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That lobby is an eyepopper, too, sporting the world's tallest atrium (590 feet). And all that glitters there is gold, real gold. Its centerpiece is a geometric fountain where computers generate a water show and even a fire show.

Wait, there's more

Visible from the Burj was a land project for which most of the world knows Dubai: The Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island shaped like a palm tree. Actually, there are two, this one smaller, plus the another man-made island project called The World because of its shape. You must be invited to purchase land here.

Atlantis, almost a clone of its Bahamas counterpart (sans casino in this Islamic country), is to open on Palm Jumeirah in September.

The other buzz is over the recent opening of Raffles, with its hot-spot champagne bar in the hotel's glass pyramid top and its new gourmet restaurants.

Time Out Dubai magazine reports that chef Gordon Ramsay of "Hell's Kitchen" fame is contemplating a new restaurant on The Palm (he already heads Verre at the Hilton Dubai Creek).

If so, his neighbors would include, along with Atlantis, a Trump Tower and Cirque du Soleil theater, more examples of over-the-top.

Next on the drawing board is Dubailand, which at 3 million square feet is to include theme parks, rides, cultural adventures and more, such as Universal City, Six Flags, Sports City, City of Arabia, Motor City and two golf courses.

Biggest, highest, best, newest, most expensive -- yes, superlatives matter in Dubai. And experiencing the city gives you a grown-up-in-Disneyland feeling.

Over the top? Not really, since the bar just keeps rising in Dubai.

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