by nate on Monday, January 4th, 2010 | Attraction, Places to Visit, Travel

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Dubai is set to open the world’s tallest building on Monday, less than a month after receiving billions of dollars from neighboring Abu Dhabi to avoid a huge loan default.

Dubai’s ruler will preside over the opening ceremony for the Burj Dubai, Arabic for Dubai Tower, which has been under construction since 2004.

The developers will not reveal the exact height of Burj before its official debut, but it reportedly towers more than 800 meters, significantly taller than the previous record-holder, the Tapei 101 which rises 508 meters above Taiwan.

Dubai leaders hope the tapered metal and glass skyscraper will help restore investors’ confidence in the Gulf Arab emirate, which has been saddled with a mountain of debt since the collapse of its real estate sector at the end of 2008.

State-owned conglomerate Dubai World, known for its pricey and extravagant real estate projects, sent markets tumbling in November after it announced it could not repay $60 billion in loans.

Neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi came to Dubai’s rescue in December with a $10 billion aid package to help Dubai World repay some of its debt.

source: voanews.com

Taipei 101
City: Taipei
Country: Taiwan (ROC)
Height: 509m 1,671 ft
Floors: 101

image credit: Bloomberg

Shanghai World Financial Centre (left)
City: Shanghai
Country: China (PRC)
Height: 492m 1, 614 ft
Floors: 101

image credit: Bloomberg

International Commerce Centre
City: Hong Kong
Country: Hong Kong
Height: 483m 1, 584 ft
Floors: 118

image credit: Bloomberg

Petronas Tower 1
City: Kuala Lumpur Country: Malaysia Height: 452m 1, 483 ft
Floors: 88
Petronas Tower 2
Height: 452m 1, 483 ft Floors: 88

image credit: Bloomberg

Nanjing Greenland Financial Centre
City: Nanjing
Country: China (PRC)
Height: 450m 1, 476 ft
Floors 89

image credit: Bloomberg

Willis Tower (Sears Tower)
City: Chicago
Country: United States
Height: 442m 1, 451 ft
Floors: 108

image credit: Bloomberg

Guangzhou West Tower
City: Guangzhou
Country: China (PRC)
Height: 440m 1, 444 ft
Floors: 103

image credit: Bloomberg

Two International Financial Centre
City: Hong Kong
Country: Hong Kong
Height: 416m 1, 362 ft
Floors: 88

image credit: Bloomberg

Jin Mao Tower (right)
City: Shanghai
Country: China (PRC)
Height: 421m 1, 380 ft
Floors: 88

image credit: Bloomberg

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