Emir of Ketir

According to the press release of Dubai Waterfront, The Pinnacle will be built, but at Dubai Waterfront and not at The Palm, Jumeirah.

Sheikh Mohammmed announces the launch of Dubai Waterfront, the world's largest waterfront development 81 million square metre beachfront development destined to be an international landmark. 29th Jan. 2005, Dubai, UAE - Under the direction of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, Nakheel debuted its investor launch of the unparalleled Dubai Waterfront, an 81 million square metre beachfront mixed use destination which encompasses over 250 best of breed master planned communities and offerings. Destined to become an international landmark, Dubai Waterfront is the world's largest waterfront offering, and is located 35 km south west of Dubai, bordering Abu Dhabi, on the last remaining coastal waterfront of the Emirate. Considered the New Gateway of Dubai, Dubai Waterfront has been carefully crafted and developed by an international consortium of the world's best architects, planners and urban developers assembled by Nakheel in 2004, whose goal was to create a destination never before seen in Dubai, or the world. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence said, "Dubai Waterfront centres around water, something we consider perpetually valuable and precious. It is an unprecedented advancement and a world-class addition to Dubai, one which will create long term growth and investment for the UAE and the wider region. We're inviting developers to benefit by being partners with Nakheel." Dubai Waterfront forms the first phase of a larger effort, the Arabian Canal,a 75 km development envisioned by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed. The first phase of Dubai Waterfront will focus on Madinat Al Arab, a thriving urban downtown metropolis, including Al Burj, one of the world's tallest buildings. Nakheel has created Dubai Waterfront Company, and will be the majority owner, offering 49% to select investors. Executive Chairman of Nakheel, Sultan Bin Sulayem said, "With Dubai Waterfront, Nakheel has raised the bar to a never before seen level. We are proud to help realise Sheikh Mohammed's vision for the Arabian Canal, with this first phase, Dubai Waterfront. It is destined to become a landmark for Dubai, one which will attract tourists, residents, and businesses, and create a destination like nowhere else." Website: www.thedubaiwaterfront.com

News just in: Emporis database, has just put The Pinnacle at The Palm Jumeirah on "never built" status. - I guess that means it will never be build. Have to agree with you that the construction of such a building in such settings would be technically and from a marketing perspective quite tricky. Check: Emporis

I strongly doubt that The Pinnacle will become the tallest building on this planet, if it is ever built. Simple Reason: It doesn't include the word "Dubai", Burj Dubai does. If they construct the tallest building in the world, Dubai's smart Marketing specialists are sure to include the word Dubai, so people around the globe make instant associations to this city. Dubai Mall, the world's largest mega-mall points to the same conclusion. In a Gulf News article published on 21/09/04 Mohammed Alabbar, Emaar chairman, said that: "At present, the tower is designed to be around 800 metres tall, but we can always push that up to 950 metres". Interesting will be to see whether Samsung Corp, who have been awarded the US$ 1bn contract for the Burj Dubai in Dec'04, will manage to stay within the 1bn contract sum. Note that the construction of the 510m Taipeh101 cost US$ 1.4bn.

@DBB Just press the IMG button and copy/paste the URL of the pictures in the dialogue box. URL can be found by right-clicking on a pic, scrolling down to properties and then copying the URL. Hope it works. This pic is out of Gulf News:

Gulf News from 21/09/04: Burj to boost Dubai: Mohammed bin Rashid by Dalal Abu Ghazaleh __________________________________________________ Dubai : General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, said the Dh10 billion Burj Dubai project due to be completed in about three years was highly feasible, and that the new landmark would set the emirate firmly into positioning itself as a major international business and tourism hub. "Such a project must be feasible," he told journalists last evening as he toured the Burj Dubai site. "It is a public shareholder company, and the investors are savvy enough to realise the potential of this project." He noted the project is attracting considerable investor interest. Shaikh Mohammad said as he witnessed the pouring of cement for the Burj Dubai, that he valued the vision of President His Highness Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in supporting projects that would keep the country's eyes fixed on future prosperity for its citizens and residents alike. "We have accomplished only 10 per cent of the projects we intend to accomplish," he added. Mohammad Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, which is building the project, said Burj Dubai, which will be the world's tallest building, will include the tower, a huge shopping mall and a Heritage City. "The tower and the mall will cost more than Dh7 billion, and the Heritage City more than Dh2 billion." He said that a feasibility study projected an annualised 15 per cent rate of return on total investment. Alabbar revealed there was high demand from international and local business leaders for the prime property which will be built in central Dubai. Demand is particularly heavy from Europe and East Asia. "At present, the tower is designed to be around 800 metres tall, but we can always push that up to 950 metres," he noted. He said 50 per cent of the project will be offered to international firms, while the balance will be marketed locally. "The architecture is given to DP Company from Singapore," he added. Alabbar said this was a momentous day for Dubai. "With its scale and magnitude, the Burj Dubai is set to change the face of the city forever. For Emaar, it represents the next stage of growth, and will be the base for our developments that will follow." The pouring of the cement for Burj Dubai yesterday ends the first phase of the construction and marks the beginning of the next defining stage that will see the structure begin to rise over the Dubai skyline. Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) are the architects and Turner International, the project and construction managers. ____________________________________________________ 950m ??? Thats tripple the size of Burj-Al-Arab Hotel. For anyone who has been in the bar up there - its scary high already!!