Room with a view

My accommodation for the first 10 days or so in Dubai was in a hotel, not far from the main centre of Dubai proper, but nonetheless some distance away from the main road (Sheikh Zayed Road) where all the skyscrapers, big buildings and other developments are located.

Nonetheless, the view from my hotel afforded me with some perspective of what the city of Dubai is like. At the time I did not have a clue as to which buildings were important or grandiose or ones that I should take particular note of.

However, one of the buildings which Dubai has become well known for (as the tallest building in the world today) dominates the skyline, pretty much wherever you happen to be in Dubai. This photo of the Burj Dubai was taken from my hotel in March 2008 and at the time it was not quite at the height it is at today...

I have since taken photos of the Burj Dubai at its' now final height. It still has some way to go before completion and fit-out, but it is nonetheless a very impressive and imposing building. Here is my most recent photo of it taken at close to "ground zero" from a development nearby known as Old Town...

Unfortunately there is a haze that seems to be constantly a part of the Dubai skyline which does not do the building nor the photo justice...you have to see it with your own eyes to really appreciate the enormity of it and the engineering expertise that has gone into creating it.