Dubai's Trouble Deepens: Burj Khalifa Closes and QE2 Ship Up For Sale

February 9, 2010 at 11:30 AM | by JetSetCD | Comments (0)

Remember a couple years ago when all the cool news was coming out of Dubai, like they had all the money in the world and were using to build the adult playland of the future? Well, Dubai is still turning out all the news, but it's just that the headlines have gone sour, and this week has brought another rush of bad news for the showy Emirate.

First, the newly opened 124-floor Observation Deck in the Burj Khalifa building has closed. The reason they're giving for the closure is that they've had far too many electrical problems, and with people paying $27 in advance or $109 on the spot for the privilege to simply look out their windows, they can't afford to have any hiccups. Really—they can't afford it. Maybe they also can't afford to keep the lights on right now too?

Second, the iconic ship Queen Elizabeth 2, that Dubai bought, is back up for sale. It was purchased a couple of years ago with the intention to turn the ship into a floating hotel off of the now-bankrupt Dubai World islands. Dubai World owes $22 billion dollars, and the sale (if anyone buys) of the QE2 should help to pay that down.

And finally, Dubai World also owns the Cirque du Soleil, and they might be up for sale soon as well! Hmmm—who wants to bet that 120+ floors of the Burj Khalifa will be just as empty as Dubai's coffers.

[Photo: jasab]

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