Burj Dubai sets world record

Emaar's Burj Dubai tower, already the tallest structure in the Middle East and Europe, has set a new global record for having more floors than any other building in the world. Currently, at 120 storeys and 422.5m high, the iconic building is also one of the five tallest structures in the world. It is taller than the Empire State Building (381m) in New York City and the John Hancock Centre (344m) in Chicago, two of only five completed buildings in the world that reach 100 storeys or more.The proposed height of the Burj Dubai tower has still not been officially revealed. It is thought that it will stand at 166 storeys high, topped with a 30-metre spire, upon completion. This would mark a final height of over 606 metres.

"Burj Dubai is setting a new record with every passing day - in terms of height and the number of storeys," said Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties. "This is the accomplishment of teamwork, with the world's best in engineering, construction and design services working together to create a new landmark not only for the UAE, but for the entire world." To date, 304,800 cubic metres of reinforced concrete and 59,200 tonnes of reinforcing steel have been used in the construction of Burj Dubai. Designed by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Burj Dubai is constructed by high-rise experts South Korea's Samsung Corporation. Turner Construction International is the project and construction manager.When completed, Burj Dubai will be the tallest building in the world in all four categories recognised by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which compiles and ranks the world's tallest buildings. CTBUH ranks buildings on the basis of spire height, the highest occupied floor, roof height and pinnacle height. A mixed-use tower, Burj Dubai will have residences, commercial spaces, and the Armani Hotel Dubai, a luxury hotel developed by Emaar in association with haute couture major Giorgio Armani. There will also be recreational facilities and entertainment venues including four luxurious pools and a cigar club, a library, exclusive residents' lounge, serviced residences, 15,000 sq ft of fitness facilities and an observatory. Source