Burj Dubai Inaugurated and Renamed as Burj Khalifa Transmuting Record Books

Escorted by the dazzling fireworks, Dubai unveiled the long awaited Burj Dubai, the tallest building of the world stretching half a mile in the air. The inauguration ceremony of the tower also gave way to the unexpected renaming of the structure which would now be called as “Burj Khalifa” in order to honor the leader of Abu Dhabi and also the president of UAE.

The building rises 2,717 feet (828 meters) from the desert sands. It can be astutely be called as the “vertical city which can accommodate 25000 people at one time. The building costing $1.5 billion is a property with luxury apartments and a hotel. Apart from this, it is a proud possessor of the world’s highest mosque and swimming pool on the 158^th floor and 76^th floor respectively.

The ceremony heard thousands of applauds accompanies the opening of the tapered spire with fireworks and multicolored laser lights to add to its awe.

The city’s 60year old hereditary leader, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Maktoum believes that the building and its surrounding development will help to augment the reputation among the international investors as well as restore the allure of Dubai as a business hub.

The chairman of the developer of the tower, Emaar Properties, Mohanned Alabbar initially said, “it had more than 200" stories, but he later backtracked to more than 165 inhabitable floors, given its tapered top. Promotional materials sent before the tower's opening said it contained 160 stories.”

As per the developers, the building which is nearly twice the height of the New York’s Empire State Building, is confidently safe.

Greg Sang, Emaar's director of projects, said the Burj Khalifa has "refuge floors" at 25 to 30 story intervals that are more fire resistant and have separate air supplies in case of emergency. Its reinforced concrete structure, he said, makes it stronger than steel-frame skyscrapers.