World's Tallest Tower 世界第一高楼迪拜塔

By Julia Wheeler, Gulf Correspondent

媒体英语会带大家一起学习BBC撰稿人在报道世界大事时常用到的单词和短语。

Background: 位于阿拉伯联合酋长国的世界第一高楼迪拜塔终于最近终于正式揭开神秘面纱。迪拜塔的建造时间历时六年之久，其间也正值迪拜受到全球金融危机的席卷。不过，在竣工典礼上，伴着大型烟花表演，镭射灯的照耀，歌声和舞步使全球各地观看典礼的人们不由自主地憧憬迪拜美好的明天！

The Burj Dubai punctures the city's skyline with its telescopic steel spire, finishing more than 300 metres higher than its nearest rival, Taiwan's Taipei 101.

26,000 hand-cut glass panels create a soaring glimmer in the sunshine, while inside there are plush offices, luxurious apartments and soon, an Armani-branded hotel.

Burj Dubai's official opening is also designed as a celebration of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum becoming ruler of Dubai four years ago.

It's his vision that's credited with inspiring the city's phenomenal growth.

Things may now have gone awry, but people here still want to believe in that vision.

Officially there's not a hint of embarrassment that Burj Dubai's opening comes just a month after the debt announcement which sent world stock markets plummeting, but business people here are worried.

The city has received a significant bailout from its oil-rich neighbour, Abu Dhabi and some people there are wondering whether today's extravagant display of Dubai's past boldness is entirely appropriate in the circumstances.