| The United States was once synonymous with | | | | unsafe due to the use of poor quality |
| having the largest incarnation of just about | | | | building materials. |
| anything you could think of - whether it was | | | | |
| the world's largest ball of string or the | | | | As a result, travellers looking to stay in |
| tallest free-standing structure on the | | | | the world's tallest operable hotels should |
| planet. However, out of the top ten current | | | | head back to Dubai, where they'll be able to |
| tallest buildings in the world, Uncle Sam has | | | | stay in the third and fourth tallest hotel |
| only two structures, neither of which sits in | | | | structures in the world: the Burj-al-Arab and |
| the top slot. That honour is held by Taiwan, | | | | the Jumeirah Emirates Towers. The |
| whose Taipei 101 structure measures a lofty | | | | Burj-al-Arab has 60 guest floors, stands at |
| 509m in height, almost 70m taller than | | | | 321 metres tall and is constructed on an |
| Chicago's Sears Tower, the United States' | | | | artificial island that is connected to the |
| tallest building. | | | | mainland by a private curving bridge. |
| | | | Construction of the Burj-al-Arab began in |
| While Taiwan can claim to have the world's | | | | 1994 and was built to resemble the sail of a |
| largest industrial building, Dubai can lay | | | | dhow - a type of Arabian sea vessel. |
| claim to having the world's tallest hotel. | | | | |
| In fact, Dubai is home to three out of the | | | | The Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel is a |
| top ten world's tallest hotels with the Rose | | | | 56-floor five-star business hotel in Dubai |
| Tower - despite still being under | | | | which stands at a height of 309 metres and is |
| construction - the tallest at a height of 333 | | | | the 29th tallest currently-standing structure |
| metres. When construction began, the Rose | | | | in the world. The Jumeirah Emirates Towers |
| Tower was supposed to reach 380 metres - the | | | | Hotel is also referred to as Emirates Tower |
| height of the Empire State Building. | | | | Two and is connected to the 54-floor Emirates |
| However, design modifications led to its | | | | Office Tower by a retail boulevard and |
| projected height being reduced, and while it | | | | together the two structures form the Emirates |
| is still under construction, the honour of | | | | Towers complex, which is complete with lakes, |
| tallest hotel is unofficial. | | | | waterfalls, public seating areas and has |
| | | | ample car parking space for up to 1800 cars. |
| Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea is | | | | |
| home to what would have been the second | | | | Although renowned for its sand, sun, and |
| tallest hotel, the Ryugyong Hotel. With 105 | | | | shopping, Dubai is fast becoming world famous |
| stories rising to a height of 330 metres, the | | | | for its architectural audacity and |
| Ryugong Hotel is a towering, empty concrete | | | | breathtaking structures. Today, shiny new |
| shell, which has stood unfinished since 1992. | | | | skyscrapers reflect the mosques and wind |
| With no windows, fixtures or fittings ever | | | | towers of Old Dubai while some of the world's |
| being installed, the basic structure is | | | | tallest structures - hospitality and industry |
| complete but has never been surveyed for | | | | alike - dominate the Dubai skyline. |
| safety and some believe the structure to be | | | | |