Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa is a towering skyscraper located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and holds the record as the tallest building in the world, standing at an impressive height of 828 meters (2,717 feet).

Construction of this architectural marvel began in January 2004 and was completed in 2010. Designed by the American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with Adrian Smith as the chief architect, the building's design is inspired by native desert lilies, which is reflected in its distinctive Y-shaped footprint that helps reduce wind forces.

The building is anchored by a reinforced concrete mat foundation and covered in a facade composed of aluminum, stainless steel, and more than 28,000 hand-cut glass panels. Burj Khalifa is part of the large Downtown Dubai development, which also includes homes, hotels, parks, and the Dubai Mall.

The skyscraper was initially named Burj Dubai but was renamed Burj Khalifa in honor of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, after Abu Dhabi and the UAE federal government provided crucial financial assistance during Dubai's economic difficulties.

The structure features a modular design with 160 floors that house residential apartments, corporate suites, luxurious hotels (including the Armani Hotel Dubai), observation decks, restaurants, and recreational facilities.

The observation decks on floors 124, 125, and 148 offer breathtaking panoramic views of Dubai and the surrounding desert. Burj Khalifa also holds multiple world records including the tallest freestanding structure, highest occupied floor, and the world's fastest elevators.

Its construction was a monumental engineering feat involving thousands of workers and advanced technology to overcome the challenges posed by Dubai's desert climate.

Beyond its status as a record-breaking skyscraper, Burj Khalifa symbolizes Dubai's rapid economic development, ambition, and vision to become a global hub for business and tourism. It has since become one of the most iconic landmarks and photogenic attractions in the world, drawing millions of tourists annually who come to experience its grandeur and the spectacular Dubai Fountain show at its base.