Burj Khalifa stands at 828 metres (2,717 feet) — the world’s tallest building since its inauguration on 4 January 2010. It has 163 floors above ground, 2 basement levels, and 57 elevators. Construction began in 2004 and took approximately 6 years, involving a peak workforce of 12,000 workers on site each day. The estimated construction cost was AED 6 billion (approximately USD 1.5 billion). It was designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), inspired by the Hymenocallis — a desert flower native to the Arabian Peninsula.
The Burj Khalifa is not just the world’s tallest building — it holds multiple world records, houses a full vertical city of residences, offices, a hotel, restaurants, and observation decks, and was completed on a timeline that surprised even the engineers who built it. These are the key facts behind the tower.
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Table of Contents
Key Facts at a Glance
- Height: 828 metres (2,717 feet) to the tip of the spire
- Habitable height: 584 metres (1,916 feet) to the highest occupied floor
- Spire height: 244 metres (800 feet) — approximately 29% of total height
- Floors above ground: 163 total floors | 160 habitable floors
- Basement levels: 2
- Total floor area: 309,473 m² (3,331,100 sq ft)
- Elevators: 57 elevators, including 8 service elevators and double-deck observation elevators
- Elevator speed: 10 metres per second — among the fastest in the world
- Construction start: 21 September 2004
- Construction completion: 1 October 2009
- Official inauguration: 4 January 2010
- Estimated construction cost: AED 6 billion (approx. USD 1.5 billion)
- Architect: Adrian Smith, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Chicago
- Developer: Emaar Properties, Dubai
- Structural engineer: Bill Baker, SOM
World Records Held by Burj Khalifa
As of 2026, Burj Khalifa holds the following world records: tallest building in the world (828m), tallest free-standing structure in the world, most floors in a building (163), highest occupied floor (level 163), tallest service elevator in the world (serving floors up to level 160), and longest travel distance for a lift (504 metres). It also held the record for the highest fireworks display and highest New Year’s Eve celebration.
- Tallest building in the world: 828 metres — surpassing the previous record holder, Taipei 101 (508 metres), by 320 metres
- Tallest free-standing structure in the world: Surpassing CN Tower, Toronto (553 metres)
- Tallest man-made structure: Surpassing the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, USA (628.8 metres)
- Most floors in a skyscraper: 163 floors total
- Highest occupied floor: Level 163
- Tallest service elevator: 504 metres travel distance
- Highest outdoor observation deck (at time of opening): Level 124, at 452 metres
Architecture & Design
Burj Khalifa was designed by Adrian Smith at SOM, with structural engineering by Bill Baker. The tower’s distinctive Y-shaped tripartite floor plan is inspired by the Hymenocallis flower — a desert plant native to the Arabian Peninsula. This shape provides structural stability by reducing wind loads, maximises natural light to residential floors, and allows panoramic views in three directions. The design incorporates elements of Islamic geometric patterns and traditional Middle Eastern architecture throughout.
The Hymenocallis Inspiration
The Hymenocallis (also called the Spider Lily) is a desert flower with three symmetrical petals radiating from a central core. Adrian Smith took this form as the basis for the Burj Khalifa’s floor plan: three residential wings extending from a central concrete core, tapering as they rise to create the tower’s stepped, spiralling silhouette. From above, the tripartite plan is clearly visible. From the side, the setbacks and recessions create the tower’s characteristic tapered profile.
The Facade
The tower’s exterior is clad in 103,000 square metres of reflective glass, aluminium spandrel panels, and textured stainless steel. The curtain wall system was specifically engineered to handle Dubai’s extreme temperature range — from approximately 0°C in winter to over 50°C in summer. The glass is treated with a reflective coating to reduce solar heat gain, and the entire facade acts as a thermal barrier for the interior spaces.
The Spire
The Burj Khalifa’s spire is 244 metres tall — nearly the height of the Eiffel Tower’s upper third — and accounts for approximately 29% of the building’s total height. The spire houses communications equipment and is not habitable, but it is visible from up to 95 kilometres away on a clear day. The spire’s steel structure was assembled on the ground and lifted into position in sections.
Construction Facts
- Construction workforce: Peak of 12,000 workers on site per day
- Countries represented in workforce: Over 100 nationalities
- Concrete used: 330,000 m³ — described as equivalent in weight to 100,000 elephants
- Reinforcing steel: 39,000 metric tonnes
- Aluminium cladding: equivalent to 5 A380 aircraft
- High-performance glass: 103,000 m² — hand-cleaned every 3 months by specialised cradle system
- Concrete pumping record: Concrete was pumped to a vertical height of over 600 metres — a construction world record at the time
- Foundation: 192 piles drilled 43 metres into the ground
Sustainability & Engineering
Burj Khalifa incorporates several sustainability features notable for a building of its scale. The cooling condensate collection system harvests 15 million gallons of water per year from the building’s air conditioning — used for irrigation and the Dubai Fountain. Solar panels heat up to 140,000 litres of water daily. The exterior cladding’s reflective coating reduces solar heat gain. The building’s automated window-cleaning system uses 36 cradle machines that operate year-round.
- Water harvested annually from cooling condensate: 15 million gallons
- Water heated by solar panels daily: 140,000 litres
- Window cleaning frequency: Every 3 months — 36 automated cradle machines
- LED lighting: 1.2 million LEDs on the facade for the nightly light show
What’s Inside the Burj Khalifa?
The Burj Khalifa is a mixed-use vertical city. Floors are allocated as follows: residential apartments (floors 1–108, over 900 units), corporate offices and suites (floors 111–154), the Armani Hotel Dubai (floors 1–8 and 38–39), At.mosphere restaurant (floor 122), the observation decks (floors 124, 125, and 148), and The Lounge (floors 152–154). For a full floor-by-floor breakdown, see our Burj Khalifa floor map guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is the Burj Khalifa?
Burj Khalifa stands at 828 metres (2,717 feet) to the tip of its spire. The highest habitable floor is at 584 metres. The observation deck on floor 148 is at 555 metres.
How many floors does Burj Khalifa have?
163 floors above ground, plus 2 basement levels. Of the 163 floors, 160 are habitable. The top 3 floors contain the mechanical and communications spire structure.
How much did Burj Khalifa cost to build?
The estimated construction cost was approximately AED 6 billion (USD 1.5 billion at 2010 exchange rates). This figure covers construction only and does not include the cost of the land or the wider Downtown Dubai development.
Who designed the Burj Khalifa?
Burj Khalifa was designed by Adrian Smith, then a senior design partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Chicago. The structural engineering was led by Bill Baker, also of SOM. The interior design was led by Nada Andric, also at SOM’s Chicago office.
When was Burj Khalifa built?
Construction began on 21 September 2004 and was completed on 1 October 2009, taking just over 5 years. The official public inauguration ceremony was held on 4 January 2010.
How many people live and work in the Burj Khalifa?
The Burj Khalifa contains over 900 residential apartments, with several thousand residents, and corporate office suites occupied by multinational companies. At full occupancy, the tower is estimated to house over 35,000 people working, visiting, and living in it on any given day.
