CONSTRUCTION & TECHNOLOGY

Construction sites are buzzing with work across the Persian Gulf sheikdom more than two years after the financial crisis set off a real-estate slump that caused values to fall by more than 60 percent. In the next two years, tens of thousands of new properties will come onto a market where about 40 percent of homes and offices are empty. Emaar halted all its Dubai projects following the crisis except the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper. The company said that it’s focusing on completing developments that have been started and sold and may consider new ones “in view of the improved economic conditions and demand for properties especially in downtown Dubai.”

The Dubai Fountain song Baba Yetu has won a Grammy for its composer Christopher Tin. Taken from the album Calling All Dawns, the Swahili song won the Grammy for "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists" and is also the theme tempo for the video game, "Civilization IV". The song made history for being the first video gaming music to be nominated and to win the prestigious music award.

While the "tall building is a controversial type of structure, its prevalence and power remains undeniable," says Prof. Brian Sinclair of the faculty of environmental design at the University of Calgary. "Across the globe, more and taller towers are being designed and developed. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, for example, reaches higher than any building on the planet.

Burj Khalifa opened last year and is the world's tallest building, dominating Dubai's skyline at a jaw-dropping 828 metres high. It has 163 floors of offices, restaurants and a Giorgio Armani-branded hotel. The observation deck is a dizzying 452 metres above the ground. See burjkhalifa.ae, atmosphereburjkhalifa.com

Visitor safety and waiting times have vastly improved at Dubai's monumental Burj Khalifa Tower thanks to global crowd control specialist Tensator. With more than 160 storeys, Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, attracting hordes of tourists and locals wanting to experience breathtaking views of the city and the UAE's Gulf shore each day.

Otis Elevator's latest elevator system, the Gen2, can take you up or down using up to 75 percent less energy than a conventional lift. More than 200,000 of the elevators have been installed around the world, including at the Los Angeles International Airport and Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building at 2,716 feet. Now Otis has accelerated its quest for energy-efficiency with the launch Tuesday of a new program to reduce energy use and shrink its carbon footprint.

LG Electronics (LG), a global technology innovator in consumer electronics, has launched its 72-inch full LED 3D TV, the world’s largest at 59 inches wide and 40 inches tall. The launch of the LZ9700 took place at The Address Downtown Hotel in Dubai. With full HD resolution on an LED display, the LZ9700 delivers pictures as large and colourful as paintings at an art gallery, a statement said.

Plans have been floated for a new superscraper in Miami that could steal the world’s tallest crown from Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Despite Miami’s financial woes, having a reported 100,000 plus properties in foreclosure according to the Miami Herald, Kobi Karp has submitted designs for Miapolis - a 'city within a city' planned for Watson Island.

Matrix Laser also contributed to New Years Eve celebrations at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. A lights and fireworks show on the world’s tallest tower was complemented by a 120 watt laser light provided by the firm. The eye-catching result was broadcast worldwide and fascinated the 200,000 spectators present in the Downtown area.

The Burj Khalifa has unveiled two gold-dispensing ATMs, the first of several such machines that will begin selling gold bars in Dubai during the next few weeks. One of the ATMs is housed on the 124th floor of the building, the At The Top observation deck; the other is in the souvenir shop on the ground floor. Gold fans can purchase as little as 2.5 grams of the precious metal up to as much as 1 ounce.