Climbing dangerously up the Burj Khalifa

French climber Alain Robert, nicknamed “Spiderman,” is on a mission to climb as many skyscrapers around the world as he can, using nothing but his bare hands.

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March 28, 2011

French climber Alain Robert, who calls himself "Spiderman," climbs up the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Kamran Jebreili / AP

Nov. 12, 2008

French rock and urban climber Alain Robert, 45, scales the City Tower in Jakarta, Indonesia. Robert, nicknamed "Spiderman" or "The Human Spider," has scaled more than 85 giant structures around the world, mostly just using his bare hands and climbing shoes. As a result, he has been arrested many times and is often met by law enforcement officials at the end of a climb, though has always been ultimately discharged.

Dimas Ardian / Getty Images

Nov. 12, 2008

Robert climbs a 33-floor building in Jakarta. The fearless French climber reached the top floor of a building in Jakarta after failing to climb a building nearby because of lack of police clearance.

Bay Ismoyo / AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 12, 2008

Robert scales a skyscraper in downtown Jakarta. "Climbing is my passion, my philosophy of life," says Robert on his official Web site.

Irwin Fedriansyiah / AP

Oct. 11, 2008

Robert climbs the facade of the InterContinental Hotel Phoenicia while guests watch him in Beirut.

Jamal Saidi / Reuters

Oct. 11, 2008

A Lebanese woman takes pictures of Robert as he climbs the 23-story Phoenicia hotel tower in Beirut without ropes and using only his bare hands. Robert has climbed more than 70 of the world's tallest structures, including the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building.

Hussein Malla / AP

Oct. 2, 2008

A man looks on as Robert climbs up the French national library, known as the Francois Mitterrand library, in Paris.

Claire Lebertre / AP

Oct. 2, 2008

Robert raises his arms as a fireman holds him after he scaled a tower of the French national library.

Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters

April 15, 2008

Robert nears the top of the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. The 45-year-old urban climber scrambled up the outside of the 46-story Four Seasons Hotel before being detained when he reached the roof, said one worker in a skyscraper close by who saw him reach the top.

Mike Clarke / AFP/Getty Images

April 15, 2008

"Spiderman" waves after climbing the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. Robert, who has become famous for illegally climbing buildings across the world, scaled the 46-story Hong Kong hotel to bring attention to the fight against global warming.

Mike Clarke / AFP/Getty Images

April 14, 2008

Robert displays a copy of his book titled "Bare Hands" at a book promotion in Hong Kong. Robert's urban climbing career has been characterized by an ever-expanding list of famous landmarks which includes the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House and the Montparnasse Tower in Paris as well as the world's tallest skyscrapers. His exploits have brought him worldwide media exposure.

Mike Clarke / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 19, 2008

Robert ascends Hotel Puerta America in Madrid.

Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images

Sept. 12, 2007

Robert scales the Agbar Tower, the new symbol of Barcelona designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

Cesar Rangel / AFP/Getty Images

Sept. 12, 2007

Robert scales the Agbar Tower, the new symbol of Barcelona designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

Cesar Rangel / AFP/Getty Images

Sept. 4, 2007

Robert climbs a skyscraper in Moscow. He had made an attempt the previous week that was thwarted by police.

Pavel Zelensky / AFP/Getty Images

Sept. 4, 2007

The 264-yard Federation tower in Moscow: Robert illegally ascended the skyscraper and was met by cheering crowds and Moscow police on the roof of the building.

Dima Korotayev / Getty Images

Sept.4, 2007

Police arrest Robert for climbing a skyscraper in Moscow. Robert successfully climbed the 60-story building and was met at the top by Russian police who immediately took him into custody.

Natalia Kolesnikova / AFP/Getty Images

June 25, 2007

Robert scales a 16-story office building in Kiev. The 45-year-old "urban climber" has been tackling the world's tallest buildings since 1994 and has often faced imprisonment, according to his Web site.

Petr Ivanov / AFP/Getty Images

April 12, 2007

Robert scales the Slovak Radio Building in Bratislava, Slovakia. Robert was the main guest of the three-day International mountain film festival "Mountains and City" in Bratislava.

Samuel Kubani / AFP/Getty Images

March 20, 2007

Robert maneuvers across a column while scaling the landmark Petronas Twin Towers in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Robert, also known as "Spiderman." scaled the highest building in Malaysia, only to come straight down into the arms of police.

Tengku Bahar / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 23, 2007

Robert climbs the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority building in Abu Dhabi. Robert uses his bare hands and climbing shoes, scaling more than 70 giant structures around the globe including many of the world's tallest structures.

/ AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 23, 2007

Robert climbs the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority building. Robert's Web site reported that more than 100,000 spectators gathered to witness the event.

/ AFP/Getty Images

Sept. 22, 2004

Robert climbs up the Paris Montparnasse tower. Robert succeeded in his illegal quest to reach the summit.

Philippe Wojazer / Reuters

May 26, 1999

Robert celebrates with a glass of champagne after climbing with bare hands and feet Montreal's 25-story Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sherbrooke Street in front of a crowd of thousands to raise money for sick children. Robert's climb was accomplished without the help of any climbing gear.

Robert Laberge / AFP/Getty Images

March 28, 2011

Robert scales the world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai. Robert's climb up the 2,717-foot-tall tower took just over six hours. As night fell, a row of powerful spotlights shone on the side of the tower.

Marwan Naamani / AFP/Getty Images

March 28, 2011

Hours before the climb, Robert told the Associated Press he hoped to go all the way to the top but acknowledged it would be difficult to go past about 700 meters freehand without the aid of additional equipment, because of the spire's tapered design.

Mawan Naamani / AFP/Getty Images

March 28, 2011

Unlike on many previous climbs, the 48-year-old daredevil used a rope and harness to comply with organizers' requirements in the gulf sheikdom that opened the tapering metal and glass tower in January last year.

Kamran Jebreili / AP

March 28, 2011

Robert has climbed more than 70 skyscrapers, including the Empire State Building, Chicago's Willis Tower and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, according to his Web site.

Mawan Naamani / AFP/Getty Images

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