Dancing Fountain

Burj Khalifa (arab. بُرْج خَلِيفَة = Burj Khalīfah, "Khalifa Tower"; formerly Burj Dubai, "Dubai Tower") is the tallest skyscraper in the world, built in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 163-story skyscraper, during its construction, involved pouring 330 thousand cubic meters of concrete and using 31.4 thousand tons of steel, and it is visible from 95 kilometers away. Construction of the skyscraper began on September 21, 2004, and was completed on June 30, 2009. Although it was thought that the building would open on December 2, 2009, it was postponed until January 4, 2010, to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the rule of the UAE's Prime Minister and Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The total floor area of the building is 309,473 m², and its rentable space covers 232,105 m², of which 24,295 m² is allocated for offices. Inside the skyscraper are hotels, apartments, offices, and shopping centers. According to the design, hotels occupy the first 37 floors, and from the 45th to the 108th floor there are about 900 apartments. Most of the premises are allocated for offices. Observation decks are located on the 124th and 148th floors. Floors 156 to 159 house communications rooms. Floors 160 to 163 are designated for mechanical rooms. This skyscraper became the main axis of the new commercial district Downtown Burj Dubai costing 20 billion. The district contains 30,000 apartments and also houses the world's largest shopping mall, Dubai Mall, which has 1,200 stores. The building, tapering upward in a spiral shape, is of Islamic design. The construction used 27 decreasing tiers in spiral form. This method reduces building vibrations. At the highest point, the tip sways up to 1.5 m. Next to it is an artificial lake and the world's second-largest dancing fountain. The fountain is illuminated by about 6,600 spotlights and 50 colored projectors. In 2008, by competition, this fountain was named after Dubai.