Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world

Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world

At 828 meters high, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is the tallest tower globally. Opened in January 2010, this gigantic 160-story skyscraper locates in the heart of the Downtown Burj Khalifa district. In addition to its impressive height, it characterizes by a massive arrow-shaped structure. Work began in 2004 and ended five years later.

Height: 828 meters
burj khalifa height in km 0.828 kilometers
Location: Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Located in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the Burj Khalifa has been the tallest skyscraper in the world for over a decade. A true masterpiece of engineering and architecture, this building still has a darker side in terms of social and environmental impact.

A giant of concrete and steel

The first point concerning the Burj Khalifa is none other than its size: 828 meters. This building far surpasses the other two tallest skyscrapers globally, namely the Shanghai Tower (632 m) in China and the Makkah Clock Royal Tower (601 m) in Saudi Arabia. The KL118 tower scheduled for 2022 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) will reach “only” 644 meters in height. Unsurprisingly, building such a juggernaut required the work of a veritable army of workers.

No less than 1,200 workers have performed around 22 million cumulative hours of work. However, the labour contingent included many Southeast Asia, whose deplorable working conditions and low pay drew much criticism. Work began on September 21, 2004, and the inauguration took place on January 4, 2010.

The surface area of the Burj Khalifa is quite simply out of the ordinary, with 309,000 square meters on 160 living floors and three floors of technical rooms. The skyscraper also has 57 elevators and eight escalators, which is a record. The fastest of these elevators can reach – up and down – a speed of 11 m / s, or 40 km / h. The construction required more than 330,000 cubic meters of reinforced concrete and 39,000 tonnes of steel beams. Its base has no less than 192 piles driven over 50 meters deep.

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Cost, density and consumption

Such a giant required a pharaonic investment. The developers spent no less than $ 1.5 billion to build the tower. It should also note that the Burj Khalifa locates in Downtown Dubai, a district subject of a vast redevelopment project. You should know that the building has a maximum capacity of 35,000 people. Compared to its area, there is a higher population density than very populated and dense cities such as Dhaka (Bangladesh) or Manila (Philippines).

Finally, the Burj Khalifa is a massive consumer of energy and water. Excluding cooling, the building’s electricity consumption amounts to 179 MWh per day, equivalent to nine times the needs of the Eiffel Tower. The most striking example concerns air conditioning, the needs of which exceed 500 MWh per day. The Burj Khalifa consumes 946,000 litres of water per day, mainly for cooling and supplying the six swimming pools available to residents.

A 5 and a half year project

The Burj Khalifa site began on September 21, 2004, and the tower was officially inaugurated on January 4, 2010. Therefore, more than five years were necessary to build this gigantic building, the visit of which is on the list of essential activities in Dubai. The 1,200 workers were primarily immigrants from Southeast Asia. Their deplorable working conditions and meagre pay have drawn much criticism.

$ 1.5 billion

That’s the colossal cost of building Burj Khalifa. A pharaonic price at the height of this construction of all records. The skyscraper is part of a significant redevelopment project for this Downton Dubai, which houses many luxury buildings and tourist resorts today.

Burj Khalifa is 828 meters tall. burj khalifa height in km 0.828 kilometers

With its 828 meters high, Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper globally and the most significant human construction. It exceeds by nearly 200 meters the second tower on the podium: Tokyo Skytree in Japan, which rises to 634 meters. But the Burj Khalifa record is about to be broken by the building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which expects to reach 1,000 m in height.

310,000 m2 of surface area

Besides its spectacular height, Burj Khalifa boasts an extravagant area of over 300,000 square meters. It required more than 330,000 m3 of reinforced concrete, 39,000 tonnes of steel beams and 142,000 m2 of glass for its construction.

160 habitable floors

Burj Khalifa has 160 living floors (offices, apartments, luxury hotels, restaurants, spa etc.) and three additional floors housing technical rooms.

57 elevators

Who says skyscraper says elevators, and on this point, Burj Khalifa also breaks all records. The tower has 57 elevators (and eight escalators), but not all go up to the top of the building. The main elevator measures 504 meters and is the highest in the world, reaching 36 km / h at full power.

Burj Khalifa consumes 946,000 litres of water per day.

It is the amount of water needed to operate the air conditioning in the tower each day—a natural ecological disaster in one of the hottest countries in the world.

You get a better idea of what this building stands for; it’s best to compare it to the world’s most famous skyscraper: the Empire State of New York. The New York skyscraper is 381 meters high (431 meters if you consider its antenna), or half of the Burj Khalifa.

Construction of the Burj Khalifa began on September 21, 2004, and was completed on January 4, 2010, more than a year past the scheduled date. This skyscraper is famous for accommodating many residential floors, which is rather unusual until today.

Burj Khalifa lookouts

The Burj Khalifa has two lookouts that offer stunning views. On the 124th floor, located 442 meters high, you will find the one that was the only belvedere of the Khalifa Tower until then. Without a doubt, this is the best vantage point in all of Dubai to contemplate the city.

The second belvedere, recently inaugurated, is now a real eye-catcher since it became the highest in the world (in front of the Canton Tower in Guangzhou). It locates 555 meters high, the belvedere is on the 148th floor and offers stunning views where you can discover the city in miniature.

You should know that tickets usually run out early. It is therefore recommended to buy the ticket online on its official website as soon as possible. If you don’t want to complicate things, you can book the experience on our site, including hotel pickup and fast-track entry to the Burj Khalifa.

The best time to go up there and the most popular is the sunset. If you cannot buy tickets for this hour, be aware that the view is more beautiful day than a night since Dubai is not particularly popular for its nightly illuminations.

Around Burj Dubai

Next to the Burj Khalifa is a large artificial lake, the Dubai Fountain, one of the city’s must-see attractions. Around the lake are bars and restaurants, and of course the famous Dubai Mall.

Figures and curiosities

In Arabic, “burj” means tower.
On July 24, 2007, the tower became the tallest building in the world so far in front of the Taipei 101 Tower in the city of the same name.
The cost of the skyscraper has been estimated at $ 1,500,000,000.
The Burj Khalifa is visible 95 kilometres away.
The tower has 57 elevators, weighs 500,000 tonnes and is covered with 28,601 bay windows.

The United Arab Emirates, with its seven emirates, is home to the most beautiful buildings in the world and is home to many tall buildings and stunning towers. Burj Khalifa is the tallest tower in the Emirates and the world, intense competition with the Kingdom Tower (Jeddah Tower), still under construction.

The Dubai Creek Tower will reach a height of 928 meters when its construction works are completed by 2021 as scheduled. Dubai towers greatly enhance the economy and tourism of the Emirates, but the other Emirates towers are no less important. Here is the complete guide to the tallest and most famous skyscrapers in the UAE.

SKYSCRAPERS IN THE EMIRATES :

Burj Khalifa the tallest tower in the world

1. DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTER (149 METERS)

The Emirates from 1979 to 1999, and despite the continuous development happening now, this building has a long history.

2. BURJ AL ARAB (321 METERS)

The Burj Al Arab ranked first as the tallest hotel globally from 1999 to 2000, which strengthened Dubai’s position in the local and international arena. It is one of the most famous and most essential skyscrapers in the Emirates due to being one of the first landmarks that highlighted the features of luxury in Dubai. It has a unique sail-shaped exterior. The tower is located 280 meters from the Dubai beach, and its height is about 321 meters.

3. ADNOC TOWER (342 METERS)

The construction of the ADNOC Tower, which includes 46 floors, extended from 2009 to 2015 and is currently the second tallest tower in Abu Dhabi. The building is located on the Western Corniche Road and is famous for its striking design on a parallelogram base and a hollow square top.

4. EMIRATES TOWERS HOTEL (354 METERS)

Emirates Towers is one of the most famous skyscrapers in Dubai: The Emirate of Dubai has witnessed substantial urban developments and radical changes in its buildings. The Emirates Towers Hotel, which consists of two buildings, occupied the tallest towers from 2000 to 2009.

These two towers locate on Sheikh Zayed Road with several floors reaching 56 floors, and they are now ranked 15 in the world. Apartments for rent in Emirates Towers are available with luxury and international standards.

5. GEVORA HOTEL DUBAI (356 M)

Gevora Hotel Dubai is considered one of the highest hotels in the world, with several floors of up to 75 feet, and recently opened in February 2018. This hotel has contributed to strengthening the position of Dubai and the UAE in the global hospitality and tourism sector, and it is one of the most famous towers in Dubai today.

6. ALMAS TOWER (360 METERS)

Diamond Tower in Dubai: The famous Almas Tower locates in the Jumeirah Lakes Towers area, and it is one of the most famous skyscrapers in the UAE. It consists of 65 floors and contains 35 elevators. It characterizes by a refined design from the outside and inside.

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

Apartments for sale are available in Almas Tower with unparalleled services and facilities. From 2009 to 2010, Almas Tower was ranked the third tallest building in the Middle East and the 12th tallest commercial building globally.

7. ADDRESS BOULEVARD (370M)

The Address Boulevard Hotel is the seventh tallest tower in the Emirates and the ninth in the Middle East. It locates in Dubai Downtown, adjacent to the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall.

It consists of 73 floors, 530 apartments and 196 hotel rooms.

The Address Boulevard includes apartments with panoramic views of the Burj Khalifa area and the Dubai Fountain. It is one of the most famous skyscrapers in Dubai.

8. ELITE RESIDENCE (380.5 M)

Elite Residence consists of 92 floors with approximately 380 meters, making it the sixth tallest tower in the Emirates and the fifth tallest in Dubai. Luxury apartments for rent and sale are available in Elite Residence with several options.

9. MOHAMMED BIN RASHID TOWER (381 METERS)

Mohammed bin Rashid Tower in Abu Dhabi: The Burj Mohammed bin Rashid consists of 474 housing units spread over 92 floors. It is a distinctive architectural masterpiece with 381 meters and ranks first among the tallest towers in Abu Dhabi. It was built in 2014 to become one of the most prominent skyscrapers in the Emirates.

10. MARINA 23 TOWER (392 M)

It is Marina Tower 23, which consists of a 90 – storey Emirates Towers fourth-longest 392 – meter, the sixth tallest building in the Middle East. The tower is distinguished by its strategic location, close to various city facilities, luxurious facilities, and stunning views.

11. PRINCESS TOWER (414 METERS)

The Princess Tower project was complete in 2012, and it is currently the third tallest tower in the UAE, with a height of 414 meters. And is famous for its stunning urban design and unparalleled luxury.

12. MARINA 101 (425M)

Marina Towers in Dubai: Marina 101 is the third tallest building in the Middle East and the second tallest Emirates Tower. This tower locates in the Marina area, which is home to many skyscrapers in the Emirates. Marina 101 features apartments for sale available by several real estate agents, and it consists of 101 floors and 29 elevators.

13. BURJ KHALIFA (828 METERS)

Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world: The well-known Burj Khalifa is still the tallest building globally, with an impressive height of 828 meters. The tower consists of 160 floors, and its residential suite is famous for its unprecedented luxury.

It is also an excellent tourist destination due to its outstanding facilities. There are many apartments for sale in Burj Khalifa with various options. With this, we have provided you with a list of the tallest and most famous skyscrapers in the UAE.