Burj Khalifa, Modern skyscraper in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Burj Khalifa rises to 828 meters with 163 floors, dominating Dubai's skyline. Its steel and glass facade reflects the desert sunlight, creating shifting reflections throughout the day. Observation decks offer views of the Persian Gulf, the dunes, and the entire emirate.
Construction began in 2004, utilizing 330,000 cubic meters of concrete, equivalent to 110 Olympic-sized pools. The building was inaugurated on January 4, 2010, by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rachid Al Maktoum, who renamed it in honor of the Emirate's president, replacing the original name Burj Dubai with Burj Khalifa. Up to 12,000 workers operated simultaneously during construction, setting multiple world records, including the tallest freestanding structure ever built.
The building design incorporates motifs from regional architecture, with geometric shapes inspired by the Hymenocallis flower that grows in the desert and elements from Islamic art. This fusion of local tradition and contemporary design is reflected in the Y-shaped structure of the tower, optimizing panoramic views while reducing wind impact.
Book your tickets online several days in advance to avoid queues that can last more than two hours. Observation decks on levels 124 and 125 offer standard access, while level 148 at 555 meters provides a premium experience with a private lounge. Elevators ascend at 10 meters per second. It is recommended to go in the late afternoon to enjoy the sunset and the city lights.
To transport water to the top, Burj Khalifa uses a staged pumping system: water is pumped up in sections of a maximum of 60 floors before being pumped to the next level, as no pump in the world can directly propel water 828 meters high in a single process.
Location: Dubai
Inception: 2010
Architects: Adrian Smith, Marshall Strabala, George J. Efstathiou, William F. Baker, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Official opening: January 4, 2010
Architectural style: high-tech architecture, neo-futurism
Floors above the ground: 163
Floors below the ground: 1
Elevators: 58
Height: 584.5 m
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Made from material: reinforced concrete, steel, aluminium, glass
Operator: Emaar Properties
Address: 1 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard دبي
Email: Info@atthetop.ae
Website: http://burjkhalifa.ae
GPS coordinates: 25.19722,55.27417
Latest update: November 20, 2025 16:40
Photo license: GFDL
Photo license: CC0
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