Explore Burj Khalifa, Dubai’s tallest skyscraper and a global architectural icon.
🖋 By Meenakshi – AZAD Architects, Barnala
Burj Khalifa: Dubai’s Iconic Sky Giant
Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa, once called Burj Dubai before its grand opening, is a record-breaking skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Soaring to a staggering 829.8 meters (2,722 feet) – a little more than half a mile high – it is officially the tallest man-made structure on Earth. Its roof height (not counting the antenna but including a 242.6-meter spire) reaches 828 meters (2,717 feet). It dethroned Taipei 101 in 2009 to claim the title of the world’s tallest building, a record it still holds today.
Burj Khalifa Quick Facts
• World’s Tallest Since 2009 (surpassing Taipei 101)
• Style: Neo-futuristic, mixed-use skyscraper
• Location: 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, Dubai, UAE
• Named After: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Construction: Began Jan 2004 → Topped out Jan 2009 → Completed Oct 2009 → Opened Jan 2010
• Cost: Approx. US$1.5 billion, owned by Emaar Properties
Height Highlights
• Total architectural height: 828 m (2,717 ft)
• Tip height: 829.8 m (2,722 ft)
• Top floor: 585.4 m (1,921 ft)
• Observation deck: 555.7 m (1,823 ft)
Technical Details
• Structural system: Reinforced concrete, steel & aluminium
• Floors: 154 + 9 maintenance levels
• Total floor area: 309,473 m² (3.33M sq ft)
• Elevators: 57 high-speed lifts
• Parking: 2 basement levels
Design & Build Team
• Architect: Adrian Smith (SOM)
• Structural Engineer: Bill Baker
• Contractors: Samsung C&T, BESIX, Arabtec
Construction kicked off in 2004 and took five years for the exterior to be completed by 2009, with the official opening happening in 2010. The tower’s framework is mainly reinforced concrete, combined with steel components – some of which were recycled from the Palace of the Republic in East Berlin, the former seat of East Germany’s parliament.
The project was initially part of a grand Downtown Dubai development and intended as its crown jewel. However, financial struggles during the Great Recession meant Dubai needed help. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s then-president, provided crucial financial aid, and in gratitude, Dubai’s ruler renamed the tower Burj Khalifa in his honor.
Architecturally, the design draws inspiration from Islamic motifs, particularly the Great Mosque of Samarra. The tower’s Y-shaped floor plan maximizes space for hotels and residences, while its buttressed central core and wings ensure stability at such extreme heights. A custom cladding system protects the structure from Dubai’s scorching desert heat. Inside, there are 57 elevators and 8 escalators, efficiently moving visitors and residents across its many floors.
Today, Burj Khalifa stands as a symbol of engineering brilliance and modern ambition, dominating Dubai’s skyline.
Development Journey
Construction of the Burj Khalifa started on 12 January 2004, and its exterior was finished by 1 October 2009. The grand opening took place on 4 January 2010. The skyscraper forms the centerpiece of the Downtown Dubai project, a 2 km² (about 490 acres) urban development located at the First Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road, close to Dubai’s main business hub.
The architectural and engineering design was handled by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), a renowned Chicago-based firm. Adrian Smith served as the lead architect, while Bill Baker was the chief structural engineer. SOM was also the team behind the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) in Chicago, which once held the record as the tallest building in the world.
For the project’s supervision, Hyder Consulting acted as the overseeing engineer, while NORR Group Consultants managed architectural supervision. The main contractor was Samsung C&T from South Korea, working alongside BESIX of Belgium and Arabtec, a UAE-based company.
Despite the building’s prestige, it drew criticism over the treatment of its migrant construction workers, mostly from South Asia. Reports highlighted low wages and instances where workers’ passports were withheld, raising concerns over labor rights.
Conception & Vision
The Burj Khalifa was envisioned as the focal point of a massive mixed-use development that would transform Dubai’s skyline. The master plan included 30,000 residential units, nine luxury hotels (such as The Address Downtown Dubai), 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of landscaped park space, 19 high-rise residential towers, the iconic Dubai Mall, and the 12-hectare (30-acre) man-made Burj Khalifa Lake.
The motivation behind building such a record-breaking structure was part of Dubai’s strategy to move beyond an oil-reliant economy and embrace tourism and services as key drivers of growth. Officials believed landmark projects like this would attract global attention, investment, and recognition. As Jacqui Josephson, a VIP tourism executive at Nakheel Properties, put it: “Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wanted to place Dubai firmly on the world map with something extraordinary.”
Initially called Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower), the skyscraper was renamed Burj Khalifa at its grand inauguration in January 2010. The name honored Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, who, along with the UAE federal government, provided tens of billions of dollars in financial aid to help Dubai settle debts. Dubai had borrowed around $80 billion for mega projects, but the 2008 global financial crisis and the Great Recession left many developments stalled or abandoned—except for the Burj Khalifa, which was completed despite the economic turmoil.
Unmatched Records of Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa has shattered multiple world records, redefining what is possible in architecture and engineering:
• Tallest man-made structure on Earth – 829.8 m (2,722 ft), surpassing the KVLY-TV mast (628.8 m).
• Highest structure ever constructed in history, overtaking the Warsaw Radio Mast (646.38 m).
• Tallest freestanding building, breaking the CN Tower’s record (553.3 m).
• World’s tallest skyscraper to its spire, 828 m (2,717 ft), beating Taipei 101 (509.2 m).
• Tallest skyscraper including antenna height, 829.8 m, exceeding the Willis (Sears) Tower (527 m).
• Most floors in a single building – 163 levels, surpassing the World Trade Center’s 110 floors.
• World’s highest elevator installation, housed inside the pinnacle of the tower.
• Longest vertical elevator travel – 504 m (1,654 ft).
• Record vertical concrete pumping height – 606 m (1,988 ft).
• Tallest building to feature residential apartments.
• Highest glass and aluminium façade installation – 512 m (1,680 ft).
• World’s highest restaurant, At.mosphere, on the 122nd floor (442 m/1,450 ft), topping CN Tower’s 360 Restaurant.
• Largest New Year’s Eve fireworks display on a building.
• Biggest light-and-sound show on a single skyscraper.
The Burj Khalifa is not just tall—it is a record-breaking marvel that redefines the limits of human ambition.
Architecture & Design: A Fusion of Innovation and Heritage
The Burj Khalifa was created by the renowned firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the same team behind Chicago’s Willis (Sears) Tower and New York’s One World Trade Center. The skyscraper uses a bundled tube structure, a design pioneered by engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan, which reduced the need for steel to nearly half of what was used in the Empire State Building. Khan’s groundbreaking ideas reshaped skyscraper design globally, inspiring countless modern tall buildings.
The tower also draws inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s unbuilt “The Illinois”, a visionary mile-high tower, and the curved, three-wing form of Chicago’s Lake Point Tower. Early on, the Burj was even envisioned as a fully residential tower, with its design echoing Seoul’s Tower Palace Three.
To execute this monumental project, Hyder Consulting oversaw the structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, while NORR Group Consultants managed architectural supervision, including the Armani Hotel’s integration within the tower. GHD acted as an independent quality verifier for concrete and steelwork.
The tower’s design blends modern engineering with Islamic architectural elements. As it ascends, 27 staggered setbacks form a spiraling pattern, reducing wind pressure and creating elegant outdoor terraces. Above these setbacks, the central core tapers into a sleek spire, which crowns the tower. Despite its massive height, the structure is engineered to withstand desert winds, with a sway of only about 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) at its peak.
This innovative combination of aesthetics, cultural symbolism, and engineering excellence makes the Burj Khalifa a masterpiece of modern architecture.
Inside the Spire & Structure of Burj Khalifa
The spire of the Burj Khalifa, inspired by the spiral minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra, is an engineering feat in itself. Made from over 4,000 tonnes of structural steel, it includes a 200-meter (660 ft) pinnacle pipe weighing 350 tonnes. The entire 244-meter (801 ft) spire mainly houses communication equipment but is often called “vanity height” because much of it is not usable space. Without the spire, the tower would stand 585 meters (1,919 ft)—still among the tallest in the world. In fact, the empty spire alone would rank as the 11th tallest building in Europe if it stood there independently.
Inside, the Burj is as artistic as it is architectural. Over 1,000 art pieces decorate its interiors, with the residential lobby featuring works by Jaume Plensa.
The tower’s exterior is clad with 142,000 square meters (1.5 million sq ft) of reflective glass, aluminum, and stainless steel panels, designed to handle Dubai’s scorching heat, glare, and desert winds. In total, over 26,000 glass panels were used, with each curtain wall panel weighing around 360 kg (800 lbs). Interestingly, the temperature at the top is about 6°C (11°F) cooler than at ground level.
The Burj Khalifa is not just an office tower—it is a city within a skyscraper.
• Floors 15–39: Host the world’s first Armani Hotel, which opened in April 2010 after delays.
• Floors 20–108: Feature 900 luxury apartments, which reportedly sold out within 8 hours of being launched.
• Sky Lobbies (43rd & 76th floors): House swimming pools, including an outdoor zero-entry pool on the 76th floor.
• 122nd–124th floors: Contain the At.mosphere restaurant, sky lobby, and the famous observation deck.
• Upper floors: Mainly corporate suites and offices.
For vertical travel, the Burj Khalifa has 57 elevators and 8 escalators, including double-deck elevators that move at 10 m/s (33 ft/s)—some of the fastest in the world. Initially, there were even plans for triple-deck elevators, but they were never installed. The elevators have LCD screens to entertain passengers, and there are 2,909 stairs connecting the ground floor to the 160th level.
Plumbing, Cooling & Maintenance at Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa’s plumbing network is a massive system in itself. It delivers nearly 946,000 liters (250,000 gallons) of water every day through 100 km (62 miles) of piping. Another 213 km (132 miles) of pipes are dedicated to the building’s fire safety systems, while 34 km (21 miles) carry chilled water for the air-conditioning network.
The cooling system is equally impressive. It draws cleaner, cooler air from the upper floors rather than the ground level. At peak demand, the system provides 46 megawatts (62,000 horsepower) of cooling power—roughly the same as melting 13,000 tons of ice in a single day! Cleverly, the building also collects condensation from the cooling process, recycling it to irrigate the surrounding landscaped areas.
Maintaining the 24,348 windows—covering a massive 120,000 m² (1.29 million sq ft) of glass—is a monumental task. The Burj uses three horizontal tracks equipped with 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) bucket machines to clean much of the facade. For floors above level 109 up to tier 27, traditional suspended platforms are used. At the very top, a team of specialized cleaners literally descends by ropes to access the spire!
Even with all systems running, it takes a crew of 36 workers about 3–4 months to clean the entire exterior once. To handle the uppermost 27 tiers and the glass spire, special unmanned machines are used. This advanced cleaning system was designed in Melbourne, Australia, by CoxGomyl and cost around A$8 million to develop.
Features
The Dubai Fountain
Right next to Burj Khalifa lies the spectacular Dubai Fountain, created by WET Enterprises at a staggering cost of Dh 800 million (US$217 million). Stretching 270 meters (900 ft) along the lake, it dazzles with 6,600 lights and 50 vibrant color projectors, shooting water jets as high as 150 meters (500 ft). The fountain performs stunning water dances synchronized to music, ranging from classical melodies to modern Arabic tunes. Recognized as the world’s largest choreographed fountain, it officially received the name “Dubai Fountain” on 26 October 2008, after a public naming contest announced by Emaar.
Observation Deck – At the Top, Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa’s iconic observation deck, At the Top, offers breathtaking panoramic views of Dubai and beyond. Located high above the city, it lets visitors experience the world from one of the tallest vantage points on Earth. Interactive displays, high-powered telescopes, and a unique immersive journey make it more than just a viewing platform—it is a complete sky-high experience.
Burj Khalifa: Engineering Marvels from Pipes to Panoramas
Plumbing and Water Supply
The Burj Khalifa’s water infrastructure is vast and complex, delivering nearly 946,000 liters (about 250,000 gallons) daily through an extensive network of 100 kilometers (62 miles) of pipes. Another 213 kilometers (132 miles) of piping supports the fire safety system, while 34 kilometers (21 miles) are dedicated to circulating chilled water for air conditioning.
Cooling System
The tower’s climate control draws in cooler, cleaner air from upper levels instead of the heat-soaked ground floor. Its peak cooling capacity hits a staggering 46 megawatts (62,000 horsepower) — the equivalent of melting 13,000 tons of ice every day. Additionally, condensation collected from the air conditioning is reused to irrigate the surrounding greenery, showcasing sustainable design at work.
Window Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning 24,348 windows spanning 120,000 m² (1.29 million sq ft) of glass is no small feat. The building uses three horizontal tracks equipped with heavy-duty bucket machines for most of the facade. For the upper floors—from 109 to 27 tiers below—traditional suspended platforms are deployed. At the very summit, highly skilled cleaners rappel down by ropes to access the spire’s glass.
Despite advanced equipment, it takes a team of 36 workers about 3 to 4 months to clean the entire exterior. For the top 27 tiers and spire, special robotic cleaning systems developed by Melbourne’s CoxGomyl—costing roughly A$8 million—take on the task autonomously.
Observation Decks: Sky-High Views
The tower’s outdoor observation deck, “At the Top,” opened on the 124th floor at 452 meters (1,483 feet) in January 2010. Later, the 148th floor “SKY” deck at 555 meters (1,821 feet) took the crown as the world’s highest observation platform in 2014. Though briefly surpassed by Shanghai Tower in 2016, Burj Khalifa reclaimed the title with “The Lounge” on the 160th floor at 585 meters (1,919 feet)—the highest lounge worldwide—as of February 2019.
The 124th-floor deck also features an augmented reality “electronic telescope” developed by Montréal-based Gsmprjct°, allowing visitors to explore the surrounding landscape live or view past images under different conditions. To manage crowds, tickets for the observation decks can be bought in advance at a significant discount compared to on-the-spot sales.
On rare clear days, visitors at the top can even see the coastline of Iran, located nearly 153 kilometers (95 miles) away!
Burj Park: Oasis at the Base
Encircling the tower is Burj Park, an 11-hectare (27-acre) landscaped area inspired by the desert Hymenocallis flower, designed by SWA Group. The park’s centerpiece is a collection of pools and water fountains known as the Water Room, with benches and signage reflecting images of the tower and the flower motif.
Irrigation relies on 68 million liters (18 million gallons) of water per year reclaimed from the building’s cooling system. The same company behind the famous Dubai Fountain, WET Enterprises, designed the park’s six water features, enhancing this urban green space’s beauty and tranquility.
Floor plan
| Burj Khalifa Floor Usage (Base to Top) | |
|---|---|
| Basement Levels (B1–B2) | Parking and mechanical |
| Ground & Concourse | Armani Hotel lobby and facilities |
| Floors 1–8 | Armani Hotel rooms |
| Floors 9–16 | Armani Residences |
| Floors 17–18 | Mechanical floors |
| Floors 19–37 | Residential apartments |
| Floors 38–39 | Armani Hotel suites |
| Floors 40–42 | Mechanical floors |
| Floor 43 | Sky lobby |
| Floors 44–72 | Residential apartments |
| Floors 73–75 | Mechanical floors |
| Floor 76 | Sky lobby |
| Floors 77–108 | Residential apartments |
| Floors 109–110 | Mechanical floors |
| Floors 111–121 | Corporate suites |
| Floor 122 | At.mosphere restaurant |
| Floor 123 | Sky lobby |
| Floors 124 & 148 | At the Top observatories |
| Floors 125–135 | Corporate suites |
| Floors 136–138 | Mechanical floors |
| Floors 139–147 | Corporate suites |
| Floors 149–151 | Corporate suites |
| Floors 152–154 | The Lounge observatory |
| Floor 155 | Mechanical floor |
| Floors 156–159 | Communication and broadcast floors |
| Floors 160–163 | Mechanical floors |
Ramadan Timing at Burj Khalifa
Due to the building’s extreme height, residents on upper floors experience sunset slightly later than those at ground level. During Ramadan, this means people living above the 80th floor wait about 2 extra minutes to break their fast, while those above the 150th floor wait around 3 additional minutes after the sun sets at street level.
Construction
Construction of Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa was built by South Korea’s Samsung C&T, known for projects like the Petronas Towers and Taipei 101, working in partnership with Belgium’s BESIX and UAE’s Arabtec. Turner acted as the main project manager, while Hong Kong’s Far East Aluminium supplied the building’s exterior cladding. Hyder Consulting served as both contractor and engineer of record, legally responsible for the tower’s performance.
The structure mainly uses reinforced concrete, with a record-breaking concrete pump developed specifically for the project. In total, about 330,000 cubic meters of concrete and 55,000 tonnes of steel reinforcement were used, requiring over 22 million labor hours. Concrete was pumped to heights surpassing 600 meters, setting a world record. The upper sections were built with lighter steel, using three cranes each able to lift 25 tonnes.
Geotechnical tests found the bedrock beneath the site to be weak sandstone and siltstone, requiring a deep and strong foundation of 192 piles, each 43 meters deep, designed to hold the tower’s immense weight of around 450,000 tonnes. The foundation includes a corrosion protection system against groundwater effects.
An interesting fact: over 35,000 tonnes of steel salvaged from East Berlin’s former parliament building were recycled into the tower’s steel framework.
The tower is divided into safety zones with pressurized, air-conditioned refuge floors every 13 levels to protect occupants in emergencies.
Because of Dubai’s extreme heat, concrete was poured mostly at night and mixed with ice during summer months to prevent cracking, ensuring the building’s structural integrity under intense pressure and temperature.
Milestones
Key Milestones
• January 2004: Groundbreaking and excavation begin.
• February 2004: Foundation piling starts.
• September 2004: Emaar’s contractors officially start construction.
• March 2005: Structural framework begins to rise.
• June 2006: Building reaches 50 floors.
• February 2007: Surpasses Sears Tower in total floors.
• May 2007: Sets record for vertical concrete pumping at 452 meters.
• July 2007: Overtakes Taipei 101 to become tallest building worldwide.
• August 2007: Surpasses Sears Tower antenna height.
• September 2007: Becomes tallest freestanding structure, passing Toronto’s CN Tower.
• April 2008: Surpasses KVLY-TV mast to be tallest human-made structure.
• January 2009: Topped out at 829.8 meters.
• October 2009: Exterior construction completed.
• January 2010: Official opening and renaming to Burj Khalifa in honor of UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• March 2010: Certified as the world’s tallest building by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
Real Estate Highlights
Before completion, office spaces in Burj Khalifa were priced at around $4,000 per square foot, with Armani Residences selling for $3,500 per square foot. The entire project cost was estimated at $1.5 billion. However, the 2008 financial crisis caused a slump in Dubai’s property market. About 90% of apartments remained vacant ten months after opening, with rents falling by 40%. Gradually, foreign investors bought properties, and by late 2012, around 80% occupancy was reported.
Official Launch Ceremony
Held on January 4, 2010, the opening was a spectacular event featuring 10,000 fireworks, choreographed light shows, water displays, and powerful strobe lighting designed by UK’s Speirs and Major Associates. The ceremony attracted around 6,000 guests and worldwide media coverage.
Controversies & Incidents
• In May 2011, a migrant worker tragically committed suicide by jumping from the 147th floor, reportedly due to work-related issues.
• Reports in 2015 indicated a Portuguese tourist may have fallen from the tower, though official statements were conflicting.
• The workforce primarily consisted of South and East Asian laborers, many facing poor living conditions and low wages.
• In 2006, a labor protest over delayed transport escalated into a riot, causing significant damage and temporary work stoppages.
New Year’s Eve Celebrations at Burj Khalifa
Every December 31st, Emaar Properties hosts a spectacular New Year’s Eve event at Burj Khalifa. This celebration features a dazzling fireworks display launched from the tower, synchronized light and laser shows on its facade, and a fountain performance at The Dubai Fountain choreographed to music. Since its debut in 2010 alongside the building’s inauguration, the show lasts about three minutes and is broadcast live worldwide, reaching millions of viewers.
Dubai Media Incorporated and Dubai TV have held exclusive national broadcast rights since 2011. The event has earned two Guinness World Records for the largest LED-illuminated facade in 2015 and 2019. In recent years, the celebration has also been streamed live on platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Zoom. In 2021, the show paid tribute to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, a synchronized laser display was added to the Dubai Fountain to complement the tower’s show.
BASE Jumping Feats
Burj Khalifa has been the stage for several thrilling BASE jumps—both authorized and unauthorized. In 2008, two jumpers disguised as engineers leapt from a balcony near the 160th floor. In January 2010, with official permission, Nasr Al Niyadi and Omar Al Hegelan set a record jumping from a crane platform at 672 meters, reaching speeds up to 220 km/h. Later, in April 2014, French jumpers Vince Reffet and Fred Fugen broke the world record for highest BASE jump from a building, leaping from the tower’s pinnacle at 828 meters.
Climbing Adventure
On March 28, 2011, renowned climber Alain “Spiderman” Robert ascended the outside of Burj Khalifa, completing the climb to the top spire in six hours. Unlike his usual free solo climbs, he used safety ropes and harnesses to comply with UAE regulations.
Prestigious Awards and Recognitions for Burj Khalifa
Since its completion, Burj Khalifa has earned numerous top honors worldwide, cementing its status as an architectural marvel and engineering masterpiece.
• In June 2010, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat named it Best Tall Building in the Middle East & Africa.
• Later that year, at the Middle East Architect Awards 2010, it received the Best Project of the Year award. Architecture expert Gordon Gill described it as a “Building of the Century,” highlighting its groundbreaking impact even before completion.
Additional awards include:
• 2012: Award of Merit for the World Voices Sculpture in the lobby by the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois.
• 2011: Multiple accolades from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chicago Chapter for interior architecture and design excellence.
• Honors from ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering for outstanding engineering.
• Recognition from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) for mixed-use design.
• Project of the Year awards from MEED and Arabian Property Awards, along with international architecture awards from the Chicago Athenaeum.
• Silver medal in the Skyscraper Award by Emporis.
• Awards for commercial and structural innovation from various prestigious institutions.
• Popular Science Magazine’s Best of What is New and the Spark Awards Silver Award.
• LEAF Award for Best Structural Design and recognition for technological advancement in the International Highrise Awards.
These honors reflect Burj Khalifa’s unique blend of visionary design, cutting-edge engineering, and cultural significance.
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