Herer Posted February 8, 2010 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The world's tallest skyscraper has unexpectedly closed to the public a month after its lavish opening, disappointing tourists headed for the observation deck and casting doubt over plans to welcome its first permanent occupants in the coming weeks. Electrical problems are at least partly to blame for the closure of the Burj Khalifa's viewing platform — the only part of the half-mile high tower open yet. But a lack of information from the spire's owner left it unclear whether the rest of the largely empty building — including dozens of elevators meant to whisk visitors to the tower's more than 160 floors — was affected by the shutdown. The indefinite closure, which began Sunday, comes as Dubai struggles to revive its international image as a cutting-edge Arab metropolis amid nagging questions about its financial health. The Persian Gulf city-state had hoped the 2,717-foot (828-meter) Burj Khalifa would be a major tourist draw. Dubai has promoted itself by wowing visitors with over-the-top attractions such as the Burj, which juts like a silvery needle out of the desert and can be seen from miles around. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100208/ap_on_bi_ge/ml_dubai_tallest_building;_ylt=AkEBUVIiV4EwTNTboU4BE .ZvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTJ1cmNyMHF0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMjA4L21sX2R1YmFpX3RhbGxlc3RfYnVpbGRpbmcEcG9zAzEEc2V jA3luX2FydGljbGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawN3b3JsZHN0YWxsZXM- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herer Posted February 8, 2010 failure or something else? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites