- World’s Tallest Building: The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world with a total height of 829.8 meters (2,722 feet).
- Construction Period: The construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004 and the exterior was completed in 2009. The building was officially opened on January 4, 2010.
- Design Inspiration: The design of the Burj Khalifa is inspired by the Islamic architecture of the region, such as in the Great Mosque of Samarra. The Y-shaped tripartite floor geometry is designed to optimize residential and hotel space.
- Records: Besides being the tallest building, it also holds several other world records such as highest number of stories, highest occupied floor, highest outdoor observation deck, and elevators with the longest travel distance.
- Architectural Firm: The Burj Khalifa was designed by the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, led by Adrian Smith. This firm also designed the Sears Tower in Chicago, a previous record holder for the world’s tallest building.
- Financial Challenges: During the construction process, the original developers, Emaar, faced financial difficulties. Sheikh Khalifa, the then-ruler of the United Arab Emirates, provided monetary aid and funding, leading to the building being named “Burj Khalifa”.
- Economic Strategy: The decision to construct the Burj Khalifa was part of the government’s strategy to diversify from an oil-based economy and for Dubai to gain international recognition. The concept of profitability was derived from building high-density developments and malls around the landmark.
- Materials: The primary structure of the Burj Khalifa is made of reinforced concrete and some of the structural steel for the building originated from the Palace of the Republic in East Berlin, the former East German parliament.
- Labor Controversies: The construction of the Burj Khalifa involved migrant workers from South Asia, who were paid low wages and sometimes had their passports confiscated, leading to numerous complaints.
- Location: The Burj Khalifa is located in Downtown Dubai development at the ‘First Interchange’ along Sheikh Zayed Road, near Dubai’s main business district.
10 Facts About the Burj Khalifa
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