Burj Dubai set to be the world’s tallest building

From the 124th floor observation deck of the tower viewers can see 50 miles on a clear day.

Desert flower

Terraces are located at setbacks spiralling up the tapered tower, which is based on the “geometries of the desert flower and the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture,” according to its promotional literature.

The air is noticeably cooler and fresher on the terraces compared to the stifling heat and humidity at ground level during Dubai’s summer, Baker said.

He said it takes about two minutes to get to the summit on some of the fastest elevators in the world, which travel at up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometres per hour).

The tower’s exterior is glass and steel that would cover 17 soccer fields, and will require six to eight weeks to clean.

Concrete was used extensively in the core, enough to build a side-walk 1,283 miles long, and the steel reinforcing bar used would stretch a quarter of the way around the Earth.

The cooling system produces enough condensation to fill 20 Olympic swimming pools a year, which will be used to water the grounds.