Every cloud has a silver lining and for the world it literally will be The Burj Dubai. The global financial crisis has ensured that the super-tall skyscraper, already the region’s pride, will cement its place as the world’s tallest building for at least a decade.

In the recent past, several projects have been announced in the Middle East threatening to surpass Emaar’s Burj Dubai. However, analysts state that all such projects, which require billions to complete, have been brought to a grinding halt.

With the crisis expected to govern global lives for the next three to five years and an additional five years being the minimum period required to soar above 818 metres (the Burj Dubai’s proposed final height), it is safe to say Dubai’s astonishing landmark will rule till 2019.

To date, four projects that would outstrip the Burj Dubai have been announced.

Al Burj (The Tower) by Nakheel, the only serious contender that had bite, will also take a few more years than initially projected to complete.

However, analysts spell complete doom for the other proposed projects – Murjan Tower 1 (Bahrain), Burj Mubarak al-Kabir (Kuwait) and Saudi Arabian Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s kilometre high tower for Jeddah.

Nakheel has kept its proposed final height for the Al Burj a secret.

Most recent reports suggested that the tower would rise to 1,400m (4,593ft). From an initial projection of 700m to reports of 1,600m, the Nakheel tower has kept everyone guessing.

However, nothing can surpass the Burj Dubai for a decade.

Located in the Business Bay district of Dubai, the Burj Dubai is the tallest man-made structure ever built, despite being incomplete.

Construction began on September 21, 2004 and is expected to be completed and ready for occupation in September 2009.

The building is part of the two sq km development called ‘Downtown Dubai’, at the ‘First Interchange’ (Defence Roundabout) along Sheikh Zayed Road at Doha Street.

Record breaker

The Burj Dubai holds the following records:

Tallest structure: 707m; previously KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, USA: 628.8m

Tallest freestanding structure: 707m; previously CN Tower, Canada: 553.3m

Building with most floors: 160; previously Sears Tower, Chicago, USA: 110 floors

Highest vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 601m; previously Taiwan’s Taipei 101: 449.2m

Highest vertical concrete pumping (for any construction): 601m (1,972ft); previously Riva del Garda Hydroelectric Power Plant, Torino, Italy: 532m

Source: Emirates Business 24|7

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