Burj Dubai becomes tallest building on earth

On Saturday our neighbour, the Burj Dubai, became the tallest building on earth. Measuring 512.1 metres (or 1680 ft) it has now reached 141 storeys, more storeys than any other building in the world . Burj Dubai is now taller than Taipei 101 in Taiwan, which at 508 metres has held the tallest-building-in-the-world title since it opened in 2004.

Once completed, the Burj Dubai will have consumed 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, 39,000 tonnes of steel and 142,000 square metres of glass. It will have 56 lifts travelling at 1.75 to 10 metres per second. It is expected to be completed towards the end of next year.

Fact file: Important milestones

February 2003: Emaar Properties announces Burj Dubai

January 2004: Excavation work for Burj Dubai begins

June 2004: Launches Downtown Burj Dubai

September 2004: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, witnesses the first pouring of cement for Burj Dubai

May 2005: Deal signed with Giorgio Armani to open The Armani Hotel & Residences in Burj Dubai

June 2006: Burj Dubai scales 50 levels

January 2007: Burj Dubai reaches Level 100

March 2007: Burj Dubai, at Level 110, is the tallest structure in the Middle East and Europe

April 2007: At Level 120, Burj Dubai sets new global record for having more floors than any other building

May 2007: At Level 130, Burj Dubai is second tallest tower in the world

July 2007: At Level 141, it is tallest tower in the world

Birthday weekend in Al Ain

Last weekend we decided to head out of the city to celebrate my birthday. We decided on Al Ain, is the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates with a population of just over 400k. It is located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, directly adjacent to the border with Oman and is about 150km outside of Dubai. It is often called the 'Garden City of the Gulf' given the many parks, tree-lined avenues and decorative roundabouts within the city. Strict height controls on new buildings, to no more than four floors, emphasises the greenery of the city, and the lower number of expats living there gives Al Ain a more authentic Arabic look and feel compared to the larger and more cosmopilitan cities of the Emirates.

Just outside of the city is the 2nd highest mountain in the UAE - the Jebel Hafeet. And perched almost 915 metres up it is the Mercure Jebel hafeet hotel where we stayed. The mountain rises 1240 meters and offers an impressive view over the city, with what has been described as "the greatest driving road in the world" extending to the summit.


Photos at a picnic spot on the drive up to the hotel






































Looking down over Al Ain












































The Mercure Hotel
















The pool area at the hotel
















Geoff manking the most of the water slides before the midday heat set it










































Vire of the pool and surrounding areas from the hotel balcony














































Early morning putt putt - with a hefty fine for anyone wanting to drive the ball over the edge!

















Despite temperatures being on average higher in Al Ain it's actually far more pleasant than Dubai because of the lower humidity















Driving around the city

Fort inside the National Al Ain Museum enclosure

Walking in the Al Ain oasis.

Date palms grow freely here

The ancient falaj system of irrigation is still in use in here distributing underground water by a network of tunnels emerging eventually into open channels whose flow can be directed and regulated.

The top of the Jebel Hafeet

Sand, Snow and Stylish Hotels

About 2 weeks ago we had a whirlwind visit from A&C. Despite it only being a weekend's trip we managed to squash in a Desert Safari; lunch beside the ski slopes and drinks at the famous Burj al Arab.


The required tourist stop at the store that sells everything from kitch mosque clocks to sumuri wartior armour to toilet paper:















Stopping in the desert to take photos and let air out the tyres












































More photos in the sun

J playing on the dunes

sand as far as the eye can see

Exploring the dunes

G playing in the sand

Our dining quarters for the evening

Relaxing in the cool(er) night wind

Our entertainment for the night

Lunch in Mall of The Emirates outside the ski slope

Crazy impressive water fountains at the Burj al Arab

Ceiling of the lobby of the Burj Al Arab covered in gold leaf

G and moi in our party clothes

The Burj al Arab lit up at night