BUSINESS & JOBS

Biggest accomplishment for CoxGomyl in the region so far is the hand over of the world's most complicated project: The task to keep the 24,000 window panels' façade of the world's tallest building Burj Khalifa in Dubai spotless. CoxGomyl Integrated Solution Division got involved in the Burj Khalifa project at an early stage in order to offer esthetic solutions by integrating all external maintenance and cleaning facilities into the building design.

Dubai's officials said that a dazzling display of fireworks at the inauguration of World's tallest tower-Burj Khalifa was aimed to give message of Dubai emerging from the worst financial crisis and the emirate has started its new journey for scaling new heights of growth.

A last-minute decision to change the name of the skyscraper from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa reflected a political shift within the United Arab Emirates. Dubai’s tower now carries the name of Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the ruler of neighboring Abu Dhabi and the president of the emirates, who reluctantly rode to Dubai’s rescue last month with a $10 billion bailout.

The world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa has finally opened its doors following five long years of construction. And, despite the last-minute name change, the presence of the world's tallest tower will deliver direct economic benefits to the emirate of Dubai. Emaar's flagship project is significant in many ways. It delivers another iconic structure to Dubai's skyline, complementing the Burj al-Arab in international recognition and plays an arguably even greater role as the anchor project to Emaar's wider Dhs73bn ($20bn) Downtown Burj Dubai scheme.

"Since the turn of the year and the opening of the Burj Khalifa, we have started to see people want to come back and talk to the bank about making investments outside the cash deposit," said Gary Dugan, chief investment officer, Private Banking, at Emirates NBD. "It's hundreds of millions of dollars being put on the table. It's real money that is coming back in."

Western media have taken aim at this country because of its achievements. The UAE's phenomenal success, which was epitomised by the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai earlier this month stands as testimony to the ability of Arab people to challenge the impossible.

In reputation and marketability, Adrian Smith is Chicago's tallest architect. At age 65, Smith has reached a stature where he has nothing left to prove and little to fear. Yet, he's afraid that part of his legacy is being lost.

In the official Burj Khalifa gift shop, one customer mischievously asked for a discount on a pair of Burj Dubai baseball caps. The Filipina lady behind the counter played along and argued that they should be charging extra since anything with Burj Dubai on it is now a rare collector’s item

The Saif Belhasa Group has pared back its retail expansion plans and postponed its initial public offering (IPO) due to economic uncertainty, said its chairman. The group expanded into food retail in part to cash in on the Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping centres in the world, at the foot of the Burj Khalifa,Mr Belhasa said.

Even though lease rate for units in the world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, are not yet established, analysts believe the expected rental rates for commercial spaces in the tower will handsomely beat the ongoing rates in other established high-rise buildings of the world, such as the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) in Chicago, United States.