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Burj Dubai to Open on December 2

DUBAI — The world’s tallest skyscraper, Burj Dubai, will open on December 2, the project developers have said in a commitment of date. The opening coincides with the 38th National Day of the United Arab Emirates.

“We are shooting for the National Day,” Emaar Properties Chairman
Mohammed Alabbar told CNN on Friday. “I think it is achievable; lot of challenges, but we will get there.”

Speaking about the last-minute touches, he said, “We have about 12,000 people inside the building and outside trying to achieve the December 2
opening.”

Construction of Burj Dubai, which shoots 800 metres into the skies over Business Bay, began on September 21, 2004 as part of the $20-billion Downtown Burj Dubai real estate development.

The opening of Emaar’s flagship project has met with delays. It was originally scheduled to open last September. Since then there has been suspense over whether it would, in fact, open by the end of 2009.

Alabbar said all units in Burj Dubai had been sold out well before Dubai’s property sector slump upon the global recession that began in September 2008.

“The Burj was sold almost three-and-half years ago,” he said. “The day we launched this.” The 162-floor tower, whose glass cladding lends it a metallic sheen in the sun, aims to be Dubai’s
signature.

Alabaar added that property prices in Downtown Burj Dubai area were much higher than anywhere else because of the high quality of development and environment.

“We are still doing much better than other locations when it comes to sales even though prices have softened,”
he said. — rocel@khaleejtimes.com