Everyone I knew who saw the unveiling of Burj Khalifa in Dubai last Monday over CNN was stunned at the sight of this newest landmark beaming with Eiffel Tower-like fireworks which you only get to see during New Year countdowns on an Asian TV. It was a magnificent 165-storey structure towering at almost half a mile (2,717 feet to be exact), making it the tallest structure in the world. The former title holder since 2004 was Taipei 101 at 1,667 feet.
The building changed its name from Burj Dubai (Dubai Building) tp Burj Khalifa. It was in honor of the living monarch of neighboring Abu Dhabi, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who rescued Dubai from its billion dollar debt last year.
My Dubai-based friends, husband and wife Lakay and Maj, recently went on top of Burj Khalifa and took a dozen of photos. The view from top was simply breathtaking, with Burj al-Arab and other low-rise structures below.
If you plan to visit, entrance tickets are priced at 100 AED for adults and 75 AED for children. Take your cameras with you. Sell cigars and go bungee-jumping when no one’s looking.
