Dubai is becoming the next frontier for daredevils and extreme sports enthusiasts, all with their sights firmly fixed on performing record-breaking stunts on or by jumping off the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai.
Already two men have tried, one successfully, to jump off the Burj Dubai with parachutes, known as BASE jumping, and now New York’s real life Spiderman has said he plans to scale the Dubai landmark as one of his next stunts.
Alain Robert made news after climbing to the top of a 52-storey Manhattan tower on Thursday to highlight the issue of climate change.
“It’s climbing the Burj Dubai, which is going to approach 800 meters, more than double the New York Times [building],” he told Access Hollywood when asked what his dreams for the future were.
Robert was arrested by police and has been charged with criminal trespassing in the third degree, reckless endangerment in the second degree, making graffiti and disorderly conduct.
Last month a British man broke the world record for the highest BASE jump from a building when he threw himself off the 150th floor of the Burj Dubai.
The 36-year old adventurer now faces up to a year in jail or a 5,000 dirham ($1,362) fine if convicted of trespass and jumping off the building without permission.
The previous month a 47-year-old Frenchman was arrested at the tower with his parachute equipment while attempting the same feat.
The Burj Dubai, being developed by Emaar Properties, currently stands at over 630 metres and is the tallest manmade structure in the world.
The building is expected to tower around 900 metres above Dubai once it is finished next year, although the final height of the building is a closely guarded secret.
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