Gulf News

"Although I'm known for climbing without safety [equipment] this is a different game because Burj Khalifa is much taller than any of the previous tallest buildings in the world." For this reason he has opted to climb the world's current tallest building, which stands at 828 metres, using a rope and harness.

It was the first of its kind, which means The Armani Hotel's Armani/Privé club just has to keep pushing the boundaries. Introducing the all-mysterious From the Speakers opening night tonight from 10.30pm.

In January, for example, Emaar flipped the switch at the gala opening of Burj Khalifa to reveal the final height at 828 metres, making it the highest freestanding structure in the world as recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records. In June, Abu Dhabi's new Capital Gate Tower was also recognized by Guinness as the world's furthest-leaning tower with an 18-degree slant compared to the Leaning Tower of Pisa at four degrees.

The naming of the world's tallest building after President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was a great gesture. This act by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the spectacular opening ceremony on January 4 can only be described as blessed.

The remake of 1990 cult classic Agneepath is long-awaited, but no-one is more nervous than its star, Hrithik Roshan. The actor shared his fears in a press conference at the Armani Hotel in Dubai on Thursday, and was joined by his co-stars Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt.

I used to live in Jumeirah Lakes Towers but always dreamt of living in the Burj Khalifa. When the prices dropped, I lapped up the opportunity to buy a two-bedroom apartment on the 21st floor of the Burj Khalifa. I bought it for Dh4.2 million. My apartment offers great views of Shaikh Zayed Road and the sea.

Kingdom Holding Company, the Saudi Arabia-based developer, has awarded a $1.2 billion (Dh4.41 billion) contract to the country's Bin Laden Group for constructing the one-kilometre tall tower in Jeddah that is set to break Burj Khalifa's record as the world's tallest building.

The poster shows Tom Cruise, the film's lead actor, who, as super spy Ethan Hunt, scaled the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, among other stunts performed in Dubai. The film releases at the end of the year and is hotly tipped to play a role in the Dubai International Film Festival in December.

Dubai hotels and hotel apartments recorded Dh9.8 billion in revenue in the first half of 2012, marking a 22 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). Guest numbers in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments, meanwhile, posted a 10 per cent increase to 5.027 million guests in the January-June period over the corresponding period a year earlier, the tourism body said in a statement on Monday.

"I have [seen] on TV the tallest building in Dubai, but nothing can describe the feeling when you [are] under the giant Burj Khalifa or when you see the whole of Dubai from the top," he added. "Dubai has many beautiful places and buildings, but Burj Khalifa was the one I wanted to see."