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Burj Dubai, the new tallest building in the world opened to the public on Monday. Located in Dubai, a city and one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.

At 818 metres (2,684 feet), Burj Dubai smashed the previous world record, which was held by Taiwan’s 508 metres Taipei 101. Dubai One TV claimed that it is 828 metres (2,717 ft) tall.

(Photo/Picture of Burj Dubai tower and its surroundings)

(Picture/Photo: Burj Dubai at night, pic source: rediff.com)

The comparison with other tall buildings around the world below:

(Comparison of Burj Dubai with others. Source; BBC News)

Burj Dubai Video below:

Burj Dubai Tower designer: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, an American architectural and engineering firm based in Chicago, which also designed the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois and 1 World Trade Center in New York City, among numerous other famous high-rises.  The Official website: www.som.com

The firm said, Burj Dubai was designed based on the 73-floor Tower Palace Three, an all-residential building in Seoul, South Korea.

Burj developer: Emaar Properties.

Cost: US $1.5 billion.

Shift from West to East:
BBC news noted that the last couple of decades have seen a shift in the building of skyscrapers from the West to the East. Four out of five of the world’s tallest buildings are in Asia and the Middle East.

In recent years Dubai has grabbed the headlines with audacious offshore islands, rotating buildings and a seven star hotel.

Authorities hope that the building will pep up its international image, shaken by debt woes.

The official website of Burj Dubai: www.burjdubai.com