Dubai Tower's Observation Deck Closes a Month After Opening

(Feb. 8) – Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, abruptly closed its observation deck to visitors Monday, a little more than one month after the half-mile-high structure was opened to the public.

"Technical issues with the power supply are being worked on by the main and subcontractors and the public will be informed upon completion," said a statement released by Emaar Properties, the builders of Burj Khalifa.

A man sweeps the entrance of Burj Khalifa's observation deck in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Feb 8.

Kamran Jebreili, AP

A man sweeps the entrance of Burj Khalifa's observation deck next to a model of the world's tallest tower after it was unexpectedly shut down in Dubai on Monday.

The building has 160 floors, with the observation deck located on the 124th. Since opening for business on Jan. 5, the glass-walled room has attracted sell-out crowds, paying $27 a ticket to look out at the city of Dubai and its surroundings.

Some 12,000 tenants are scheduled to move into the tower in February, and it remains unclear whether the electrical problems on the observation deck – the only part of the building that had been open to the public – will plague other parts of the mammoth structure.

Designed by the Chicago architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the 2,717-foot-tall skyscraper features 49 floors to accommodate office space, 1,044 apartments and a full-service hotel.

To date, Burj Khalifa has cost $1.5 billion to build.