Burj Khalifa Opens with a Bang

It now seems that the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, kicked of its opening with an amazing light show in Dubai. The building just recently got a name change in honor and gratitude of the United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan and his role in helping the emirate navigate the financial crisis.

During the ceremony, fireworks and a dazzling laser show took place. The chairman of Emaar Properties, Mohammed Albabbar, said that the Burj Dubai opening would have a positive impact on the first three quarters of 2010. Crises come and go, and cities move on. Cities have to move on, and this new building will help this city do just that. Cities that stop taking steps in the right direction, stop growing.

The city’s supporters also point out that even if Manhattan and Hong Kong suffered financial crises when their most celebrated buildings opened, they have not done badly since. The fireworks that were shot, were fired out from the side of the building all the way up in the tubular spire to its peak. This way everyone from miles around were able to see the fireworks.

The official height of the building is 828 meters, or 2,717 feet. Of course, this building is not only the tallest in the world, it is also has the most stories and the highest occupied floor of any other building in the world. This building also now ranks as the world’s tallest structure as well. Members of the public can look out from the highest observation deck in the world on the 124^th floor. Getting to this deck takes two minutes riding one of the longest lifts in the world.