Suicide at the Burj Khalifa
Introduction
Suicide at the Burj Khalifa refers to the death of Laura Vanessa Nunes in Dubai on 16 November 2014.
This page sets out the circumstances surrounding her death at the Burj Khalifa.
Her death was recorded as suicide. However, the events of that day, the physical setting, and the accounts that followed give rise to serious and unresolved questions.
The Event – Suicide at the Burj Khalifa
On 14 October 2014, the At the Top SKY observation deck on the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was inaugurated and opened to the public the following day.
Scarcely a month later, on 16 November 2014, Laura Vanessa Nunes died after a fall from the 148th floor to the terrace of the third floor outside Amal restaurant, part of the Armani Hotel. The restaurant was closed at the time.
Key areas of concern
The circumstances surrounding Laura Vanessa Nunes’ death give rise to a number of important considerations:
- Location of the fall
The exact point from which Laura fell, and the relationship between that location and where her body was found, require careful clarification. - Design and configuration of the observation deck
The structure and accessibility of the At the Top SKY observation deck on the 148th floor, including its physical layout at the time, form a central part of understanding how the incident occurred. - Changes to the structure following the incident
Reports indicate that modifications were made to elements of the observation deck after Laura’s death, raising questions about the original configuration. - Differences in reported accounts
Variations in how the events were initially reported, including discrepancies in location and detail, remain unresolved. - Availability of documentation and evidence
The extent to which full documentation, records, and supporting material have been made available forms part of the broader context of this account.
Documentation
Official forensic documentation forms part of the record of Laura Vanessa Nunes’ death.
The Medical Forensic Report issued in Dubai confirms the date and location of the incident, as recorded at the time.
The Medical Forensic Report records:
“Upon the request of senior prosecutor Ahmed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, as included in the letter issued by the action chief of Bur Dubai Police Station under No. 240857/34/2/3151 dated 17/11/2014, I, the expert, Dr. Hazem Mitwali Sharif, the coroner of Dubai Police, carried out the external anatomic examination on the body of the deceased.”
The report further records that the coroner attended the scene following a call from the Dubai Police Operations Office and observed the deceased at a location identified as the Burj Khalifa on 16 November 2014.
Circumstances:
“Having received the phone call from Operations Office at Dubai Police, I moved to the balcony of the third floor of Burj Khalifa on 16/11/2014, to find out that her body was lying on the right side…”
Media Coverage
Media reporting on Laura’s death has varied in both detail and accuracy.
A dedicated section of this site will include:
- Daily Mail
- Gulf News Broadcast
- 9News
- Additional reporting and commentary
- Material addressing discrepancies, denials, and inconsistencies
The Book
A full and detailed account is set out in the work:
Suicide at the Burj Khalifa
This book brings together the evidence, the chronology of events, and the questions that remain unresolved.
Closing
This page exists to document what occurred and to ensure that the circumstances of Laura Vanessa Nunes’ death are neither obscured nor forgotten.
This site forms part of a broader account presented on the Laura Vanessa Nunes homepage.
Last updated: [June/2026]