It has just been announced that the current height of the Burj Dubai is 531.3m.  That's 145 stories up (wow!) and about 19.2m higher up than when it became the tallest building in the world.  Since that announcement was made on July 21^st and it's only 3 weeks on, that's a big increase!  While other building projects throughout the Emirates are being severely plagued by construction delays, the Burj Dubai project is steamrollering ahead at a rapid pace. 

Every time I drive down the Sheikh Zayed Road, its there.  Even at the other end of Dubai, concrete fog permitting, you can see it (it's a bit difficult to miss).  It's said that construction has been so fast; sometimes a floor has taken just 3 days - hard to believe for such a huge development.  In my opinion, Burj Dubai is setting a precedent for the entire Dubai property boom, and it's only about two thirds its final height.  How many floors is that going to be?  While we don't know the exact final height it is rumoured to be around the 800m mark, meaning overseas competitors are going to have a tough time trying to beat such a great feat of engineering. 

The building is due to open in December 2008, meaning it will have taken just over 4 years from foundation to finish, not including all the other development that surrounds it.  The entire Downtown Dubai development with the Burj Dubai tower at its centre will include the Burj Residences, the Old Town, Dubai Mall, not to mention a lake and fully landscaped gardens.  Definitely a new twist on city living that only Dubai could come up with!