Burj Khalifa

A tower that changed the skyline

When the Burj Khalifa opened on 4 January 2010, it did not just break the record for the tallest building in the world. It broke it by a huge margin. The tower reaches 828 meters to its tip, more than half a kilometer, and it has held the title ever since.

Work began in January 2004 and the outside of the tower was finished in October 2009. The design by the architecture firm SOM uses a Y-shaped floor plan, with three wings braced around a strong central core. That shape helps the tower stand up to desert winds while giving apartments and hotel rooms wide views.

What is inside

The building mixes homes, offices and a hotel, and it moves people with 57 elevators and 8 escalators. Its cladding was designed to handle Dubai's summer heat. Visitors can ride up to observation decks, with the highest public deck on level 148, about 555 meters above the ground.

At the foot of the tower sits Burj Khalifa Lake, home of the Dubai Fountain, and the Dubai Mall. The whole district, called Downtown Dubai, was planned around the tower as its centerpiece.

Seeing it together

For couples, the classic Dubai evening is simple: a walk along the lake at sunset, the fountain show after dark and the tower glowing above it all. Booking an observation deck slot near sunset lets you watch the city light up below you.

The Burj Khalifa will not stay the tallest forever. In Jeddah, the Jeddah Tower is still under construction and is planned to rise past one kilometer. Until it is finished, the crown stays in Dubai.

Record after record

Beyond height, the tower collected a list of records when it opened, including the highest occupied floor and the highest outdoor observation deck of its time. Its spire is so tall that on a clear day it can be seen from far out in the desert and from the sea.

Building it took an enormous workforce and careful engineering. Concrete had to be pumped hundreds of meters up, and much of the pouring was done at night, when cooler air helped the concrete set properly. The tower also sways slightly at the top in strong wind, which is normal and part of the design.

For many visitors the most memorable moment is New Year's Eve, when fireworks and light shows run up the whole height of the tower. Crowds gather around the lake hours early to get a good spot, so plan ahead if you want to see it together.

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