2,500 buildings completed last year
The number of completed buildings in Dubai during 2009 topped the 2,500-mark, according to Dubai Municipality data released by the Dubai Statistics Centre (DSC). These numbers are set to grow this year, with Burj Khalifa delivered in January 2010. The value of these completed buildings, according to DSC statistics, was Dh24.89 billion.
The Age of Concrete
Come April, the first tenants may finally be able to move into Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, now the tallest building in the world. Despite a series of setbacks since its ostensible opening two months ago, including the closing of the observation deck, the tower has already prompted an exuberant proliferation of record-breaking statistics: it soars more than half a mile high, stands twice the height of the Empire State Building, boasts views that reach 60 miles, etc
Skyscrapers express wealth and power of the city
Many press people from around the world wanted to know our opinions and insights on all sorts of questions, such as what the launch of Burj Khalifa symbolises in terms of advancements, what the main factors are that differentiate Burj Khalifa from other tall buildings, what does the launch of Burj Khalifa mean for Dubai, and what is the most impressive aspect of the building?
Dubai property market: Riding on the crest of tourism and favourable land laws
Harbouring most of the world’s architectural wonders such as the tallest building in the world—the Burj Khalifa with 168 floors, the only seven-star hotel in the world—Burj Al Arab, one of the world’s largest shopping malls—Dubai Mall, among others including the New Metro, Dubai is unarguably, the world’s most glamorous tourism destination.
Arabtec profit slashed by 50%
UAE's largest contractor posts loss for last quarter of 2009. The UAE’s largest contractor Arabtec has posted a loss for the last quarter of 2009, with profit for the full year slashed by 50%. The contractor, whose projects include the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, blamed the results on a charge of about $80m (£53.5m) for bad debts.
A view from London
The storm has somewhat subsided — although the media still appears to enjoy putting the boot in whenever it sees the opportunity, as shown by a recent article in The Times which insisted that the opening of Burj Khalifa was an example of how, according to the headline,
Dubai’s decline a technical setback
Readers of Daily Commercial News may have noticed the recent article about an elevator failure that caused Burj Khalifa in Dubai, to be closed just a month after its grand opening. Its promoters were calling it the world’s first building in motion.
The architecture firm that reached for the sky
Burj Khalifa. The Sears Tower. The World Trade Center... If it's a colossal construction, then Skidmore, Owings & Merrill probably designed it. Jay Merrick gets the measure of global architecture's biggest beasts.
Emirates NBD Opens Branch At The Residences
Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Middle East in terms of assets, announced today the opening of its newest branch at The Residences, a cluster of nine high-rise towers in Downtown Dubai, adjacent to The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, the recently inaugurated world’s tallest tower. The second Emirates NBD branch to open this year complements the bank’s existing network of 110 branches and 650 ATMs, the largest such network in the UAE.
Emaar announces profit of US$633 million
Emaar has announced an annual net operating profit of US$633 million (AED 2.324billion). The company highlighted the recent opening of the Burj Khalifa as a high point, along with the opening of its first medical centre and two new hotels.
