by wildcherry on Monday, February 8th, 2010 | Attraction, Places to Visit, Travel | No Comments

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The world’s tallest skyscraper has unexpectedly closed to the public a month after its lavish opening, disappointing tourists headed for the observation deck and casting doubt over plans to welcome its first permanent occupants in the coming weeks.

Electrical problems are at least partly to blame for the closure of the Burj Khalifa’s viewing platform – the only part of the half-mile high tower open yet. But a lack of information from the spire’s owner left it unclear whether the rest of the largely empty building – including dozens of elevators meant to whisk visitors to the tower’s more than 160 floors – was affected by the shutdown.

The indefinite closure, which began Sunday, comes as Dubai struggles to revive its international image as a cutting-edge Arab metropolis amid nagging questions about its financial health.

The Persian Gulf city-state had hoped the 2,717-foot (828-meter) Burj Khalifa would be a major tourist draw. Dubai has promoted itself by wowing visitors with over-the-top attractions such as the Burj, which juts like a silvery needle out of the desert and can be seen from miles around.

In recent weeks, thousands of tourists have lined up for the chance to buy tickets for viewing times often days in advance that cost more than $27 apiece. Now many of those would-be visitors, such as Wayne Boyes, a tourist from near Manchester, England, must get back in line for refunds.

Tags: Burj Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Burj Khalifa Closed, dubai, Dubai Economy, Dubai Tallest Building, Dubai World's Tallest Building, world's tallest building, World's Tallest Buildings

by nate on Monday, January 4th, 2010 | Attraction, Places to Visit, Travel | No Comments

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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