7 minutes read

Written by
Rawan Haddad
Dubai is certainly a city like no other; it is rich with culture, buzzing with life, vibrant with business opportunities, and stands proud of some of the most remarkable real estate in the world. One of its most distinctive monuments is probably Burj Khalifa. This man-made structure towers over the city at a height of 2,717 feet. Completed in 2010 after a little under 6 years of construction, Burj Khalifa, which boasts 163 floors, was developed by Emaar Properties. This multi-use building comprises residential apartments, an observation deck with a 360-degree view of Dubai, a restaurant, and even a hotel. This article delves deeper into this architectural wonder.
Dubbed “the tallest building in the world”, Burj Khalifa isn’t just an architectural marvel. It has broken so many world records as it stands at 828m (2,716.5 ft) above ground. Due to its height, a 6-degree temperature difference is recorded between its ground floor and its top floor. To understand the sheer size of this building, one can look at some numbers: the Empire State Building in the US is half the height of Burj Khalifa and the Eiffel Tower in Paris is one-third its height. This iconic tower, visited yearly by countless tourists, cost USD 1.5 billion, which was paid off within the first year of inauguration.
Burj Khalifa is world-renowned for being the tallest building on the planet, but how does it compare to other towers? Here’s a table with some numbers to shed more light on Burj Khalifa vs other skyscrapers.
Rank | Skyscraper | Country | Height |
1 | Burj Khalifa | United Arab Emirates | 2716.54 ft. |
2 | Merdeka | Malaysia | 2227.69 ft. |
3 | Shanghai Tower | China | 2073.49 ft. |
4 | Makkah Royal Clock Tower | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | 1971.78 ft. |
5 | Ping An Finance Center | China | 1965.22 ft. |
6 | Lotte World Tower | South Korea | 1820.87 ft. |
7 | One World Trade Center | USA | 1774.93 ft. |
8 | Guangzhou CTF Finance Center | China | 1738.85 ft. |
9 | Tianjin CTF Finance Center | China | 1738.85 ft. |
10 | CITIC Tower | China | 1732.28 ft. |
Burj Khalifa was designed by Adrian Smith and the architecture firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in collaboration with Samsung C&T Corporation. This skyscraper, which took six years to complete, was inspired by the desert lily, the tiger lily, and the spider lily, flowers that grow natively in the UAE desert. If you look at it from the top, the tower has a “Y” shape reminiscent of these flowers, which makes Burj Khalifa architecture so distinctive. This shape has also allowed the architects to optimize the structure to accommodate both residential and hospitality spaces.
The building’s floor area amounts to 309,473 sq.m. and requires about 12,000 workers and contractors to work on it daily at its peak construction stage. It is covered in 28,261 panels of glass and you’d need to climb 3000 stairs to get from bottom to top.
Burj Khalifa comprises 160 floors which include residential studios, apartments, and suites; as well as an observation deck, a restaurant, and much more. Here’s how these floors are split in details:
The ticket prices for Burj Khalifa vary depending on the time of day and whether you want to go to the 124th or 148th floors. The ticket prices are as follows:
Special events are also organized at Burj Khalifa. You can book your tickets and learn more on their official website.
Aside from its magnificent architecture and imposing height; Burj Khalifa has been granted many awards and has broken many world records. Here’s a list of the most prominent ones:
Burj Khalifa has broken another record by being the first of the world’s tallest towers to comprise residential spaces. In total, the tower boasts 900 residences located on floors 19 to 108 in the residential section. Property options available for rent include studios, apartments, 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom suites.
On floors 9 to 16, you can find the Armani Residence offering 144 suites of 1 or 2-bedroom apartments. Armani’s elevated style is clearly showcased in the Armani/Casa furnishings of all the suites. In terms of rent, a 1-bed apartment in the Armani Residence costs about AED 150,000, and a 2-bedroom apartment is rented for an average of AED 300,000. All suites come furnished in true Armani/Casa style.
Expats who wish to own a property in Burj Khalifa can still find some freehold options available for purchase. 1-bedroom suites for sale cost about AED 2 million; whereas those boasting Armani furnishings in the Armani Residence, then those are sold within a range of AED 2 million to AED 5.2 million.
Here are some interesting Burj Khalifa facts:
Burj Khalifa is truly a testament to the will, knowledge, and superiority of mankind. Standing proud and tall in the sky of Dubai, this tower attracts visitors from all around the world, who come to the UAE to get a taste of its magic, wonder, and luxury. Some wish to savor it further by enjoying a stay in its high-end apartments, suites, and hotel rooms; or even enjoy the meal of a lifetime in its restaurants. Others wish to stand at the “top of the world” and drink in Dubai’s mesmerizing skyline. This tower has enriched the architectural heritage of our world and proved once again that when vision, mastery, and a strong will are combined; the outcome is never short of outstanding.
Construction of the Burj Khalifa commenced on January 6, 2004. The building was officially opened to the public on January 4, 2010.
Burj Khalifa is owned by Emaar Properties, the company that developed the tower. Emaar Properties, headed by Mohamed Alabbar, is a public joint stock company listed on the Dubai Financial Market. Headquartered in Dubai, Emaar Properties was founded in 1997 and is currently one of the largest real estate developers in the world.
The construction of Burj Khalifa cost US$ 1.5 billion and it spanned nearly 6 years from 2004 till 2010. This amount that the tallest skyscraper in the world cost to build was recuperated within the year it was opened.
Construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004. The project took six years to complete, and the building was officially completed in 2010. At the time, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, where visitors can take an elevator to the top of the building to get a bird's eye view of Dubai from one of its observation decks.
Burj Khalifa offers many residential options to choose from, whether you wish to rent or buy. These options include studios, apartments of various sizes, and suites. You can also choose to enjoy the luxury of Armani-branded homes within Burj Khalifa.
To rent a flat in the tower, we advise you to work with a reputable real estate agency, such as Driven Properties. A reliable agency will understand your requirements and needs, and then find the right apartment for you. They would guide you through legal technicalities and ensure you have the best experience.
Staying at Burj Khalifa’s Armani Hotel is certainly a treat. Prices for such a stay will vary based on the time of your visit as well as the room you choose. Below are the average prices for hotel rooms in Burj Khalifa as of 2024.
Room type | Season | Price |
Armani Deluxe Room | Low season | AED 2400 |
Armani Deluxe Room | High season | AED 3000 |
Armani Premiere Room | Low season | AED 2550 |
Armani Premiere Room | High season | AED 3150 |
Armani Executive Suite Fountain View | Low season | AED 3675 |
Armani Executive Suite Fountain View | High season | AED 4275 |
Armani Ambassador Suite | Low season | AED 6750 |
Armani Ambassador Suite | High season | AED 8250 |
Burj Khalifa was built for different purposes. It is a mixed-use development containing Burj Khalifa residential apartments, offices, hotels, and retail stores. The decision to build the Burj Khalifa was made in 2004, with construction starting in early 2005.
Burj Khalifa offers a plethora of experiences beyond its breathtaking views. Here are some of the top activities:
Burj Khalifa Aquarium and Underwater Zoo: Inside Burj Khalifa, you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime aquatic experience. The aquarium is home to 485 marine species and it also boasts an underwater tunnel under a huge tank with sharks and rays.