce Center is marketed as a 118-story skyscraper.

Height: 484m (1588ft)
Floors: 108
Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox

Shanghai Tower —

Standing at 2,074 feet (632 meters) tall, the Shanghai Tower is the world's second tallest building.

Petronas Towers 1 and 2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia —

The joint eighth highest completed skyscraper is still the tallest twin towers in the world. Finished in 1996 and inaugurated in 1999, it's been the site of numerous hair-raising stunts. Felix Baumgartner set a then-BASE jump world record in 1999 by jumping off a window cleaning crane, and in 2009 Frenchman Alain Robert, known as "Spiderman," freeclimbed to the top of Tower Two without safety equipment -- and did so in under two hours.

Height: 451.9m (1483ft)
Floors: 88
Architect: Cesar Pelli

Zifeng Tower, Nanjing, China —

The architects behind the Burj Khalifa are also responsible for the world's tenth tallest building. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's Zifeng Tower in Nanjing completed in January 2010 and sits just above the Willis Tower (previously the Sears Tower) in the rankings, eclipsing the SOM-designed Chicago icon by a mere 7.9 meters (26 ft).

Height: 450m (1476ft)
Floors: 66
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill