E-Paper
Sign In
City’s Towering Dh5.5b Pride Set to Open Today
DUBAI - Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building constructed at a cost of
Dh5.5 billion, is a global icon and an example of Dubai's ability to achieve what few people thought possible, Mohammed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said.
- PUBLISHED: Tue 5 Jan 2010, 12:42 AM UPDATED: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:21 PM
Mohammed Alabbar, Chairman, Emmar Properties, poses in front of Burj Dubai.-KT photo by Shihab (Click here to read more)“It means optimism, celebration for the city; the positive thinking that exists in the city,” he told Khaleej Times in an interview at his office looking up at the over 800-metre tall tower that gleamed in the sunlight.
Burj Dubai will be officially inaugurated today by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in a ceremony beamed live into billions of homes across the world.
Recommended For You
Alabbar said he never doubted human ability to build a structure as tall as Burj Dubai, but did wonder at times if they would be able to deliver the right quality and win over potential customers.
“This is a big project. The risk was that you announced it to the world … will we, at the end of the day, do it? Can all the engineering and designing be implemented properly? But I really never doubted human ability,” said Alabbar, who will join thousands in celebrating the opening of the building where more than 12,000 people will eventually live and work.
He said the goal was always clear. “We are a positive, energetic society that has hope, and believes everything can be done. We have to get together; we have to be united and carry each other in challenging times,” Alabbar said.
He said Shaikh Mohammed's trust was a big responsibility. “And we had to accept it. He is a man who trusted me and we needed to do a good job.
“What makes the story positive is the fact that this city is an icon of business. I know other cities are trying - and they all should - but this is the base of business in the region and the entire infrastructure is almost done. We are really equipped to take the growth to the next stage,” he told Khaleej Times.
He later said that Burj Dubai touched everyone in Dubai and the UAE, as well as the millions of people who visit this city and country every year. “Burj Dubai is another demonstration of Dubai's ability to achieve what few people thought possible. The tower is a global icon. Moreover, it represents the determination and optimism of Dubai as a truly world city. It is a powerful symbol for the entire Arab world.”
