Top of Dubai tower closed for repairs
Posted
The observation deck on the 124th floor was the only part of the Dubai icon that was open to the public. (AFP: Karim Sahib, file photo)
The observation deck of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, has been closed for repairs only a month after the iconic tower was inaugurated.
"Due to unexpected high traffic, the observation deck experience at the Burj Khalifa... has been temporarily closed for maintenance and upgrade," Emaar Properties said in a statement.
"Technical issues with the power supply are being worked on," it added, without specifying when visitors could expect once more to be able to ascend for a panoramic view of Dubai.
The glistening concrete, glass and steel pinnacle rising 828 metres was inaugurated just over a month ago in a lavish ceremony.
The observation deck on the 124th floor, called At The Top, was the only part of the Dubai icon that was open to the public.
Visitors pay 400 dirhams ($125) for immediate entry and 100 dirhams ($31) for entry after a two-day wait.
Ticket holders could rebook or receive an immediate refund, the statement added.
The tower was known as Burj Dubai during construction, but Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum last month renamed it after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates.
Abu Dhabi came to Dubai's rescue late last year to the tune of $US10 billion after Dubai's economy went into a nose-dive together with financial markets around the world.
Dubai's debts are estimated to total more than $US100 billion.
Construction of Burj Khalifa began in 2004 and cost $US1.5 billion.
- AFP
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