As announced by Tameer company, the main developer of project, Dubai's landmark Princess Tower has been completed, making it the world's tallest residential tower at a final height of 414 meters, reported The National. Construction of residential tower began in 2005. The Dubai Marina development stands at 107 storey and encompasses basement floors, a ground floor and 100 above-ground levels. In addition to penthouse apartments overlooking The Palm Jumeirah, The Princess Tower houses 763 luxury apartments, including one, two, three, four-bedroom apartments. According to experts, the tower will contribute to more than 3,100 new apartments are scheduled to hit the market in Dubai Marina in the early part of this year, putting further pressure on declining rents in the popular coastal district. As we earlier reported, UAE's property boom ended in 2008, with home prices drop in the Dubai by about 60 percent. The current tallest completed residential building in the world is The Torch, the 337-meter tower located a few blocks away from the Pentominium project in Dubai, which itself could surpass Princess Tower if it is ever completed to the 516 meters originally planned. That project has become bogged down in delays.

As reported by information agency APA, Azerbaijan plans to build the world's tallest tower within the framework of Caspian Island project. Initially, the height of Azerbaijan Tower planned to be 560 meters, but parameters were changed. The developer of Caspian Island Avesta concern decided that the high of 185 floors tower to be 1050 meters, and it will be commissioned in 2018-2019. According to another news agency The First News, the construction of Caspian Island in Azerbaijan, which will be erected on artificial made islands, has already started. This project will be built during 25 years. The 10 percent of the whole project is planned to complete in 2016. It should be noted, that the minimum cost for one square meter in this city will be about US$ 4.5 thousand. The new city will cover 30 thousand square meters area - 20 thousand for residential buildings, 10 thousand for retail stores, offices, stadiums, entertainment venues, race circuits for Formula 1 and Formula 2, etc. The developer plans to build the longest boulevard in the world with 150 kilometers length and the highest skyscraper with 1050 meters height in this city. There are no intersections planned in this city, so no need for traffic lights. The total budget of this project is estimated US$ 125 billion, and it will be funded by private investors. According to author, this project has no analogue in the world, as the city planned to be built on artificial island. However, the Baku experiment isn't unique and new. There are enough "island projects" in UAE and other countries. As BBC reported, according to Barclays Capital research, there is an "unhealthy correlation" between the building of skyscrapers and subsequent financial crashes. Often the world's tallest buildings are simply the edifice of a broader skyscraper building boom, reflecting a widespread misallocation of capital and an impending economic correction. Examples include the "Empire State building", built as the "Great Depression" was under way, and the current world's tallest, the "Burj Khalifa", built just before Dubai almost went bust. Today the world's tallest building is Burj Khalifa in United Arab Emirates (828 meters). UAE also planned to build 1400-meters tall "Nakheel tower", but its construction was delayed. The 1000-meters tall skyscraper is also planned to be built in Kuwait in City of Silk. Saudi Arabia also plans to build more than a kilometer high Kingdom tower in Jeddah. But now all this "oil country" projects are on the paper only, and a big question is - which one will take the Champion title from Dubai's Giant?

The Grand Egyptian Museum, which is situated on the Giza plateau, is to open on August 2015, announced Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs Mohamed Ibrahim during press conference in Cairo on January 10, reported mail.ru news. On January 10 in Cairo was signed a contract for third and final phase of museum construction. It will undertake one of the largest Egyptian construction companies Orascom and Belgian Besix. According to Mohamed Ibrahim, the third phase will take 40 months, during which the main building with 108 thousand square meters total area will be erected. The Grand Egyptian Museum will occupy 480 square meters area and will house more than 100 thousand artifacts and monuments of Egyptian history. The third phase of construction will cost US$ 830 million, financed primarily by a Japanese loan of US$ 300 million. The US$ 150 million will be funded by Egyptian Government and the rest by local and international grants. Apart museum's main building the complex will include a cinema, library, classrooms, conference-halls, a multimedia center, children's museum and a museum for people with disabilities, an entertainment center and exhibition halls. The museum also will be connected to Pyramids with a special way. After 5 years from its opening the museum is estimated to receive 8 million tourists annually. To overcome inrush of tourists, the government also planning to build new stores and 40 new hotels. The current museum in Cairo's central, "revolution famous", Tahrir Square can't further accommodate all artifacts of Egyptian culture. Eventually, many museum pieces from this museum will be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum at the Pyramids. According to the minister, the Tutankhamun's tomb treasures hall in new museum will take 7 times more area than it takes now.

Tokyo Sky Tree is on target to be the tallest structure in Japan upon completion in the spring of 2012, reported constructiondigital. Located in the Narihirabashi/Oshiage part of the Sumida Ward of Tokyo, the Tokyo Sky Tree broadcasting tower will soar nearly 634 meters into the sky, making it one of the tallest in the world and an icon of Japan. Designed by Nikken Sekkei, the tower, which resembles a large tree, will serve as a hub for the country's digital terrestrial broadcasting network. Additionally, the structure features two observation decks and is designed to withstand Japan's frequent earthquakes as well as strong winds. Though many may see this as Japan's way of getting in the race for the world's tallest structure, the height of the Tokyo Sky Tree serves an important function-it improves the towers ability to send the broadcasting signals over the tall skyscrapers of Tokyo. The base of the tower resembles a tripod. The three 'legs' anchor the structure to the ground. As it rises, the structure begins to curve around a central tube into the sky. Observatory levels at 350 meters and 450 meters allow visitors to have panoramic views of the urban landscape. The lower level will feature restaurants and retail opportunities. Japan isn't a stranger to earthquakes and strong storms. As a result, architects must design structures with disaster prevention features to withstand movement from above and below. Taking inspiration from the traditional Japanese pagoda, the tower relies on a central column for stability. According to the architects, "this system counters swaying set in motion by earthquake tremors and strong winds, ensuring a safe and reliable structure." The Obayashi Corporation is serving as the general contractor on the Tokyo Sky Tree project.

With inauguration on January 5, the "Baluarte Bridge" in Mexico is officially the Guinness World Record holder for the tallest cable-stayed bridge, reported Constructiondigital. The massive infrastructure project consists of 152 steel suspenders supporting over 1100 meters of 20 meter wide roadway, with a central span of over 520 meters. The 403m (1,321ft) tall "Baluarte Bridge" is part of celebrations to mark 200 years of Mexico's independence from Spain. Its four lanes are held up tall enough to house the Eiffel Tower - which bring the structure its impressive world record credentials. The US$ 1.42 billion project is 86 percent complete, and will be finished by the end of January. The bridge spans a deep ravine in northern Mexico, and the achievement comes soon after the country's bicentennial celebration of independence from Spain. "It is definitely one of the most impressive infrastructure projects. It is a key piece of Mazatlan and Durango -a project that is going to unite the people from the north of Mexico like never before," said Felipe Calderon, Mexico's President. More than 4 years in the making, the project is intended to provide a more direct route through the "Devil's Backbone" as the area is known. Critics say that the bridge will open up a new "drug superhighway", allowing marijuana and other narcotics to be more easily transported through the area's mountainous region. Officials, however, insist the project will benefit the local communities. The highest suspension bridge is the Siduhe Bridge in China, with 472m height and 900m span. To avoid misunderstanding about record holders, we need to add, that difference between the two are bridge structures. Thus, the Mexican Baluarte Bridge structure is called cable-stayed, while China's Siduhe Bridge's-suspension.