World's Tallest Skyscraper Opens in Dubai

Dubai has grabbed the headlines with audacious offshore islands, rotating buildings, a seven-star hotel, and even an air-conditioned beach. Recently, the world's tallest building, now known as Burj Khalifa, opened and many Dubai residents are hoping that this would mark a turning point in Dubai's fortunes and those of its ruler. Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the city-state's 60-year-old leader, hopes the building and its surrounding US$20-billion development will help enhance his reputation among international investors and restore Dubai's allure as a business hub.

Dubai is a city of superlatives, where everything has to be the biggest and the boldest. At more than 800 meters, Burj Khalifa smashed the previous world record held by Taiwan's 508-meter Taipei 101. Like many of the previous world's tallest buildings, Burj Khalifa was planned and built during boom years, but finished during a real estate crash. This has led many to question whether this latest record breaker is a white elephant.

Mohamed Ali Alabbar, one of the developers behind Burj Khalifa, argues that it is anything but that. "As of today, we have sold 90 percent of the building and expect it to be 90 percent occupied," he says. "We were lucky to make more than a 10 percent return." The fact that the developers have made a profit on its US$1.5-billion investment has been helped by the fact that they bought the land with equity and not cash, and that they pre-sold most of the apartments and offices before the real estate crash. Investors have already handed over 80 percent of the value of the apartments and offices. In contrast to many unfinished developments in Dubai, the default rate among Burj Khalifa investors has been low.

1.  Why has Dubai hit the headlines?

(A) All of its offshore islands have sunk underwater.

(B) It constructs some amazingly gaudy structures.

(C) Many Dubai residents have recently been demonstrating against their leader.

(D) It's the only place in the world with white elephants.

2.  According to Mohamed Ali Alabbar, why isn't Burj Khalifa a white elephant?

(A) Nearly all of the offices and apartments have been sold.

(B) The developers have made a hefty profit from the building.

(C) White elephants are worth more now after the recession.

(D) Both A and B are correct.

3.  What was different before the Burj Khalifa was started and when it was finished?

(A) Dubai now has a new leader.

(B) Many residents decided not to pay for their apartments in the Burj Khalifa.

(C) It was started when people had more money and finished when people had much less.

(D) The building is worth much more now than was once thought.

杜拜因其大胆的外海岛屿建设、旋转大楼、七星级饭店，甚至有空调的沙滩而屡次登上头条新闻。而最近名为『哈里发塔』的世界第一高楼正式开幕，许多杜拜的居民都希望这栋建筑能为杜拜及其领导者的命运带来转折点。现年 60 岁的杜拜邦长穆罕穆德亲王冀望，这栋建筑和附近斥资 200 亿美元的建设能为自己在国际投资客心中提高声望，并恢复杜拜身为商业中心的吸引力。

　　杜拜是个集世界之最的城邦，什么东西都要最大、最具雄心壮志。哈里发塔高 800 多公尺，打破由台北 101 所保持的 508公尺高的世界纪录。正如先前许多世界上最高的大楼一样，哈里发塔的建造计划在景气最好的年代提出及进行，却在房地产最低迷的时期完工。这不免让许多人在心中产生问号，这个刷新世界纪录的大楼是否大而不当。

Mohamed Ali Alabbar 是哈里发塔幕后的开发商之一，他反驳说绝对不会。他说：『截至今日，我们已经售出百分之九十的楼层，预计有 9 成的进驻率。我们很幸运有超过百分之十的利润。』事实上，哈里发塔的开发商已经自这耗资 15 亿美金的投资中赚了一笔，因为该建案的土地是用股本值收购而非现金，而且在房地产暴跌前，就已经预先售出大部分的楼层和办公室。投资者已经缴交 8 成的楼层和办公室款项。和许多杜拜尚未完工的建筑物相比，哈里发塔的投资者违约比例相当低。

标准答案: 1. (B)2. (D)3. (C)

For Your Information

造价 15 亿美元的哈里发塔创造了许多世界第一，除了第一高楼，还有位于第 124 层的世界最高室外观景台、最高独立建筑、楼层最多、楼面面积最大、最高电梯、最高的游泳池（位于第 76 楼）。而且穆斯林可以更接近真主，因为第 158 楼预料将成为全世界最高的清真寺。

由于这栋楼高度实在惊人，号称在 95 公里外就可以看见，且该大楼底层和最高楼层的温差高达摄氏 10 度。（数据源：联合新闻网）