Burj Khalifa, Modern skyscraper in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Three buttressed wings spiral upward from a central core, decreasing in diameter as they ascend to create a tapering silhouette. Each wing features setbacks at specific intervals, forming outdoor terraces that break the vertical mass. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels wrap the exterior, supported by an aluminum and stainless steel framework designed to withstand temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius and sandstorm conditions common to the Arabian Desert.
Architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill began preliminary designs in 2003, with excavation starting the following year after economic forecasts projected sustained growth. Engineers drove 192 foundation piles more than 50 meters into the ground to anchor the structure in desert substrate. The project faced the 2008 financial crisis midway through construction, prompting Abu Dhabi to provide emergency funding that kept workers on site and prevented delays.
Local artisanship and international engineering merged to create a landmark representing Dubai's transformation from trading port to global metropolis. The structure houses residential apartments, corporate offices, and the Armani Hotel, functioning as a vertical city where thousands work and live daily. Its presence redefined architectural ambition in the region, inspiring similar projects across the Arabian Peninsula and establishing new standards for super-tall construction worldwide.
Public transportation via the Red Line metro reaches Dubai Mall station, connected by a pedestrian bridge to the complex entrance. Security screening precedes elevator access, and photography is permitted on all observation levels. The At.mosphere restaurant on floor 122 requires separate reservations and formal dress. Avoid visiting during summer midday hours when outdoor temperatures regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius, making post-visit exploration uncomfortable.
A condensation collection system harvests moisture from air conditioning units throughout the building, recovering approximately 15 million gallons annually. This recycled water supplies irrigation for landscaping around the base and reduces reliance on desalinated municipal sources. Temperature differences between floors can reach 15 degrees Celsius from ground level to the spire due to atmospheric pressure changes at elevation.
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 27, 2025 20:02
Photo license: GFDL
Photo license: CC0
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