Inaugurated in 2010, The Burj Khalifa, is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With a total height of 829.8 m and a roof height of 828 m, the Burj Khalifa has been the tallest structure and building in the world since its topping out on 2009.

World Records

At over 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and more than 160 stories, Burj Khalifa holds the following records:

• Tallest existing structure: 829.8 m
• Tallest structure ever built: 829.8 m
• Tallest freestanding structure: 829.8 m
• Tallest skyscraper (to top of spire): 828 m
• Tallest skyscraper to top of antenna: 829.8 m
• Building with most floors: 163
• World’s highest elevator installation (situated inside a rod at the very top of the building)
• World’s longest travel distance elevators: 504 m
• Highest vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 606 m
• World’s tallest structure that includes residential space
• World’s highest installation of an aluminium and glass façade: 512 m
• World’s highest nightclub: 144th floor
• World’s highest restaurant (At.mosphere): 122nd floor at 442 m
• World’s highest New Year display of fireworks.
• World’s largest light and sound show staged on a single building.

Burj Khalifa was designed by Adrian Smith, of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, whose firm designed the Willis Tower and One World Trade Center. Hyder Consulting was chosen to be the supervising engineer with NORR Group Consultants International Limited chosen to supervise the architecture of the project. The design is derived from the Islamic architecture of the region, such as in the Great Mosque of Samarra.

Construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004, with the exterior completed five years later in 2009. The primary structure is reinforced concrete. The building was opened in 2010 as part of a new development called Downtown Dubai.

It is designed to be the centrepiece of large-scale, mixed-use development. The decision to construct the building is based on the government’s decision to diversify from an oil-based economy, and for Dubai to gain international recognition.

Burj Khalifa was designed to be the centerpiece of a large-scale, mixed-use development to include 30,000 homes nine hotels (including The Address Downtown Dubai), 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of parkland, at least 19 residential skyscrapers, the Dubai Mall, and the 12-hectare (30-acre) artificial Burj Khalifa Lake. The decision to build Burj Khalifa was reportedly based on the government’s decision to diversify from an oil-based economy to one that is service and tourism based.