Burj Dubai :The Grand Opening

Today Dubai celebrates the opening of Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, as well as the anniversary of the accession of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, as Ruler of Dubai. These twin celebrations mark both the abilities and professional skills of those who have built and managed this extraordinary project, and of Shaikh Mohammad’s vision and leadership that allowed the idea to flourish in the first place.

These celebrations follow a shocking year as Dubai has dealt with the global recession which hit its economy and its real estate sector in particular. The long-running eight- or nine-year property boom came to an abrupt end, and the resulting slowdown was very painful for both private- and public-sector companies, and culminated in the highly exaggerated international crescendo of rumour and allegation after the Dubai World debt freeze.

However, Dubai did get its refinancing package in place thanks to the government of Abu Dhabi. Dubai Government bonds were bought by the UAE Central Bank and Abu Dhabi banks, and there was direct support for the Dubai Financial Support Fund. Dubai is now placed to look ahead with confidence as it reverts to its core economic activities as both a regional trading hub and as an emerging global centre of the knowledge economy.

The opening of the Burj Dubai shows that companies are still breaking the mould in Dubai, and are able to surprise and impress the world. The full wonder of the technical achievements in the building of Burj Dubai will only come out over the next few months.

All this happened in Dubai, where Shaikh Mohammad, first as Crown Prince and then as Ruler, has been the driving force behind turning Dubai into a major global centre. In the early 1990s Dubai became the leading regional re-export centre, but the new globalised world was about to require a totally new approach.

Shaikh Mohammad’s particular insight was to recognise that Dubai’s future needed more than being a regional trading hub. He was determined that Dubai would be ready to take part in the emerging knowledge economy, and by setting up centres of excellence such as Internet City, Media City, Health Care City as well as Dubai International Financial Centre, he helped to shift Dubai’s economy onto a different level.

He also took advantage of the long-running boom to build the excellent infrastructure that Dubai now enjoys. The combination of both welcoming the knowledge economy, and massive infrastructure investment have positioned Dubai for decades of growth as it comes through the recession.

Sound, light, water, fireworks open tallest tower.

Sound, light, water, fireworks open tallest tower

Dubai: The inauguration of Burj Dubai — the world’s tallest building — will feature a spectacular display of fireworks, light beams, choreographed water displays and sound and music effects that will portray the evolution of the world’s most iconic new building in a breathtaking sensory journey.

In all, 868 high-powered stroboscope lights will be integrated into the facade of Burj Dubai and the tower’s spire — and each stroboscope will be operated individually to create a series of hypnotic lighting sequences.

The entire display is controlled by a sophisticated arrangement of ultra-high-tech IT systems, which choreograph at least 50 sequences of lighting, fireworks, water and sound effects.
Event experts from France, Britain and the United States collaborated on the project, demonstrating the global spirit of teamwork which defines Burj Dubai itself.
Powerful strobelights will be fixed near the pinnacle of the tower, and six “narrow beam” searchlights will be positioned 700 metres up the tower.
The entire inauguration consists of a pre-show and three themed acts — From the Desert Flower to Burj Dubai, Heart Beat, and From Dubai and the UAE to the World — and a fireworks finale.
A giant screen on Burj Park Island as well as several television screens located in Downtown Burj Dubai including the Waterfront Promenade, will convey the inauguration to the spectators.
The international media, including Dubai TV, will broadcast the event worldwide.
The public can watch the inauguration from the Waterfront Promenade adjacent to The Dubai Mall.
The inauguration begins with a short film depicting the story of Dubai and the evolution of the Burj Dubai as the world’s tallest building.
The carefully choreographed sound, light, water and fireworks display will follow.
The first act in the light and sound show, themed From the Desert Flower to Burj Dubai, is a co-ordinated water, light and fireworks display.
Guests can watch the unfolding of the desert lily, Hymenocallis, the design inspiration of the Burj Dubai.
The segment ends with a rhythmic water and fireworks show.

The second act, Heart Beat, captures the construction of the tower in a dynamic light show.
An astonishing example of technological innovation, the display recreates the effect of a beating heart and uses no fewer than 300 space cannon projectors to generate a shadow-like image of the tower.

In the third act, From Dubai and the UAE to the World, sky tracers envelop the tower in a strong halo of white light before reproducing the sunbeams of the developer’s corporate logo.
These then expand in all directions as the lighting rig on the tower’s spire activates.

In its spectacular finale, the show will feature an impressive show of 10,000 fireworks on and from the tower.
The sparkling display will illuminate the entire Downtown Burj Dubai area.

Grand opening

• The opening ceremony is expected to start at 8pm
• Entertainment shows available in the vicinity from 7:30am
• Local: Dubai TV and Dubai One channels, starting from 1:30pm to 9pm, plus Sama Dubai, Dubai One and Noor Dubai
• Other TV stations including international broadcasters in Arabic, English and Indian amongst others will have coverage of the Burj Dubai opening.

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