Dubai has a reputation for erecting scores of futuristic buildings that have changed the city's skyline. Kingdom Holding is constructing a tower in Jeddah that will be taller than the Burj Khalifa, reaching more than 1 kilometer (3,300 ft) into the sky. This story was contributed to by the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
The Burj Khalifa was opened in 2009 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. At 828 meters (2,717 feet), it is the tallest building in the world. It contains over 100 shops, a four-star hotel with 536 rooms, a health club, and other luxury amenities. The building also features an observation deck where visitors can see out over Dubai.
Kingdom Holding aims to complete the Jeddah Tower in 2017. When it is completed, it will be 928 meters (3,000 feet) high and hold a theme park, a shopping mall, and a hotel. The company says the tower will be able to withstand winds up to 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour).
The Burj Khalifa was built by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) on land it owns near downtown Dubai. It is considered one of the most environmentally friendly buildings because it uses 90% less energy than a typical skyscraper.
The Jeddah Tower Jeddah Tower, at about one kilometer in height, would be the highest building or structure in the world to date, towering 180 meters (591 feet) higher than the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Jeddah Tower is being built by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), and is expected to be completed in 2018.
Other proposed skyscrapers have been announced by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Financial District development company, including a tower that will be the tallest free-standing structure on earth at over 400 meters (1,312 feet) high. It is also expected that when it is complete, the Jeddah Tower will be the highest building in the world.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ambitious plans for its economy, with an aim to make it among the top five global powers by 2032. One of the strategies adopted by the government is to attract foreign investment - especially from China - which is considered a safe destination due to the stability of its political system and the strength of its currency.
In addition, there are plans to build a series of supertall buildings in the capital city of Riyadh. The first phase of this project was announced in 2011 and aims to bring down the height of some existing buildings by replacing them with new structures that exceed 500 meters (1,640 feet).
The Burj Khalifa (also known as the Burj Dubai) is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This incredible skyscraper, which was built between 2004 and 2010, reaches as high as 828 meters and is by far the tallest building in the world. The tower has 91 floors above ground with a total area of about. It is located on Sheikh Zayed Road near the Dubai Internet City.
The building's official name is The Burj Khalifa. It is owned by the Khalifa family through their holding company, Burj Khalifa Ltd. The cost of construction was estimated at $140 million at the time of opening. It is considered to be one of the most expensive buildings in the world per square meter.
It is believed that the building's design was based on traditional Middle Eastern architecture, especially that of the UAE. The main inspiration for the design of the building was said to be the Tower of Babel in Babylon.
Burj Khalifa has been listed as one of the "7 wonders of the world" since 2011. The other six are the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids of Giza, Mount Rushmore, Christ the Redeemer and the Statue of Liberty.
Dubai, the city of skyscrapers, has 63 buildings taller than 200 meters (656 feet), more than any other city in the world, including Hong Kong and New York City. There are 125 structures taller than 150 meters. Only three countries have more tall buildings: China, Russia, and the United States.
The tallest building in Dubai is The Burj Khalifa at 2111 m (6912 ft). It is also the tallest building in the world outside of Asia. The second tallest is Dubailand's Fountains of Light, which is 2044 m (6738 ft). Other notable buildings include the Arabian Ranches Central Park, which is 375 m (1240 ft) high and Dubai International Financial Centre, which is 349 m (1150 ft).
In November 2016, the world's first sky tower, a luxury hotel-cum-shopping centre called Dream Downtown by ION Orchard in Singapore's Orchard Road district, was completed. At 328 m (1072 ft), it is 30 m (100 ft) shorter than the Burj Khalifa but still holds the title of the highest freestanding structure in Singapore. It also ranks as the 14th tallest building in the world.
Another landmark is being built in Dubai. Called World Islands, it will be a series of seven islands connected by bridges and roads.
According to CNN, a supertall skyscraper under construction in Dubai will be intended to appear to "breathe." According to CNN, Wasl Tower, which is located just across the street from the world's tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa, will cost an estimated $400 million to erect. It will measure 1,004 feet tall (300 meters), making it the second-highest building in Dubai and the third-highest in the world. The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion in 2014.
The final price tag on the Wasl Tower has not been announced but previous projects have cost up to $100 million each. There are no details about how the builder of Wasl Tower intends to pay for its erection but previous builders have borrowed money from financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies to fund their projects.
Any substantial changes made to the design of a building after it has been approved by regulatory agencies can result in additional costs. For example, the original design of The Shard included 832 apartments but this was reduced to 708 at a cost of £150 million ($225 million).
Skyscrapers are expensive to build because they require extensive engineering work to make them safe for their heights. For example, engineers need to ensure that there are no dangerous vibrations when the wind blows against the side of the building or water pipes breaking due to heat expansion or cold contraction.
The Burj Khalifa, at 829.8 meters tall, is Dubai's signature structure and the most famous of the city's places of attraction. It is also the tallest building in the world.
Construction on the Burj Khalifa began in 2004 by Abu Dhabi's Al-Majid Construction Company under the supervision of DWK Architects with Yasir Nawani as principal architect. The foundation stone was laid on April 4, 2004, by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The building was completed on January 4, 2010, after 17 months of construction.
The Burj Khalifa is not only one of Dubai's most recognizable buildings, it is also one of the most influential in the world. It has been called "the skyscraper as art form" by its creator, Arif Naqvi. The building stands for ambition, confidence, and pride. It is the symbol of Dubai's rise from a small emirate to a major international city-state.
In addition to being incredibly famous, the Burj Khalifa is also incredibly popular. The tower has 730 residential units and has become one of the most sought-after apartments in Dubai.