Inspired by the Spider Lily
The Burj Khalifa's design embodies the lyrical and well-proportioned structure of the Hymenocallis or Spider Lily, a regional desert flower that inspired architect Adrian Smith's vision of the iconic tower.
Hotel with
a Difference
Giorgio Armani designed the
entrance to Armani Hotel Dubai
to give visitors the sense that they
were stepping into his home. As a
result, the reception has
no check-in desk.
Live. Work. Play.
A truly mixed-use tower, Burj Khalifa comprises 1.85 million square feet of residential space, and 300,000 square feet of office space, in addition to the Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features lounges, health and wellness facilities, four pools and two observation decks.
World Voices
The lobby of The Residence
at Burj Khalifa is dominated by artist
Jaume Plensa's eponymous sculpture
'World Voices'. The piece incorporates
196 cymbals. Water dropping gently
from the ceiling strikes the cymbals and
creates a chorus of distinct tones
that represent the voices of
people worldwide.
World's Tallest Art Gallery
Burj Khalifa is home to the commissioned works of over 85 artists from around the world. The artworks vary from impressionism to abstract works, but they all reveal an Arabic cultural context.
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Set in Stone
Egyptian-born artist Karim
Rashid's 'Evolutes' adorns the
corporate entrance of Burj
Khalifa. The sculpture of shifting
ovals is made using a highly
reflective organic coating and
natural stones in a transparent
UV-resistant epoxy system.
12,000 workers
More than 12,000 people worked on-site at any given time during the building of Burj Khalifa. Their work and flow on and off-site were orchestrated in the WAR Room (Work-Action-Resolution).
A Town
Comes To Life
All of Downtown Dubai -
including The Dubai Mall,
Mohammed Bin Rashid
Boulevard, Souk Al Bahar,
Old Town, and The Address Hotels
- were coming to life alongside
Burj Khalifa.
Armani Residences
The 144 Armani Residences Dubai are located on levels 9 to 16, and each apartment has bespoke finishes and made-to-measure furniture and fittings. The intention was to create 'a warm, harmonious and luxurious space combined with elegant design - each element playing a precise role in the overall effect and balance'.
Step
up
Burj Khalifa's stairwell has a total
of 2,909 steps leading up to the
160th floor. Ladders are used to
climb any higher.
A View of The
Dubai Fountain
Aside from a stunning view of the
city of Dubai, the Observation Decks
of Burj Khalifa also offers a unique
aerial view of The Dubai Fountain.
The performance soundtrack is
played at the top for an immersive
experience.
A Scent Apart
The common areas of Burj Khalifa all have a bespoke fragrance that was selected from among 18 aromas. The fragrance with the materials in each space for a subtly different experience.
At the Top Height
Height of At the Top, Burj Khalifa is equivalent to being on the tip of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.
Photographer's
Dream
Burj Khalifa is one of the most
photographed buildings/structures
in the world.
The Most Powerful Cranes
Building the world's tallest building required ingenious measures (and machinery) to enable the logistics chain. The construction site featured three of the world's largest cranes, with a self-jacking mechanism and a capacity to lift 25 tonnes.
The World's
First Armani Hotel
Burj Khalifa is home to the world's
first Armani Hotel, which opened its
doors on April 27, 2010. All aspects
of the luxury hotel bear the signature
markings of Giorgio Armani, from
the room designs to the fabrics and
furnishings selected.
Landscaping
for Three
The tower's landscaped areas are
divided into three distinct sections,
for the residences, the offices and
the hotel. The landscape design
comprises a palm court, six water
features, a lake-side promenade,
forest groves, a play area and
terrace gardens.
Burj Khalifa in Popular Culture
Burj Khalifa featured in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, the fourth installment of the Mission Impossible series, with a hair-raising stunt sequence by Tom Cruise. The stunt scene was later parodied in the popular animated TV series The Simpsons.
Setting
Records
Burj Khalifa comprises a
record-breaking 330,000 cubic metres
(11.6 million cubic feet) of concrete;
39,000 m/t of reinforced steel; 103,000
square metres (1.1 million square feet)
of glass; and, 15,500 square metres
(166,800 square feet) of embossed
stainless steel. It took 22 million man
hours to build the tower.
Scaling the Burj's Height
Burj Khalifa ranks #1 on all three criteria for tall buildings - height to architectural top (828 metres or 2,716.5 feet); height to highest occupied floor (over 570 metres or 1,800 feet); and, height to tip (828 metres or 2,716.5 feet).
World Records
- Tallest building
- Tallest man-made structure
- Tallest free-standing structure
- Largest number of storeys
- Highest occupied floor
- Highest outdoor observation deck
- World record for vertical concrete pumping
- Tallest service elevator
- Highest aluminium and glass facade
Pumping
Concrete
Throughout the project,
high-compressive strength concrete
mixtures were used to withstand the
record-breaking height. Pours were
only done at night with concrete
being chilled prior to mixing and
part of the water being replaced
with shards of ice.
A Six-Year Journey
It took six years, from the time excavation started to the globally televised launch of Burj Khalifa on January 4, 2010.
Intricate
Planning
The mechanical, electrical and
plumbing services for Burj
Khalifa were developed during
the design phase of the tower,
as a combined effort of the
architects, structural engineers
and other consultants.
Water Supply
Burj Khalifa's water system supplies an average of 946,000 litres of water a day. Given the height of the tower, water storage tanks are installed in the main mechanical plant room floors, which are located every 30 floors.
100,000 Elephants
If weighed, the total amount of concrete
used in the construction of Burj Khalifa
would equal the approximate weight of
100,000 elephants.
A Little Sparkle
Burj Khalifa's lighting perfectly complements the character of the building as a simple and elegant structure. The facade is lit by a series of stroboscopes, that can be individually programmed to chase up the tower or sparkle in a pattern or at random.
Spa
Corridor
The corridor approach to
the spa in each Sky Lobby
is designed using glass and
responsive lighting that
evokes the feeling of
walking on water.
A Glittering Exterior
Approximately 26,000 individually hand-cut glass panels make up the exterior cladding of Burj Khalifa, along with reflective glazing, aluminium and textured stainless steel spandrel panels and stainless steel vertical tubular fins.
Behind the Scenes
All the equipment essential for the operation of Burj Khalifa are housed in seven double-storey-height mechanical floors. Located every 30 floors, they accommodate the electrical sub-stations, water tanks and pumps, and air-handling units.
A Strong Foundation
Burj Khalifa's superstructure is supported by a 3.7 metres thick reinforced concrete mat. It took 12,500 cubic metres of high-density, low-permeability concrete to build the mat. A cathodic protection system under the mat helps to mitigate the effects of corrosive chemicals in the ground water.
Burj
Khalifa's Story
Visitors making their way to
At The Top, Burj Khalifa are
treated to an immersive journey
through which they discover
the compelling story behind the
design and construction of the
iconic tower.
'Abras' on Burj Lake
Traditional 'abra' rides across Burj Lake give visitors to Burj Khalifa a chance to experience a traditional means of transport while also enjoying a unique view of Dubai Fountain.
Inspired
Interiors
The interiors of The Residence
at Burj Khalifa are inspired by
Middle Eastern culture. Curves
and arcs that are representative of
the strokes in Arabic calligraphy
as well as the slopes of sand
dunes can be seen in the flooring,
carpets and ceilings.
Global Collaboration
The wonder of Burj Khalifa was made possible by the collaboration of more than 30 on-site contracting companies from around the world - a fact that is embodied in 'World Voices', an art installation in the lobby of The Residence.
Green Irrigation
With an eye to environmental friendliness, the gardens of Burj Khalifa are partly irrigated with water collected through the tower's Condensate Collection System, which collects condensation from the tower's air-conditioning systems as well as its surrounding humid atmosphere.
A 'Vertical City'
Burj Khalifa has been called
a 'vertical city' and the name
couldn't be more apt. Given
its magnitude and mixed-use
facilities, it holds in the region
of 10,000 people at any given
point in time.
A View of Old Dubai
The viewfinders located at the periphery of Burj Khalifa's Observation Decks transport you back in time to get a glimpse of what Dubai looked like before the the city's spectacular skyline was built.
Wind Tunnel Testing
To ensure the structural safety of the building, more than 40 wind tunnel tests were conducted on Burj Khalifa, ranging from verifying Dubai's wind climate to facade pressure tests.
Naming the Iconic Tower
While it was being developed and constructed, Burj Khalifa was known as Burj Dubai. It was during the inauguration of the tower that HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum revealed its official title.
A Beautiful Facade
Burj Khalifa's facade is maintained via 18 permanently installed track and fixed telescopic, cradle-equipped units. The jib arms of each unit extend up to 36 metres. Under normal conditions, it takes three to four months to clean the entire exterior facade.
World's Fastest Double Deck Elevators
The elevators that takes visitors to the observation decks of Burj Khalifa at a speed of 10 m/s has a unique utility. It has a lower deck to transport corporate visitors and those visiting At.mosphere, the world's highest restaurant.
The Height of Reading
A little known fact is that Burj
Khalifa features the world's
highest library on Level 123 of
The Residences.
Whats on this Level
Up in the Clouds
On a foggy morning, when a thick layer of fog settles over the city of Dubai, the view from Burj Khalifa's Observation Decks is something to behold. It appears as though you are standing above the clouds.
Celebrating Expo 2020
To celebrate the winning of Dubai's bid to host Expo 2020, The Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, hoisted the UAE national flag from the tip of Burj Khalifa
Sky Lobbies
There are three Sky Lobbies in
Burj Khalifa. Located on levels
43, 76 and 123, these public
spaces offer amenities such as
spas, pools, outdoor sundecks,
gyms, and juice bars,
among others.
World's Highest BASE Jump
Burj Khalifa was the site of the world's highest BASE jump when UAE National Nasser Al Neyadi and his skydiving trainer Omar Alhegelan jumped off the tower and made a smooth landing after covering a vertical distance of 672 metres.
Anchoring the Community
Burj Khalifa serves as an anchor to the Downtown Dubai community. A multicultural area, Downtown Dubai brings the best of the Arab and Western worlds together, offering something for everyone.
Home
Sweet Home
Burj Khalifa is the first
world's tallest tower to include
residential space.
A Key Point
There are approximately 4,500 'back-of-house' keys that make up Burj Khalifa's master- key system, allow security to manage access across the tower.
Crowning
Glory
Burj Khalifa's telescopic spire is
over 200 metres in height; it not only
secures Burj Khalifa's position as the
world's tallest tower, it also completes
the building's iconic design.
A Flash of Light(ning)
Rising to more than 800 metres, Burj Khalifa regularly harnesses the forces of nature to stage a lightning show, making it one of the most conspicuous lightning conductors in the world.
Days to
Remember
In September 2007, just 1,325
days after excavation began
on-site, Burj Khalifa became
the tallest freestanding
structure in the world.
A Beacon of Light
To prevent aircraft collisions, Burj Khalifa is equipped with high-intensity xenon white obstruction lights that flash 40 times per minute. The flash intensity of the lights changes through the day:
A View of the
Exterior
More than 380 skilled workers
installed the exterior cladding of
Burj Khalifa, starting work in May
2007 and finishing in September
2009. At their fastest, the team
installed as many as 175
panels in a single day.
Global Icon
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) bestowed the 'Global Icon' award on Burj Khalifa in 2010. It is intended that the award will only be conferred on an occasional basis, when merited by an exceptional project - perhaps every 10 or 15 years.
Safety First
To ensure fire safety and speed
of evacuation, all stairwells in
Burj Khalifa are surrounded
by concrete and there are
pressurized, air-conditioned
refuge areas almost every
25 floors.
Curtain Call
Burj Khalifa's curtain wall is the equivalent of 17 soccer fields or 25 American football fields.
A Story of Concrete
The highest reinforced concrete core walls in Burj Khalifa were pumped at 80 MPa to a height of 601 metres in November 2007.
Degrees of Difference
The ambient temperature at the tip of Burj Khalifa is six degrees cooler than the temperature at ground level.
New Year's Eve Gala
Every year Burj Khalifa hosts a New Year's Eve Gala in Downtown Dubai. The event is one of Dubai's most anticipated with light and fireworks shows. The night sees more than 1 million people in attendance and is telecast live to over 2 billion people around the world.
Tower of Steel
The total weight of aluminium used in the building of Burj Khalifa is equivalent to that of five A380 aircraft and the total length of stainless steel bullnose fins is 293 times the height of the Eiffel Tower.
The Amazing
Gigapan
One of the greatest images of modern
time is a 360-degree gigapan picture
of Dubai taken from the tip of Burj
Khalifa's spire. It was taken to mark
the second edition of the Hamdan Bin
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Photography Award (HIPA).
Cool as Ice
During peak cooling hours, Burj Khalifa requires about 10,000 tons of cooling, equivalent to the cooling capacity of approximately 10,000 tons of melting ice.
Hosting
'French
Spiderman'
Burj Khalifa entered record books
yet again when Alain Robert, aka
'French Spiderman', scaled the
tower in just over six hours
in March 2011.
Elevators & Escalators
Burj Khalifa has a total of 57 elevators and eight escalators. Among them are the world's tallest service elevator, which has a capacity of 5.500 kg and the Observatory elevators, which are double deck cabs that travel at 10 m/s.
Records in BASE Jumping
Skydive Dubai-sponsored Soul Flyers World Champions Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet took the first leap off Burj Khalifa in April 2014, claiming the new Guinness World Record title of the 'Highest BASE Jump from the Tallest Building'.
Mark of
Respect
The plaque placed outside
the entrance to Burj Khalifa's
Corporate Suites is the one that
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum unveiled
marking the launch of the
iconic tower.
Lingua Franca
Of the many challenges faced by Burj Khalifa's construction team, achieving perfect communication and harmony across the multi-lingual and multicultural task force was one of the most difficult.
Floral
Inspiration
The spider lily or hymenocallis,
which served as inspiration for
the form of Burj Khalifa, is a
noticeable part of the stunning
landscaping that surrounds
the tower.
Quantity of Concrete
If you were to take all the concrete used in Burj Khalifa and lay a sidewalk, it would be 2,065 kilometres (1,283 miles) long.
Burj Khalifa / Eiffel Tower
Height of the tower from Level 124 to the spire more than the height of Eiffel Tower.
Casting Call
A jump form system was used to cast Burj Khalifa's concrete structure. At peak efficiency, it was able to cast a storey every three days.
Whats on this Level
Luxury
Interiors
Burj Khalifa is a study in the
world's most luxurious materials
- the interiors of the tower feature
silver travertine flooring, Venetian
stucco walls, handmade rugs,
stone flooring and dark, intricate
Brazilian santos
rosewood.
Stepping Stones
At least 45 different types of stone were used in construction of Burj Khalifa.
Military
Grounds
Burj Khalifa is constructed
on a site that used to be
owned by the military. The
site was cleared in 2004,
shortly before work began
on the tower.
Burj Khalifa's Motif
The illustration below shows how pattern of the tower is built upon the repetition of a single basic geometrical motif that is reminiscent of Islamic art and architecture.
The Dubai
Fountain
The Dubai Fountain
performs 13 spectacular
shows a day to some of the
most recognizable melodies
of our time.
Single-source
Suppliers
An eye for detail and consistency
meant that all material for the
interior spaces of Burj Khalifa
were acquired from a single source
of supply, helping to control
quality and standards.
Flying High
Flight paths in and out of Dubai have had to be changed at various height milestones since construction commenced on Burj Khalifa. Flights coming into DXB have to change the Pingo holding pattern altitude since Burj Khalifa reached 790 m in height.
Speciality
Landscaping
The landscaping around
Burj Khalifa is made up of
slow-growing species of plants,
selected especially for their
ability to thrive in Dubai's
hot climate.
Dedicated Concrete Plant
Downtown Dubai was being constructed in tandem with Burj Khalifa, making the scale of work so large that a dedicated concrete plant was installed on-site to ensure adequate supply of concrete at every stage.
Connecting
to Downtown
Burj Khalifa's landscaping
radiates from the tower and
into the surrounding Downtown
Dubai, creating a tangible link
between the tower and
the community.
Inaugrating the Burj Khalifa
On 4 January 2010 the eyes of the world turned to Burj Khalifa as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai inaugurated the world's tallest tower. A spectacular light and sound show followed and was broadcast around the world.
Fireworks
Show
The fireworks at the launch of Burj
Khalifa were epic featuring more
than 10,000 individual firework
shots that were attached to the
exterior of the building by French
alpinists, who were brought in
especially to choreograph
the show.
Stay with Armani
Armani Hotel Dubai and Armani Residences Dubai were designed and developed by Giorgio Armani himself, offering a unique and bespoke service, embodying the 'Stay with Armani' philosophy.
A Spire
to See
The very tip of the spire of Burj
Khalifa can be seen from up
to 95 kms away, making it a
wondrous sight for those
flying in to Dubai.
Designing At.mosphere
The interiors of At.mosphere were designed by New York-based Adam Tihany. The restaurant's three distinct parts occupy the entire floor, providing panoramic views of Dubai and the desert and sea beyond.
Reaching
Milestones
In January 2007, Burj
Khalifa had 100 storeys;
by July that year, it was
the tallest building in
the world.
Global
Expertise,
Local Inspiration
Burj Khalifa's design is
inspired by Middle Eastern
architecture, but an
international team of experts
came together to build it.
Public
Spaces
Each of Burj Khalifa's three sky
lobbies has been designed with
bespoke furniture, making them
a unique communal space for
residents to gather and
share the view.
Drawing Burj Khalifa
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill created close to 4,000 drawings when designing Burj Khalifa; when the building was on site, close to 10 times more drawings were produced.
Skywalking
Three high-altitude cranes
were used throughout
the construction of Burj
Khalifa, climbing up the
tower as new levels were
completed.
Maximum
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy Burj
Khalifa can accommodate is
35,000 people, which is the
population of a
small town.
Light and
Landscape
At night, strategically placed
lighting emphasizes the
geometry of the landscaping
and plays with the design
through light and
shadow.
Six-sided Core
Burj Khalifa is built around a hexagonal core that rises up through the building and houses most of the tower's 57 elevators, the tallest of which travels to 504 meters, setting a world record.
Testing
Burj Khalifa
Every component of Burj
Khalifa was tested during
design development to
ensure it would perform to
expectations.
Cooling Heights
During the hot summer months or in the cool winters, the temperature at the top of Burj Khalifa is six degrees cooler than at ground level.
The Crane
Solution
Special recovery cranes were
installed at levels 99 and 159 to help
with the task of dismantling and
removing the high-altitude cranes.
The crane that operated at the highest
point, approximately 700m above
the ground, dismantled its own mast
sections, stepping down
in height each time.
3-Day Milestones
After a year spent completing groundwork, the first 100 levels of Burj Khalifa were completed in 1,093 days. That's one storey every three days!
A 'Mashrabiya' At The Top
The ceiling of the 125th floor of Burj Khalifa features a sprawling 'mashrabiya' - intricately carved latticework - across it as a tribute to Arabian arts and culture.
Google at Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa's public spaces can be seen clearly on Google Street View. Google used the Trekker, a 40-pound, backpack-sized camera to capture views from the tower's upper floors and parts of the interior.
Sabrah in Red
and Grey
A jewel-like statement in red and grey
mosaic, red glass tiles and basalt
cladding, Sabrah defines the driveway
of Burj Khalifa. Orchestrated down to
its choreographed waves, Sabrah has
a mellifluous quality that is meant to
calm the senses.
A Green
Geometry
From a bird's eye view, the
patterns of Burj Khalifa's
landscaping are an
abstraction of the tower's
architectural
geometry.
Burj Khalifa
Exterior Cladding
Each glass panel in Burj Khalifa's
exterior cladding comes with
energy-saving silver-coating to
limit solar heat gain, weighs 362
kilograms and measures 1.37
metres by 3.25 metres.
Habitable Storeys
Burj Khalifa holds the world record for the highest habitable floor at 160 storeys.
The Most
Prestigious
Address
Burj Khalifa, the world's most
coveted address, features
900 residences, ranging from
studios to one, two, three and
four-bedroom suites, located on
levels 19 to 108 of the tower's
residential wing.
Strong Foundations
Burj Khalifa's foundation is made up of 125 piles that are 1.5 metres in diameter and 50 meters in length, comprising 45,000 cubic metres of concrete, reinforced with steel.
The W-A-R
Room
Thousands of people moved on
and off site during the construction
of Burj Khalifa. The planning
and logistics that went into their
movements took place in the
W-A-R Room
(Work-Action-Resolution).
Security Measures
Burj Khalifa is the first "megatall" building that has elevators that are programmed for controlled evacuation in case of fire or security events.
The First
Steps
The construction of Burj
Khalifa moved at a rapid
pace - excavation took
place in 2004 and by April
2005, ground works were
already done.
Facade
Maintenance
Keeping the exterior of Burj
Khalifa sparkling requires
special jib arms that were
custom-made for
the tower.
Mixed-Utility Tower
Burj Khalifa, which features a total built-up area of 5.67 million sq ft, is the world's first truly mixed utility tower.
The Weight
of Burj Khalifa
Completely empty Burj
Khalifa weighs
approximately
500,000 tonnes.
Guided by
the Garden Path
Instead of using obtrusive signage,
Burj Khalifa's landscaping
provides an intuitive experience
that suggests where people
should walk, stop or
gather.
Opening Doors
There are more than 17,000 doors in Burj Khalifa.
A Floral
Welcome
The entrance pavilions of Burj
Khalifa take leaf-like forms
that echo the geometry of the
tower's design.
Time Spent
00.00
Move your mouse pointer to see if you can clean the windows faster than us.
YOUR RECORD
2.35 sec
That was fast! At this speed, you could clean all the windows of Burj Khalifa in 43 days.
It takes us around 120 days to clean all the windows of Burj Khalifa.
Number of
Man-Hours
Over six years of construction,
12,000 workers spent 22 million
man-hours on Burj Khalifa. If
one person were to attempt the
work, it would take more than
7,534 years.
Designer Hotel
World-renowned designer Giorgio Armani personally designed the interiors of Armani Hotel Dubai.
World's
Highest Electrical
Substation
Burj Khalifa sets another world
record, with the world's highest
electrical substation of Level
155 of the tower.
Dine in the Sky
Situated on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa, At.mosphere is the world's highest lounge bar, offering a unique epicurean experience with a side order of stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai's skyline.
Three-Petal Motif
The three-petal motif used across the interiors of Burj Khalifa reflects the tower's three-petal footprint.
Elevator Soundtracks
The elevator ride taking visitors from the ground floor up to the Observation Decks feature special soundtracks developed specifically for Burj Khalifa. The rhythm and beats build up to a crescendo as the elevators ascend to their destinations.
Whats on this Level
World's
Tallest
Residential
Tower
While the world has seen
many tallest towers, Burj
Khalifa is the first to include
residential space.
A Great Distance
The At the Top, Burj Khalifa observation decks are popular tourist attractions. By the end of 2014, the distance travelled by the observation deck elevators was equivalent to circumnavigating the globe 8 times.
Getting
Around
Burj Khalifa
The tower's three Sky Lobbies are
transfer areas for residents and guests.
The Sky Lobbies are connected by
express elevators that only service the
Sky Lobbies as well as shuttle
elevators that stop on each
floor in between.
Fine Dining
Armani Hotel Dubai's six exclusive fine dining restaurants feature delectable cuisines from around the world.
Awash in
Natural Light
Natural light is a strong feature
of every apartment in Burj
Khalifa. The tower's tripedal
form makes it so that every
apartment can be located next
to the curtain glazing.
Heat and Light
at the Entrance
Burj Khalifa's three entrances have
been designed to ensure optimal
light and temperature inside the
foyers. Each entrance is equipped
with motorised Venetian blinds that
can be tilted and lifted to
regulate conditions.
Height Of Surprise
Burj Khalifa's final height of 828 metres was only revealed to the world when the tower was launched on 4 January 2010, with a spectacular celebration featuring light shows and fireworks.
Glittering
Sight
The sparkling lights at the
upper heights of Burj Khalifa
are designed to complement
The Dubai Fountain.
Tracking The Wind
The doors in Burj Khalifa have been built with a unique and smart wind-tracking device that indicates whether or not wind conditions are safe to open them.
The Spider
Lily
The hymenocallis or spider lily,
a flower is widely cultivated in
Dubai and the GCC and is the
inspiration for the structural
design of Burj Khalifa.
A World Tribute
Burj Khalifa is a symbol of the aesthetic union of many cultures around the world. According to Emaar's chairman Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, it is the Arab world's tribute to the art and science of modern engineering.
Burj Level
153
Burj Level 153 of Burj Khalifa
is the highest occupied floor
in the world. The level has a
private terrace and is used for
corporate and private
events.
LEGO® Laurels
Burj Khalifa joined a prestigious lineup of buildings when it joined the LEGO® Architecture collection in the year 2011. Burj Khalifa's LEGO® model is designed by renowned architect Adam Reed Tucker.
Tallest
Elevator Shaft
Burj Khalifa is an architectural
marvel featuring many records,
including the world's tallest
elevator shaft. The BS1 service
elevator shaft spans 140 levels,
making it the tallest in the
world.
Big, Bigger, Biggest.
The construction of Burj Khalifa was such a grand execution that it grabbed the attention of National Geographic. The channel made a documentary on the subject as part of the 'Big, Bigger, Biggest' series.
Fashion
Defies Gravity
In 2014, Dubai Shopping Festival
hosted the world's first 'vertical
fashion show' at Burj Khalifa. The
extraordinary show featured models
cat walking on the external
facade of Burj Khalifa.
Partnering With Dubai Cares
In 2013, Burj Khalifa joined hands with Dubai Cares to raise funds. The project commissioned prominent UAE-based artists to paint miniature models of Burj Khalifa, which were then auctioned by Christie's.
New
Year's Eve
Celebrations
New Year's Eve celebrations
at Burj Khalifa attract over 1
million people to the Downtown
Dubai area to watch the
spectacular fireworks.
Art4Sight
In 2012, Burj Khalifa joined forces with Noor Dubai Foundation on 'Art4Sight' during which Esref Armagan, a blind Turkish painter, sketched Burj Khalifa just by feeling a miniature model of the tower with his fingers.
A Question
of Height
It took three self-erecting
cranes, each with a capacity of
25 tonnes, to move materials
on the site of Burj Khalifa.
Confusing the Wind
Burj Khalifa's Y-shaped plan allowed for the building to be rotated 120 degrees and for each tier of the building to have a different width. The stepping of each tier helped to reduce the wind force on the tower.
Tradition
Meets Technology
High-tech as the custom-made
Building Maintenance Units created
for Burj Khalifa's exterior facade
may be, maintenance personnel
still use the old-fashioned bucket of
water and squeegee to keep
the facade clean.
A Bolt of Steel
The souvenir shop located at At The Top, Burj Khalifa carries the steel bolts that were used in the construction of Burj Khalifa for sale.
A Level Above Breathtaking
The Observation Deck on Level 148 of Burj Khalifa is the highest in the world at 555 meters.
Scroll or swipe up quickly and reach At The Top before sunset.
It took you 1.34 seconds to reach "At The Top".
Enjoy the sunset again.
0 ft.
Raise the Sun
Burj Khalifa is so tall that you can see the sunset twice in the same evening - first from a low floor and then again from At The Top, Burj Khalifa.
Pushing Boundaries
When Burj Khalifa was first conceived, it was a 90-storey tower. It was His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who inspired Emaar to push boundaries and create a truly iconic tower.
Planning With Foresight
Burj Khalifa's three primary entrances - Armani Hotel, Residence and Corporate Suites - were designed to be on different levels to ensure smooth-flowing traffic at all times.
Bird's Eye View
'Dubai - A Falcon's Eye View' is located on Level 125 and is part of At The Top, Burj Khalifa. It gives visitors a unique perspective of Dubai.
Local
Inspiration,
Global Feel
Burj Khalifa's public areas feature
the design of award-winning designer
Nada Andric. The interiors combine
glass, stainless steel and polished
dark stones, together with silver
travertine flooring, Venetian stucco
walls, handmade rugs and stone
flooring.
Stargazing
at Burj Khalifa
Prominent celebrities, sportsmen,
politicians and artists are among
the many visitors to Burj Khalifa's
popular observation deck. Don't
be surprised to see a famous
face if you visit At The Top,
Burj Khalifa.
Parking Spaces
For the convenience of guests and those who work in the tower, Burj Khalifa has 3,000 underground parking bays.
The Offices
The Offices, located in a
12-storey annex to Burj
Khalifa, offer prime office
space in the heart of
Downtown Dubai.
A Matter of Space
The Residences at Burj Khalifa cover 1.85 million square feet in total, while The Offices cover more than 300,000 square feet.
Setting
Records
Among its pantheon of records
Burj Khalifa also holds the
world record for pumping
concrete to the highest point
(605 metres).
Security
Feature
High-intensity xenon white
obstruction lights are located
strategically on the exterior
facade of Burj Khalifa to
prevent air-traffic
collisions.
Inspired by the Spider Lily
1
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Hotel with a Difference
2
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Live. Work. Play.
3
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World Voices
4
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World's Tallest Art Gallery
5
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Set in Stone
6
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12,000 workers
7
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A Town Comes To Life
8
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Armani Residences
9
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Step Up
10
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A View of The Dubai Fountain
11
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A Scent Apart
12
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At the Top Height
13
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Photographer's Dream
14
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The Most Powerful Cranes
15
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The World's First Armani Hotel
16
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Landscaping for Three
17
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Burj Khalifa in Popular Culture
18
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Setting Records
19
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Scaling the Burj's Height
20
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World Records
21
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Pumping Concrete
22
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A Six-Year Journey
23
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Intricate Planning
24
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Water Supply
25
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100,000 Elephants
26
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A Little Sparkle
27
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Spa Corridor
28
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A Glittering Exterior
29
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Behind the Scenes
30
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A Strong Foundation
31
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Burj Khalifa's Story
32
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'Abras' on Burj Lake
33
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Inspired Interiors
34
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Global Collaboration
35
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Green Irrigation
36
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A 'Vertical City'
37
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A View of Old Dubai
38
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Wind Tunnel Testing
39
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Naming the Iconic Tower
40
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A Beautiful Facade
41
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World's Fastest Double Deck Elevators
42
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The Height of Reading
43
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Up in the Clouds
44
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Celebrating Expo 2020
45
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Sky Lobbies
46
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World's Highest BASE Jump
47
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Anchoring the Community
48
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Home Sweet Home
49
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A Key Point
50
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Crowining Glory
51
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A Flash of Light(ning)
52
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Days to Remember
53
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A Beacon of Light
54
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A View of the Exterior
55
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Global Icon
56
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Safety First
57
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Curtain Wall
58
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A Story of Concrete
59
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Degrees of Difference
60
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New Year's Eve Gala
61
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Tower of Steel
62
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The Amazing Gigapan
63
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Cool as Ice
64
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Hosting 'French Spiderman'
65
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Elevators & Escalators
66
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Records in BASE Jumping
67
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Mark of Respect
68
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Lingua Franca
69
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Floral Inspiration
70
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Quality of Concrete
71
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Burj Khalifa / Eiffel Tower
72
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Casting Call
73
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Luxury Interiors
74
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Stepping Stones
75
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Military Grounds
76
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Burj Khalifa's Motif
77
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The Dubai Fountain
78
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Single-source Suppliers
79
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Flying High
80
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Speciality Landscaping
81
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Dedicated Concrete Plant
82
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Connecting to Downtown
83
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Inaugrating the Burj Khalifa
84
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Fireworks Show
85
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Stay with Armani
86
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A Spire to See
87
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Designing At.mosphere
88
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Reaching Milestones
89
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Global Expertise, Local Inspiration
90
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Public Spaces
91
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Drawing Burj Khalifa
92
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Skywalking
93
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Maximum Occupancy
94
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Light and Landscape
95
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Six-sided Core
96
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Testing Burj Khalifa
97
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Cooling Heights
98
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The Crane Solution
99
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3-Day Milestones
100
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A 'Mashrabiya' At The Top
101
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Google at Burj Khalifa
102
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Sabrah in Red and Grey
103
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A Green Geometry
104
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Burj Khalifa Exterior Cladding
105
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Habitable Storeys
106
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The Most Prestigious Address
107
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Strong Foundations
108
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The W-A-R Room
109
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Security Measures
110
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The First Steps
111
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Facade Maintenance
112
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Mixed-Utility Tower
113
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The Weight of Burj Khalifa
114
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Guided by the Garden Path
115
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Opening Doors
116
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A Floral Welcome
117
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Window Cleaning
118
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Number of Man-Hours
119
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Designer Hotel
120
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World's Highest Electrical Substation
121
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Dine in the Sky
122
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Three-Petal Motif
123
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Elevator Soundtracks
124
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World's Tallest Residential Tower
125
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A Great Distance
126
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Getting Around Burj Khalifa
127
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Fine Dining
128
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Awash in Natural Light
129
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Heat and Light at the Entrance
130
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Height Of Surprise
131
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Glittering Sight
132
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Tracking The Wind
133
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The Spider Lily
134
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A World Tribute
135
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Level 153
136
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LEGO® Laurels
137
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Tallest Elevator Shaft
138
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Big, Bigger, Biggest.
139
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Fashion Defies Gravity
140
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Partnering With Dubai Cares
141
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New Year's Eve Celebrations
142
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Art4Sight
143
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A Question of Height
144
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Confusing the Wind
145
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Tradition Meets Technology
146
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A Bolt of Steel
147
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A Level Above Breathtaking
148
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Raise the Sun
149
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Pushing Boundaries
150
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Planning With Foresight
151
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Bird's Eye View
152
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Local Inspiration, Global Feel
153
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Burj Khalifa in Different Cities
154
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Stargazing at Burj Khalifa
155
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Parking Spaces
156
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The Offices
157
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A Matter of Space
158
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Setting Records
159
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Security Feature
160
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