Burj Dubai — The World's Tallest Building
Dubai, U.A.E. Breaks World Record with Its 688 Meter Dubai Tower
Sep 24, 2008
Still under construction, the majestic Burj Dubai Tower has now reached a new height of 688 meters — 2,257 feet. The towering skyscraper has beaten Taiwan’s Taipei 101, which until 2004 was recorded as the tallest building.
The Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower) is expected to reach around 800 meters when it is completed in a year’s time, in September 2009. The tower has been under construction by Emar Properties for 4 years and its final height is still a closely guarded secret.
Inside the Burj Dubai
The Burj Dubai was reported by the U.K.'s Daily Mail, 12 July 2007, “Dubai Skyscraper Becomes the Tallest Building on Earth” as having a dizzying 141 storeys. The completed building is projected to have 56 lifts traveling at 1.75 to 10 meters per second. When finished, it will house both commercial, retail and residential property, accommodating around 35,000 people.
According to the Daily Mail’s Robert Hardman, in his September 2, 2008 article, “The world’s tallest building – Burj Dubai – reaches 2,257 ft,” the view from the top of the tower spans around 100 miles, enabling observers to seek Iran. Hardman also claims that the number of floors has now reached 160, exceeding the original estimate of 141. The swimming pool on the 76th floor “will almost certainly be the highest of its kind in the world.”
According to Hardman, the Dubai Tower is made from heavy-duty concrete unlike New York’s Twin Towers, which were constructed from a steel frame. Supporting pillars have been designed to withstand any earthquake activity, given Dubai’s proximity to the Iran/Iraq faultline.
Other World Record Holders
Other previous record holders, according to the Times, September 1, 2008, "Dubai Claims Record for Word's Tallest Building," include the 628.8 meter KVLY-TV lattice tower in North Dakota, which was the world’s tallest completed structure and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, the world’s tallest freestanding completed structure at 553.3 meters. The Empire State Building in New York stands at 381 meters.
The Palm Jumeirah - Fantasy Island
The Burj Dubai is just one of Dubai’s many mega-projects in a bid to attract tourists and Western residents. The Palm Jumeirah (dubbed fantasy island), a large man-made island in the shape of a palm tree off the shores of Dubai, and the 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel, whose distinctive sail-like design has become synonomous with the emirate are just two of such projects.
The Atlantis Hotel & Resort
Today, September 24, 2008 sees the opening of its huge new ocean-themed resort, called the Atlantis Hotel, which boats a 42-acre aqua park which includes a dolphinarium. No expense has been spared in the development of this resort, a sister to the similarly styled Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas. The Dubai resort complex is estimated to have cost a billion-and-a-half dollars, making it one of the most lavish hotels in the world. The Atlantis resort is set to host an exclusive opening party on Novermber 20th, 2008, which will feature Kylie Minogue, performing live.
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