Burj Dubai enters final leg of construction with dismantling of high-altitude cranes

Having also completed the external cladding recently, the Burj Dubai construction team is now concentrating on the interiors and landscaping.

Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties PJSC, said:

"The sheer size, scale and architectural detailing of Burj Dubai demanded an unprecedented degree of engineering innovation. Working at great heights involving the use of massive cranes has been one aspect of the challenge. Dismantling the cranes is an exciting development because it shows that completion of the world's tallest tower is just around the corner."

Three huge tower cranes were used in moving construction materials up to Level 156 of Burj Dubai. The cranes could each lift a staggering 25-tonne load and were designed to withstand 120km/hour winds.

Typical cargo included welding equipment, scaffolding, reinforcement bar cages, steel link beams that weighed up to 20-tonnes, shuttering pieces, compressors, hoist masts, cladding panels, and custom-made elevator motors - in short, everything that is need to build the world's tallest tower.

In all, the three cranes lifted over 63,300 tonnes of steel reinforcement, and were operational for a total of 45,000 man-hours. A team of 35 skilled technicians manned the cranes, a critical component of the 11,000-strong workforce devoted to the construction of Burj Dubai, already a global icon.

The operators of the cranes worked at dizzying heights of more than 700 metres, almost double the height of the Empire State Building.

Mr. Abdullah Lahej, Executive Director, Dubai Project Management, Emaar Properties, said, "No high-rise construction project has moved the same volume of materials as Burj Dubai or to the same heights. The way tower cranes have been used to complete the world's tallest tower is unprecedented and writes a new chapter in super-tall tower engineering."

He said, "Managing the effects of wind speeds and the unique design challenges involved in realising the Burj Dubai's slender structure was an extreme test. Each aspect of the construction was analysed to ensure maximum safety, efficiency and ease of operation - and the steady progress of the tower's construction is a testament to the team's exceptional commitment and abilities."

Final work on interiors and landscaping is underway as the Burj Dubai prepares to open on January 4, 2010 to coincide with the Accession Day of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.