Samsung to build tallest building

The tower is set to change Dubai's skyline

South Korea's Samsung Corporation has won the contract to build the world's tallest building, the Burj Tower in Dubai.

Samsung won the $306m(£160m) deal, after an 11-month bid process.

The concrete and steel tower will be part of an $8bn(£4.2bn) 500-acre project in the United Arab Emirates.

Workers have already started to clear the ground for the 800-metre high, 160-floor skyscraper and it should be completed by November 2008.

Construction work on the Burj tower will begin in January, and when completed it will be taller than the world's current highest building, Taiwan's 508-metre TFC 101 building.

The building will have a hotel, a shopping mall, offices and luxury apartments.

Burj Dubai Tower 800 metres (2,640 feet) tall Upward-spiral design Exterior cladding system Built of glass, aluminium, concrete, steel Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago Total floor space of 500,000 sq m (5.35 million sq ft)

It was commissioned by Emaar Properties, as part of its Downtown Dubai development.

"Samsung Corporation's appointment is a defining moment and the tower is set to rise and change the face of Dubai," said Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties.

"The tower represents the next stage of growth for Emaar and will be the basis for future developments and act as a signpost for the ambitions of the region."

Dubai is proud of its adventurous construction projects, such as the seven-star Burj al-Arab hotel which has already become an iconic structure.

Samsung teamed up with Belgium's Besix and local company Arabtec to outbid seven other groups for the contract.