Not compensating for anythingHow’s this for bad timing?
The world’s tallest building is set to be opened in the Gulf emirate of Dubai.
More than 800m (2,625ft) high and clad in 26,000 glass panels, Burj Dubai has 160 floors and more than 500,000 sq m of space for offices and apartments.
Some 90% of this ridiculously tall building’s units have been sold, or so they say. They also thought that Dubai ought to be–and could be–a financial center on par with New York and London. So take it with a few hundred trillion grains of sand.
The Wall Street Journal offers that Burj Dubai “embodies Dubai’s goals.”
Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the city-state’s 60-year-old hereditary leader, hopes the building and its surrounding $20 billion development will help enhance his reputation among international investors and restore the allure of Dubai as a business hub.
I’m sure international investors would be just as happy if he paid his loans on time. Maybe he’s banking on luring London’s financial industry with rock-bottom rents.
Saud Masud, head of research at UBS AG in Dubai, says Burj Dubai will help the city to “stay in the limelight as home to a global landmark.” Still, Mr. Masud forecasts that Dubai real estate prices could drop a further 30% this year after falling 50% in 2009.
Well, at least the architects’ hometown paper thinks it’s nice to look at.
…as designed by the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and its former design partner, Adrian Smith, the Burj Dubai represents a great leap forward in height and, especially for Dubai, in design quality.
It is a luminous, light-catching skyscraper that looks like a skyscraper – ridiculously tall, but exquisitely sculpted, elegantly detailed and unapologetically exultant.
Right. Now, about that standstill agreement…
Dubai to open world’s tallest building [BBC]
World’s tallest building, Burj Dubai, set to open in UAE [FT via WaPo]
Tower Embodies Dubai’s Goals [WSJ]
The Burj Dubai: New world’s tallest building shows that nothing succeeds like excess [Chicago Trib]
Happy new year, Shaz.
Jon, this story is five years old. Really? Who gives a fuck?
Me thinks they are compensating for something.
@2: Do you live on a planet where half an earth day is five years?
90% sold? I simply don't believe it.
And thus bringing the worldwide positive contribution by Muslim's to 2 in 1300 years – congrats on the 100% increase and a real encore to extracting cheap oil from the sand.
Yeah, but can it take a direct hit from a 767?
@7 What about the indoor ski resort? That's gotta account for something?
THis post is kind of bitter and with no insight. I think the Burj is lovely. Let Dubai celebrate.
It reminds me of me when I get up in the mornings.
@8 comment of the day
Looks like they burnt the building down during the opening.
.sad.
Unfortunately, with projects like this you can't time real estate cycles.
My penis is very small.
Your penis very very big.
Dubai's Queen of Public Relations Erin Burnett will tell you that Dubai's economy is great and the best in the world.
I would like to say that only in exchange for staying in 7 star hotel for free.
Camellete
@ 16
It's hard to believe that the PR Queen of Very Responsible Rovernment of Dubai,Erin, didn't attend the grand opening.
It's Jon Stewart's fault!
It's 90% owned, but only 10% sold.
When a giant ape climbs up the side of it, the analogy to the Empire State Building will be more exact.
Bess,I don't know what I have in common with Dubai.That's what they've been telling me.
Tiger
@19 Which part of the analogy is more apt? The "famous albeit located in a low-rent area and full of cut-rate tenants" or the "completed and opened in the middle of a God-awful economic collapse and not fully occupied for 15 years?"
@9- Wasn't that the Japanese?
Happy new year, Shaz.
Jon, this story is five years old. Really? Who gives a fuck?
Happy new year, Shaz.
Jon, this story is five years old. Really? Who gives a fuck?
Me thinks they are compensating for something.
Me thinks they are compensating for something.
@2: Do you live on a planet where half an earth day is five years?
@2: Do you live on a planet where half an earth day is five years?
90% sold? I simply don’t believe it.
90% sold? I simply don’t believe it.
And thus bringing the worldwide positive contribution by Muslim’s to 2 in 1300 years – congrats on the 100% increase and a real encore to extracting cheap oil from the sand.
And thus bringing the worldwide positive contribution by Muslim’s to 2 in 1300 years – congrats on the 100% increase and a real encore to extracting cheap oil from the sand.
Yeah, but can it take a direct hit from a 767?
Yeah, but can it take a direct hit from a 767?
@7 What about the indoor ski resort? That’s gotta account for something?
@7 What about the indoor ski resort? That’s gotta account for something?
THis post is kind of bitter and with no insight. I think the Burj is lovely. Let Dubai celebrate.
THis post is kind of bitter and with no insight. I think the Burj is lovely. Let Dubai celebrate.
It reminds me of me when I get up in the mornings.
It reminds me of me when I get up in the mornings.
@8 comment of the day
Looks like they burnt the building down during the opening.
.sad.
Looks like they burnt the building down during the opening.
.sad.
@8 comment of the day
Unfortunately, with projects like this you can’t time real estate cycles.
Unfortunately, with projects like this you can’t time real estate cycles.
My penis is very small.
Your penis very very big.
Dubai’s Queen of Public Relations Erin Burnett will tell you that Dubai’s economy is great and the best in the world.
I would like to say that only in exchange for staying in 7 star hotel for free.
Camellete
Dubai’s Queen of Public Relations Erin Burnett will tell you that Dubai’s economy is great and the best in the world.
I would like to say that only in exchange for staying in 7 star hotel for free.
Camellete
@ 16
It’s hard to believe that the PR Queen of Very Responsible Rovernment of Dubai,Erin, didn’t attend the grand opening.
It’s Jon Stewart’s fault!
@ 16
It’s hard to believe that the PR Queen of Very Responsible Rovernment of Dubai,Erin, didn’t attend the grand opening.
It’s Jon Stewart’s fault!
It’s 90% owned, but only 10% sold.
It’s 90% owned, but only 10% sold.
When a giant ape climbs up the side of it, the analogy to the Empire State Building will be more exact.
When a giant ape climbs up the side of it, the analogy to the Empire State Building will be more exact.
Bess,I don’t know what I have in common with Dubai.That’s what they’ve been telling me.
Tiger
Bess,I don’t know what I have in common with Dubai.That’s what they’ve been telling me.
Tiger
@19 Which part of the analogy is more apt? The “famous albeit located in a low-rent area and full of cut-rate tenants” or the “completed and opened in the middle of a God-awful economic collapse and not fully occupied for 15 years?”
@19 Which part of the analogy is more apt? The “famous albeit located in a low-rent area and full of cut-rate tenants” or the “completed and opened in the middle of a God-awful economic collapse and not fully occupied for 15 years?”
@9- Wasn’t that the Japanese?
@9- Wasn’t that the Japanese?
I think EB's feeling was hurt for not being a part of this very momentus occasion.
Physically absent but mentally present.
Prince
Some people are kind of suspecious
about EB and the EMAAR CEO.They are allowed up to 4 wives or divorce is also an option.
I think EB’s feeling was hurt for not being a part of this very momentus occasion.
Physically absent but mentally present.
Prince
Some people are kind of suspecious
about EB and the EMAAR CEO.They are allowed up to 4 wives or divorce is also an option.
Some people are kind of suspecious
about EB and the EMAAR CEO.They are allowed up to 4 wives or divorce is also an option.
It’s Cool but it looks like the Government of Dubai is just blowing money building a giant ghost town. “If you build it, they will come.” Ha! Better hope so, or you’re gonna be a broke-ass Sheik.
It’s Cool but it looks like the Government of Dubai is just blowing money building a giant ghost town. “If you build it, they will come.” Ha! Better hope so, or you’re gonna be a broke-ass Sheik.
Gw1joz Very good article post.Much thanks again. Really Great.