Dubai: Burj Dubai, the world`s tallest
tower that stands at 828 metres high, was today inaugurated by
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad, who sprang a surpise by renaming
the skyscraper "Burj Khalifa," after the United Arab Emirates
president Sheikh Khalifa.
Blazing fireworks and dazzling lights marked the
opening of the world`s tallest tower that pips all its nearest
rivals, including the 101-storey high Taipei Tower in Taiwan.
The Gulf Emirates hopes the launch will pep up its global
image, shaken by debt woes.
The steel and glass tower was opened by Dubai`s ruler
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid al Maktoum, who also lifted the
veil on a closely guarded secret of its final height.
"Emirates has made a mark on the world and Dubai has
built something for the world that is built by human beings,"
Sheikh Mohammed said while announcing the tower open.
After throwing the tower open, Sheikh Mohammad renamed
the Burj Tower as "Burj Khalifa" as a tribute to the UAE`s
president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to a giant screen at the opening ceremony,
the Khalifa measures 828 metres (2,717 feet), overtaking
Taipei 101, which is 508 metres (1,676 feet) high.
The USD 1.5 billion structure is an "unprecedented"
engineering marvel that was built with a major contribution
from India - a vast labour force.
Sheikh Mohammad inaugurated the tower in a colourful
ceremony featuring dazzling laser lights, fireworks display
and a choreographed water display on the Dubai fountains which
stretch for 275 metres at the foot of the tower.
The Dubai Burj`s record seeking builders are also
boasting of the highest occupied floor of any building in the
world and today the needle-shaped tower ranks taller than
north Dakota`s Television mast.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a special
message of felicitation to Sheikh Mohammed on the occasion.
In her message, Clinton said: "Your efforts to create
international cooperation in our global economy are an
important endeavour. I applaud your commitment to sustainable
development."
Occupying a pride of place on the Burj will be a
leading Indian businessman in the country, B R Shetty, chief
of the NMC Group. Shetty will be occupying 100th floor of Burj
Dubai.
The spire is billed as a `vertical city` of luxury
apartments and offices. It boasts four swimming pools, a
private library and a hotel designed by Giorgio Armani.
Work on the world`s new tallest building started in
2004 and at times new floors were being added almost every
three days.
The opening of the spectacular tower comes after the
ones booming real estate sector in the Emirates has crashed,
halving the value of most of Dubai properties in comparison
with peak prices, when they were selling for a staggering USD
1,900 per square foot.
-PTI
