DUBAI - The Burj Dubai’s opening will come as a welcome distraction and a rare bright spot in what has been a bleak few months for Dubai, but it will take more than the inauguration of the world’s tallest building to solve the emirate’s economic problems, analysts say.

They say the iconic tower will, however, serve as a testament to possibility and embody the ambitious spirit that has transformed a sleepy fishing village into a world-renowned city.

And Monday night’s opening will most certainly be about celebrating that spirit and the possibility the future holds, in true Dubai style.

Six thousand guests, hundreds of international media, tens of thousands of residents and an estimated 2 billion television viewers worldwide will watch Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum inaugurate the world’s tallest building.

The opening, timed to coincide with the fourth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed’s rule, will be accompanied by an epic display of fireworks, lights and music befitting the occasion.

And there is much to celebrate.

The Burj Dubai took five years to build and now towers more than 800 metres above the city - the final height has yet to be revealed. It is some 300 metres taller than its closest rival Taipei 101 in Taiwan and is unlikely to be surpassed for at least five years, experts say.

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