The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, standing at 828 meters (2,722 feet) tall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Burj Khalifa was completed and officially opened on January 4, 2010, to mark the fourth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s accession day. The building was developed by Emaar Properties and was designed by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It took over five years to build and is named after Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates.
The Burj Khalifa currently holds seven world records, which it was specifically designed to break:
- Tallest building in the world
- Tallest free-standing structure in the world (previously held by Toronto’s CN Tower)
- Highest number of stories in the world (163!)
- Highest occupied floor in the world (585m above ground)
- Highest outdoor observation deck in the world (148th floor / 555m or 1,821 feet)
- Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world (140 floors)
- Tallest service elevator in the world
The Burj Khalifa has held these records since its completion in 2010 and is likely to hold them for some time to come. Fun fact: the Burj Khalifa became the world’s tallest man-made structure during construction, just 1,325 days after the excavation work started in January 2004!
The building is an iconic part of the Dubai skyline and is a popular tourist attraction in the city. The Burj Khalifa has a unique, tapered design that is inspired by the Hymenocallis flower, which is native to the region. The slender, spire-like structure has a total of six wings that are arranged in a circular pattern around the central core. The exterior of the building is clad in glass and stainless steel. The tower weighs 500,000 tons and the exterior has 26,000 glass panels that were hand cut! The building is illuminated at night by a series of lights that are located at the base and along its spire, which adds to its dramatic appearance. The Burj Khalifa is an iconic and visually striking structure that is recognized around the world.
The iconic tower is used for a variety of purposes, including residential, office, and hotel space and also has three observation decks that offer panoramic views of the city of Dubai and the surrounding desert. The first observation deck is located on the 124th floor and is called “At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY.” It is located at a height of 452 meters (1,483 feet) above the ground and offers stunning views of the city. The Burj Khalifa also has one of the fastest elevators in the world, so reaching this observation deck takes a mere minute! The second observation deck is located on the 148th floor and is called “At the Top, Burj Khalifa.” It is located at a height of 555 meters (1,821 feet) above the ground and is the highest outdoor observation deck in the world. The third observation deck is located on the 160th floor and is called “The Lounge.” This is a private observation deck that not open to the general public. The views from the top of the Burj Khalifa are truly breathtaking and are a must-see for anyone visiting the city.
At the base of the tower, in the Burj Khalifa Lake, lies one of the largest and most impressive fountains in the world, the Dubai Fountain. The Dubai Fountain is over 900 feet long and has over 6,600 lights and 25 color projectors. It can shoot water up to 500 feet into the air and uses state-of-the-art technology to coordinate the movement of water, lights, and music during its famous show. The Dubai Fountain is the largest dancing fountain system in the world and the show in front of the Burj Khalifa (which takes place every 30 minutes after 6 pm from Wednesday to Sunday) is not to be missed when visiting!
The Burj Khalifa is open seven days a week from 9 am to 11 pm. Get your tickets here.
Sources:
- https://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/
- https://thetowerinfo.com/highest-observation-deck-world/
- https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/fun-facts-about-the-burj-khalifa/#:~:text=Aside%20from%20holding%20the%20world,holds%20six%20other%20world%20records
- https://www.thrillophilia.com/burj-khalifa-facts#:~:text=Elevator%20with%20the%20Longest%20Travel%20Distance%20in%20the%20World,-The%20Burj%20Khalifa’s&text=The%20Burj%20Khalifa’s%20lifts%20travel,via%20the%20Burj%20Khalifa%20elevator