Dubai - Burj Dubai, or Dubai tower, is now the world's tallest man-made structure after reaching a new record height of 688 metres, a statement by its developer Emaar Properties company read on Monday.

The tower surpasses the KVLY-TV mast in the US state of North Dakota, which has held the record for the world's tallest supported structure since 1963, has a height of 628.8 metres.

At over 160 storeys, the tower is taller than the Taipei 101 building (508 metres) in Taiwan and the CN Tower (553.33 metres) in Toronto, Canada.

When completed, Burj Dubai should meet all four criteria listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which classifies the world's tallest structures.

CTBUH measures the height of buildings to the structural top, the highest occupied floor, the top of the roof and the tip of the spire, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flag pole.

Currently, some 7,500 professionals and workers are employed on the site of the project. The company says that the building is due to be completed by next year.

Described as the new heart of the city, downtown Bruj Dubai is a mixed-use neighbourhood with premium hotels, exclusive business facilities, modern residences, shopping malls and leisure facilities.

Emaar is the largest land and real estate developer in the Gulf region.