The structure was completed in 2010 as part of the Downtown Dubai development. The structure was previously known as the Burj Dubai, but it was renamed in honor of Abu Dhabi's ruler and President of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi and the UAE government gave money to Dubai to help it settle its obligations. As part of the agreement, Dubai renamed the tower its official residence and workplace.
The structure was completed in 2010 as part of the Downtown Dubai development. It is intended to be the focal point of a large-scale, mixed-use complex.
Burj Khalifa | |
---|---|
Construction started | 6 January 2004 |
Topped-out | 17 January 2009 |
Completed | 1 October 2009 |
Opened | 4 January 2010 |
Burj Khalifa ("Khalifa Tower"), known as Burj Dubai during construction, was formally named after the ruler of the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan. The tower was designed by French architect Jean-Marie Cavada and constructed by the Dubizzle network of companies on schedule and under budget. It is believed to be the world's tallest building outside of a city center or within a major airport location (although this title may eventually be challenged by another skyscraper in China).
The building consists of 888 rooms, 23 floors above the ground floor, with a total area of more than 100,000 square meters (1 million square feet). Its height exceeds that of the previous record holder, the 728-meter (2353-foot) Taipei 101, by nearly half a kilometer. The observation deck at the top of the tower offers views across much of Dubai and the Arabian Gulf.
The tower was built as part of the "Capital of Dubai" project, which also includes other famous buildings such as the Palm Jumeirah and the Madinat Jum'a. The project was proposed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, then vice president of the United Arab Emirates, and was first announced in 2002.
It was renamed after Abu Dhabi's ruler, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi and the UAE federal government gave Dubai tens of billions of dollars to help it settle its obligations. For building projects, Dubai borrowed at least $80 billion. It spent $20 million on advertising campaigns to promote itself as a tourist destination with exciting entertainment options.
The first phase of the project was commissioned in January 2009 and opened to visitors six months later. The tower is 828 meters (2743 feet) high and has 124 floors above ground. It is currently the tallest skyscraper in the world.
The architect was Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF). The contractor was Global Construction Group. The site is located near Downtown Dubai. It will be replaced by another skyscraper once it is completed in 2016.
In some countries, such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, it is traditional for men to lead dances because they are the guests. This is also true in Latin American countries where people often call musicians "guests" or "bandleaders".
The tradition dates back many years before there were any dances except war dances. Men would lead war dances to celebrate victories or denounce enemies. As dances became more organized, men wanted to lead because it is respectful.
The Burj Al Arab, properly translated as "the Arabian Tower," was designed by Tom Wright and erected on Dubai's shore in 1999 over a five-year period: three to develop the island and two to build the hotel. The hotel was one of the earliest record-breaking constructions in Dubai. It has been called the world's first "vertical city" because its rooms and suites look out on sea, beach, or garden.
The name comes from the tale of the original owner who had a dream that he would one day have a tower like the one described in the Arabian Nights stories. When he died, this dream came true for him. Today, the hotel is owned by the Al Maktoum family, who also own the Palm Islands development. The hotel has 24 floors with 1000 rooms including 25 luxury suites.
Al Maktoum hired Tom Wright to design their new palace on the seafront. It was intended to be the most luxurious hotel in the world. The building is made of aluminum and glass, so it can withstand both the heat of the Gulf sun and the cold of the Gulf waters. The total cost of the hotel was $140 million at the time it was built.
The main structure is a reinforced concrete shell with an exterior surface of polished stainless steel panels. It contains 663 rooms and 50 suites, along with seven restaurants and bars, a nightclub, a casino, a spa, a swimming pool, a cinema, and a music room. The total area of the hotel complex is about 44,000 square meters (480,000 sq ft). Its cost was estimated at $140 million at the time of its completion.
The building is so named because it resembles a giant sail, or burj. It was also known as the Palm Jumeirah before it was made into an island.
Burj Al Arab was built on land that used to be part of the mainland. The location was chosen because of its ocean views and its distance from urban areas. It stands on the tip of a man-made island called The Palm Jumeirah, which extends for nearly 10 kilometers (6 miles) in a north-south direction from Dubai Island down to the Gulf Coast. The island was constructed using gravel extracted from the desert and dumped into the sea off the coast of Dubai.
Burj Al Arab was erected on a man-made island 280 meters off the coast of Dubai. Guests may get there through a 340m-long bridge road. It took five years to construct. The renowned landmark's construction began in 1994. It was designed by Zaha Hadid.
The name "Burj" means "tower" in Arabic. The word "Arab" in this context does not refer to an ethnic group, but rather to the region of the Middle East. Thus, "Burj Arab" is actually an accurate description of this luxury hotel.
Hadid used local materials for the design of her famous hotel. They include Italian marble, German glass, and French bronze. The interior design was also done by Hadid. It includes several large rooms with transparent walls that allow natural light into them during daytime hours while preserving your privacy at night.
Guests can choose from one of three categories when it comes to staying at Burj Al Arab: beach suites, garden suites, or standard rooms. Beach suites are right on the sea with private pools. Garden suites are set apart from the beach but still within walking distance of some of Dubai's main attractions. Standard rooms are the smallest but they do offer up enough space to fit a bed, desk, and closet.
That is the primary reason why so many of these complexes are being constructed in Dubai alone. The Burj Dubai will be the centerpiece of a massive commercial and residential complex that will cost a total of $8 billion, with the tower accounting for around $800 million. It is expected to attract visitors from around the world.
The building's owner, the Emirate of Dubai, wants to show the rest of the world that it can build a truly great city with modern infrastructure. The project's director said that the goal was to create "a new landmark for Dubai by becoming the first skyscraper in the world to be powered by solar energy".
The Burj Dubai is also being called the world's first solar-powered skyscraper because it will generate its own power and consume very little oil. The main idea behind this type of construction is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and help fight climate change.
Another reason for building such a big tower is to make sure that people all over the world can see it. The Burj Dubai will be 828 meters high, which is almost 300 feet higher than the previous record holder, the Sears Tower in Chicago. It is expected to become one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.
Finally, the Burj Dubai will be a demonstration site where scientists can test innovative technologies that may later be used in other towers.