Dubai began construction work on a tower that will stand higher than its Burj Khalifa, which is currently the world's tallest skyscraper. The Gulf emirate's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, marked the groundbreaking of The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour as construction workers laid foundations for the skyscraper at a vast patch of sand. The structure "will be the world's tallest tower when completed in 2020," said a statement issued at the ceremony.
Dubai's developer giant Emaar Properties announced plans to build the viewing tower in April, saying it will be "a notch" higher than Burj Khalifa, which stands 828 metres high. Emaar has not revealed the exact final height of the tower. It said in April that the structure will cost around $1 billion.
Designed by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, the tower will have observation decks providing 360-degree views of the coastal city. In April, Emaar said the tower will be slender, evoking the image of a minaret, and will be anchored to the ground with sturdy cables.
