Burj Dubai breaks record

The Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now the tallest building in the world having reached 512.1 m in July, according to Dubai-based developers Emaar. The previous record holder, Taiwan's Taipei 101, which is 508 m high, had held the record since it opened in 2004. At 141 storeys the Burj Dubai also has more storeys than any other building At 141 storeys the Burj Dubai also has more storeys than any other building in the world.

According to Emaar the building is still on schedule for completion in 2008, despite the bankruptcy of original façade supplier Schmidlin Façade Technology. Cladding, originally expected to start being installed in the middle of last year, has now arrived, according to a statement by Emaar, and installation has begun.

There have also been concerns over the concrete used in several areas (see iC May 2007). However, Emaar has dismissed speculation in the regional media that concrete slabs throughout the structure are being reinforced using carbon fibre. This follows news that slabs on the lower floors had been subject to signi?cant de?ections and had been repaired using external steel reinforcement.

Once complete, Burj Dubai will be the tallest structure in the world in all four of the criteria listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The council measures height to the structural top, the highest occupied floor, to the top of the roof, and to the tip of the spire, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flag pole.