Burj Dubai Reaches Final Height

Burj Dubai Tower Reaches final Height

The Burj Dubai has reached its final height of 818 meters. The final height had been kept secret until last week, presumably in an effort to keep competitors on their toes, although all of the possible competition for the world’s tallest tower have now been cancelled courtesy the credit crunch.

The Burj Dubai is currently “the world’s tallest man-made structure,” and will not be considered “the world’s tallest building,” until it is occupied. It will see a “soft opening” on September 9 this year in conjunction with the launch of the Dubai Metro.

“There is still work to be done in terms of finishing the building,” said a spokesperson. “This includes the access and exit planning as well as connecting the sewerage lines to the main network.”

These issues are being addressed to ensure optimum working of the building before final occupancy, the person said. Emaar Properties did not comment.

Construction on Burj Dubai started in September 2004 and completion was projected by late 2008. In June 2008, Emaar Chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar said in a statement: “We believe that a completion date of September 2009 is possible and reasonable for a project of this global magnitude and significance.”

The spire was erected in the third week of December and now a beacon has been installed at the top, usually the final topping-out of a tower.

When completed, Burj Dubai will meet all four criteria listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which classifies the world’s tallest structures. CTBUH measures the height of buildings to the structural top, the highest occupied floor, the top of the roof and the tip of the spire, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flagpole.

The contractor, Besix, said it is working to complete the work on schedule. “We signed a new agreement with Emaar Properties last year and they gave us an extension of time to complete the project in 2009,” said Didier Bosredon, Deputy Project Director at Besix.

Burj Dubai is part of the $20 billion Burj Dubai development, which includes a shopping mall, luxury hotels and a variety of residential buildings. The tower will have an observation deck on the 124th floor and the 154th floor will house the office of the Emaar chairman. The façade is still not yet finished and work is still in progress.

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