Burj Dubai

Burj Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Burj Dubai is a super tall skyscraper under construction in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Although still under construction (at time of writing, July 2008), it is already the tallest man-made structure on Earth. The Council on Tall Buildings is waiting for it to be completed before certifying it as the tallest building in the world.

Burj Dubai is part of a massive development project called Downtown Dubai which covers a land area of 2 square kilometers. It is located at the First Interchange along Sheikh Zayed Road. The tower itself is expected to cost US$4.1 billion while the whole Downtown Dubai project will consume US$20 billion. It is designed by Adrian Smith from the architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM). The builder is Samsung Engineering & Construction, which also built Taipei 101 and Petronas Twin Towers. The building is built of reinforced concrete with the top being a steel frame structure. The developer had intended to increase the steel frame height to ensure it holds on to the title of being the tallest at all time. Burj Dubai will have a mixed occupancy of office space and residential units. At time of writing, price of office space at Burj Dubai had reached $4,000 per sq ft while the Armani Residences, also in Burj Dubai, are selling for $3,500 per sq ft.

Construction of the project began on 21 September, 2004. On 21 July, 2007, Burj Dubai surpassed the 509.2m tall Taipei 101 as the tallest building on earth. On 12 August 2007, it surpassed the height of Sears Tower's antenna, which stands at a height of 527.3m. On 12 September that same year, it overtook the 553.33m (1815.39ft) CN Tower in Toronto as the tallest free-standing structure on land. Finally, on 7 April, 2008, Burj Dubai surpassed the height of the KVLY-TV Mast in North Dakota, USA, to become the tallest man-made structure on earth. It is now also taller than the now toppled Warsaw Radio Mast, which stood at a height of 646.38m (2120.67 ft) but fell down in August 1991.

The final height of Burj Dubai is still being kept a secret. According to the construction company, its final height will not be released until September 2009 when it is complated and ready for occupancy.

Burj Dubai Location Map

Burj Dubai is located at the First Interchange between Sheikh Zayed Road (E11 Road) and Al Doha Street (aka D71 Road). Pin on the map below shows the exact location.

Burj Dubai under construction
by Imre Solt (GFDL)

Dubai cityscape with Burj Dubai in the middle
by Imre Solt (GFDL)

Burj Dubai under construction
by Imre Solt (GFDL)

Burj Dubai under construction
by Hierakares (GFDL)

Burj Dubai under construction
by Aheilner (GFDL)

Burj Dubai under construction
by Imre Solt (GFDL)

Approval for the use of photos taken by Imre Solt can be found at Dubai Construction Update Part 7 Page 12 at Post 223. Imre Solt's exact statement is: "I, Imre Solt, put all my images found on the Dubai Construction Update sites on the GFDL (GNU Free Documentation License). I agree to the terms that my images may be freely redistributed and used, that they may be freely modified (and modified versions may also be freely redistributed and used), that any redistribution must include the full text of the GFDL itself, that the work (and modified versions of it) must be attributed to me (the creator), and that the images can be re-used for commercial purposes (as long as the use is under the terms of the GFDL and that the full text of the GDFL goes along with the work). I acknowledge that I cannot withdraw from this agreement." He gave this statement on 17 August 2007.

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