Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa is a 829.8-metre megatall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the tallest structure in the world since its topping out in 2009. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill under Adrian Smith and with structural engineering by the same firm, the tower is a mixed-use development containing offices, residential apartments, the Armani Hotel, and two observation decks — At the Top and At the Top Sky. Its form, inspired by the Hymenocallis desert flower, rises in a series of setbacks to an elongated spire.
At a glance
- Type
- Mixed-use megatall skyscraper
- Period
- Construction 2004–2010; opened January 2010
- Style
- Contemporary / Neo-futurist
- Location
- 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, Downtown Dubai, UAE
- Architect
- Adrian Smith (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)
- Height
- 829.8 m (2,722 ft) total; 828 m (2,717 ft) to roof; 163 floors
- Coordinates
- 25.1972° N, 55.2742° E
Overview
The Burj Khalifa surpassed Taipei 101 to become the world’s tallest building when it was topped out in 2009, and it has held the record ever since. The tower is the centrepiece of Downtown Dubai, a large mixed-use development that includes the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain, and a network of hotels and residential towers. Named after Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE at the time of its opening, the skyscraper has become the defining symbol of Dubai’s rapid urban transformation.
History
The project was announced in 2003 by Emaar Properties as the centrepiece of the Downtown Dubai development. Construction began in January 2004 with excavation of the foundation, which required 192 piles driven 50 metres into the ground to support the tower’s weight. The structural concept was a tripartite Y-shaped floor plan — derived from the Hymenocallis flower — that provides stability against wind loads. The building was topped out on 17 January 2009 and officially inaugurated on 4 January 2010, originally named Burj Dubai but renamed at the opening ceremony to honour the UAE president.
What you see
The Burj Khalifa rises from a broad base in a series of spiralling setbacks, each tier stepping back as the tower climbs higher, reducing wind loads and creating a dynamic, tapering silhouette. The exterior is clad in reflective aluminium and stainless-steel spandrel panels with textured stainless steel fins and approximately 26,000 glass panels. The observation decks — At the Top on the 124th floor and At the Top Sky on the 148th floor — offer views across the Persian Gulf, the desert, and the entire Dubai conurbation. At ground level, the Dubai Fountain performs choreographed water shows on the adjacent Burj Khalifa Lake.
Cultural significance
The Burj Khalifa is the most visited tourist attraction in the Middle East and a global icon of twenty-first-century urban ambition. It represents the transformation of Dubai from a regional port city into a world metropolis within a single generation, and it continues to define how supertall architecture is imagined, financed, and built across the globe.
Practical information
- Address
- 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, UAE
- Observation decks
- At the Top (floor 124/125) and At the Top Sky (floor 148); advance booking strongly recommended
- Hours
- Daily; check burjkhalifa.ae for current timings
- Admission
- Paid; prices vary by time slot and deck level
Getting there
The Burj Khalifa is served by Dubai Metro Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station on the Red Line, a five-minute walk from the base of the tower via a covered walkway through Dubai Mall. Taxis and ride-hailing services (Careem, Uber) are widely available across Dubai. Driving: park at Dubai Mall (paid) and access the tower through the mall. The Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Mall are part of the same integrated complex.
Sources & resources
- Wikipedia: Burj Khalifa
- Official website: burjkhalifa.ae
- Cultural Heritage Online: culturalheritageonline.com