Spectacular: The Burj Khalifa has closed just a month after it openedThe world's tallest building was unveiled in a spectacular blaze of fireworks, hailed as a shining beacon of Dubai's new wealth and glamour.
But just a month after it opened, the half-mile high Burj Khalifa skyscraper has unexpectedly been closed for repairs.
The move has disappointed thousands of tourists heading for the observation deck on the 124th floor.
It also casts doubt on plans to welcome the £1billion building's first permanent occupants in the coming weeks.
The cause of the closure was unclear today, as electrical problems and 'high traffic' were both blamed. No date has been given for when the viewing platform will reopen.
In recent weeks, thousands of visitors have queued up for the chance to buy tickets for viewing times often days in advance. Now they will have to queue again for refunds.
Wayne Boyes, 40, a tourist from Manchester, had a ticket for today but when he arrived was told the observation deck was shut.
He said: 'It's just very disappointing. The tower was one of my main reasons for coming here.'
The observation deck, which is mostly enclosed but includes an outdoor terrace bordered by guard rails, is located about two-thirds of the way up on the 124th floor.
Adult tickets bought in advance cost £17.40 but sightseers can also pay around £70 to jump to the front of the queue.
Breathtaking: The view from the half-mile high Burj Khalifa, which visitors pay up to £70 to see. But the viewing platform has been closed indefinitelyThe 2,717-ft glass tower, whose spire can be seen 60 miles away, was opened in a fanfare of publicity on Jaunary 4, in a ceremony televised around the world.
At more than twice the height of the Empire State Building, it easily dwarfs the previous highest skyscraper, Taipei 101, and Dubai hoped it would be a major tourist draw.
In a brief statement, the building's owner Emaar Properties blamed the closure on 'unexpected high traffic', but then suggested that electrical problems were also at fault.
'Technical issues with the power supply are being worked on by the main and subcontractors and the public will be informed upon completion,' the company said.
Tourists affected by the closure are being offered the chance to rebook or receive refunds.
Fanfare: The opening ceremonyThe indefinite closure comes as Dubai struggles to revive its international image as a cutting-edge Arab metropolis amid nagging questions about its financial health.
The city-state is facing a slump in tourism - which accounts for nearly a fifth of the local economy - while fending off negative publicity caused by more than £50 billion in debt it is struggling to repay.
The building had been known as the Burj Dubai during more than half a decade of construction, but the name was suddenly changed on opening night to honour the ruler of neighbouring Abu Dhabi after it provided Dubai with £16 billion in emergency cash to help cover its debts.
Questions were raised about the building's readiness in the months leading up to the opening.
The opening date had originally been expected in September, but was then pushed back until after the New Year.
There were signs even that target was ambitious. Early visitors to the observation deck had to peer through floor-to-ceiling windows caked with dust - a sign that cleaning crews had not yet had a chance to scrub them clean.
Work is still ongoing on many of the building's other floors, including those that will house the first hotel designed by Giorgio Armani that is due to open in March.
The building's base remains largely a construction site, with entrance restricted to the viewing platform lobby in an adjacent shopping mall.
The first of some 12,000 residential tenants and office workers are supposed to move in to the building this month.
source: dailymail