Burj Dubai renamed as Burj Khalifa

[JCMach1]

Source: Gulf News

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, renamed Burj Dubai as Burj Khalifa on Monday evening.

Unveiling the world’s tallest tower, Shaikh Mohammad said, “We built the high rise for people with strong will and determination. The highest point in the world should be linked to the big names and I announce today the opening of Burj Khalifa Bin Zayed.” The official height of the iconic tower was also revealed: 828 metres.

Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered around the base of the tower to witness a slice of history. Shortly after 8pm, the world's tallest building came to life with a spectacular array of fireworks as Dubai's latest icon announced its arrival on the world stage.

Restaurants and cafes on Dubai Mall's Waterfront Promenade and at the adjoining Souk Al Bahar were packed from 3pm onwards.

By around 7pm Downtown Burj Dubai had never seen a crowd like it. The entire area was saturated with people jostling for the best view of the fireworks.

Read more: http://gulfnews.com/business/property/burj-dubai-renamed-as-burj-khalifa-1.562401

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Went to the opening this evening... There were a few cool effects, but overall pretty lame...

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/worlds-tallest-tower-burj-khalifa-opens-7.4678!twothirdupload/lead_burj_final02.jpg http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/burj-fireworks-1.562456!image/1409310217.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/1409310217.jpg

I guess since Khalifa paid for it in the end, he deserves the name... rather funny that.

[TommyO]

1. It's amazing what can be accomplished with slave labor and civil rights abuses!

[JCMach1]

2. I would prefer non-unionized, underpaid, Ubercapitalist Dictatorship

oh yeah and leveraged to the hilt (think Iceland)...

I do what I can here, but it's the international capitalist system that is driving many things like this. You can't tell me that in a heartbeat someone like Donald would circumvent the construction unions and import cheap labor from India and China if the rules allowed him to... No, in the U.S. we keep most of our sweatshops nice, neat and overseas. Out of sight is out of mind, right?

While the ceremony was lame and people can grouse about the construction, there is finally a piece of architecture that will be worthy to hold the title of world's highest for a number of years. It is an awesome building.

[Fumesucker]

3. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder..

I think it's ugly and looks like something out of one of the dark Batman movies..

But we are all entitled to our own opinions, eh?

[JCMach1]

9. Just comparing it to the recent monstrosities that have held the 'tallest' record

Especially the Chinese and HK one... :puke:

[tonysam]

7. It really is beautiful even if it looks like something out of sci-fi movie.

Using slave labor to construct the building should be condemned.

I get vertigo just looking at this thing.

[Sultana]

4. Named after the UAE prez

LOL, Shk. Mo is lame and OWNED!

Burj Dubai sounds better......

[marmar]

5. How do you say "White Elephant" in Arabic?

nt

[dysfunctional press]

6. i wonder what it's like on the top floor on a windy day...?

and who will be the first to climb it?

one more question-
do the firemen in dubai have to train to run to the top?

[JCMach1]

8. Was already climbed when under construction... illegallly

[Canuckistanian]

10. The world's highest....

....empty shell of a building. I hear they're having problems getting tenants to rent. Storey after storey of empty rooms and glamorous meeting suites.

The same as all the other mega-buildings in Dubai. Spectacular architecture, little interest in actually living or working there.

[Fumesucker]

11. Most of the time the rooms aren't even built, just empty floors..

The interiors of skyscrapers are usually left bare, each tenant designs their own space when they lease and it is built to spec..

Sometimes even the core such as elevator lobbies and such aren't built out on unoccupied floors, they just lock out the passenger elevators from stopping on those floors without a pass key.