世界最高建筑哈利法塔观景台关闭

The Burj Khalifa's owner said yesterday the observation deck of the world's tallest tower has been unexpectedly shut down, potentially disappointing thousands of tourists and marring the spire's image just a month after it opened.

The precise cause of the Dubai skyscraper's closure remained murky. In a brief statement responding to questions, building 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.

A spokeswoman for Emaar was unable to provide further details.

Thousands of visitors have taken the elevator ride of just over a minute to the observation deck since it opened to the public on January 5, though advance bookings have meant many tourists looking to visit have struggled to find tickets. Ticket holders affected by the shutdown are being offered the chance to rebook or receive refunds.

"All ticket holders who wish to rebook shall be given top priority," the company said, adding that it is "committed to the highest quality standards at Burj Khalifa".

Emaar did not say when the observation deck would reopen following last Sunday's closure. Ticket sales agents were accepting bookings starting on Valentine's Day this Sunday, though it has not been confirmed the building will reopen then.

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.

It was unclear if the rest of the building was affected by the observation deck's shutdown. The first of some 12,000 residential tenants and office workers are supposed to move in this month.

Dubai opened the 2,717-foot (828 m) tower on Jan 4 in a blaze of fireworks that was televised around the world. 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 honor the ruler of neighboring Abu Dhabi.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two of seven small sheikdoms that comprise the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi hosts the federation's capital and holds most of the country's vast oil reserves. It has provided Dubai with $20 billion in emergency cash to help cover its debts.

The Burj Khalifa boasts more than 160 stories. The exact number is not known.

The observation deck is located on the 124th floor. Adult tickets bought in advance cost 100 dirhams ($27.25). Visitors wanting to enter immediately can jump to the front of the line by paying 400 dirhams ($109) apiece.

位于迪拜的世界第一高塔“哈利法塔”的开发商昨日称，这座高塔的观景台日前意外被关闭，这可能会让数千游客倍感失望，也有损该塔的形象。哈利法塔开放仅有一个多月的时间。

目前哈利法塔观景台关闭的确切原因尚不清楚。建筑开发商伊玛尔房地产公司通过一份简短声明做出回应，哈利法塔的观景台因“客流量过大”而被关闭，但随后又暗示这和电力系统故障也有关系。

该公司称：“主承包商和分包商正在解决电力供应的技术问题，重新开放时间将在完工后告知公众。”

伊玛尔房地产公司的一名女发言人未能提供关于此事的更多细节。

哈利法塔于今年1月5日对公众开放，尽管游览门票需提前预订，造成很多游客买票困难，但目前已有数千名游客前往观景台游览，而从地面乘电梯至观景台仅需1分多钟的时间。已经提前购票但受观景台关闭影响的游客可重新订票或退票。

伊玛尔房地产公司称：“想重新订票的游客可享受优先预订权”，并称该公司一直致力于“哈利法塔的最高质量标准”。

哈利法塔观景台于上周日被关闭后，一直未得到伊玛尔房地产公司关于该塔何时将重新开放的通知。票务代理商已开始接受本周日情人节期间的订票，但尚不确定哈利法塔届时是否会开放。

哈利法塔的其它很多楼层目前仍在施工，其中包括将于3月开业的由乔治．阿玛尼亲自操刀设计的首家酒店。

目前还不清楚哈利法塔的其它楼层是否受到观景台关闭的影响。按照计划，约1.2万名首批商住租户将于本月入住该塔。

1月4日，“身高”2717英尺（合828米）的哈利法塔在一片绚丽的焰火中被揭开神秘面纱，当时这一盛况在全球进行了电视直播。在五年多的建造期内，这座高塔一直被称为“迪拜塔”，但在开幕当晚，塔名突然被改为“哈利法塔”，以向邻国阿布扎比酋长国的酋长致敬。

迪拜和阿布扎比是阿联酋七个酋长国中的两个成员。阿布扎比是阿联酋的首都，是该国石油资源最为丰富的成员。此前，阿布扎比向迪拜提供了200亿美元的紧援助资金以帮助其偿债。

哈利法塔共有160多层，但确切层数尚不清楚。

该塔的观景台位于第124层。提前预订的成人票票价为每张100迪拉姆（27.25美元）。不想预订的游客支付400迪拉姆（109美元）即可随时游览。

Vocabulary:

mar：to inflict damage, especially disfiguring damage, on（毁坏，损害）

spire：a tall, acutely pointed pyramidal roof or rooflike construction upon a tower, roof, etc（尖塔，尖顶）

murky：vague; unclear; confused（含糊的，朦胧的）

at fault：open to censure; blameworthy（有故障）

sheikdom：the land or territory under the control of a sheik（酋长国）