The Burj Dubai opens - Photos
The world's tallest building (or most elaborate Photoshop hoax) opened today: the Burj Dubai (now the Burj Khalifa). It's height was kept a secret - so it couldn't be outdone by any rival buildings in the last stretches of construction: It's 2716 feet high. Woahdang. Here's a picture.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="579" caption="The Burj Khalifa nee Dubai // Getty Images"]
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In addition to being tall, it's also an incredibly potent symbol of how ridiculous Dubai's economic run was in the aughts. Last month the city's economy was bailed out by next-door emirate Abu Dhabi for a cool $10 billion. The tallest, most eye-catching building in the emirate now bears the name of its neighbor's leader: The Burj Khalifa. In this picture, they appear to be blowing the whole thing up.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="462" caption="The Burj Khalifa nee Dubai // Getty Images"]
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Okay, just fireworks. A reporter from the Wall Street Journal visited the building today and took my favorite picture: the long, spindly shadow of the Burj.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="359" caption="By Mirna Sleiman - WSJ"]
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Any Dubai residents/fans out there? Reactions to the end of a 6 year construction process?
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- China executes British national, flexes its diplomatic muscle?
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="579" caption="The Burj Khalifa nee Dubai // Getty Images"]
[/caption]In addition to being tall, it's also an incredibly potent symbol of how ridiculous Dubai's economic run was in the aughts. Last month the city's economy was bailed out by next-door emirate Abu Dhabi for a cool $10 billion. The tallest, most eye-catching building in the emirate now bears the name of its neighbor's leader: The Burj Khalifa. In this picture, they appear to be blowing the whole thing up.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="462" caption="The Burj Khalifa nee Dubai // Getty Images"]
[/caption]Okay, just fireworks. A reporter from the Wall Street Journal visited the building today and took my favorite picture: the long, spindly shadow of the Burj.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="359" caption="By Mirna Sleiman - WSJ"]
[/caption]Any Dubai residents/fans out there? Reactions to the end of a 6 year construction process?
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- 2010: Same sh*t, different year? - Real Recovery
- Get to know Yemen: The new hot front in the war on terror
- China executes British national, flexes its diplomatic muscle?
- Five years since the tsunami
- Holiday news video round-up: Iran protests, British skiing and drinking, mud races
