Burj Khalifa remains a defining achievement in global high-rise development. The 828-metre tower still holds the record as the world’s tallest building. Emaar Properties developed the landmark as the centerpiece of Downtown Dubai. The project combines residential, hospitality, office and leisure facilities within one vertical development.
The tower opened on January 4, 2010, after construction began in January 2004. Its delivery required 22 million man-hours and a peak workforce exceeding 12,000 people.
Burj Khalifa established new benchmarks
The Burj Khalifa rises 828 meters and contains 160 habitable levels. Its total built-up area reaches approximately 5.67 million square feet.
The tower used about 330,000 cubic meters of concrete during construction. Crews also installed 39,000 tones of steel reinforcement and 103,000 square meters of glass.
Its structural design uses a buttressed-core system developed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The system helped the tower withstand the significant structural and wind loads created by its height.
Construction teams also achieved major advances in concrete placement. They pumped high-strength concrete to approximately 605 meters above ground level.
The tower includes one of the world’s highest elevator installations. Its elevators can reach speeds of approximately 10 meters per second.
Burj Khalifa retains global record
The completed tower continues to hold several height-related world records. These include the world’s tallest building and highest occupied floor.
The project also helped establish Downtown Dubai as a major mixed-use urban destination. Its facilities include the Armani Hotel Dubai, residential apartments and office accommodation.
Meanwhile, a separate development in Saudi Arabia could eventually challenge its height record. Riyadh’s proposed Project Rise targets approximately 2 kilometers in height.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has now approached contractors through a market-sounding exercise. The proposed project could cost about $5 billion, depending on its final design.
The Riyadh scheme would therefore exceed the Burj Khalifa by more than 1,100 meters. However, Project Rise remains a separate development from the completed Dubai tower.
Burj Khalifa continues influencing tall buildings
The Burj Khalifa remains an important reference for developers pursuing increasingly taller structures. Its construction demonstrated how structural engineering can address extreme building heights.
The tower’s construction also required specialized façade, concrete, elevator and building-services solutions. These systems supported the delivery of a complex mixed-use building at unprecedented height.
Project Rise now proposes to push those construction challenges considerably further. The proposed Riyadh tower would form part of a larger masterplanned development called North Pole.
Foster + Partners is designing the proposed Riyadh tower after winning a design competition launched in 2022. Tower District Real Estate Development Company is undertaking the current contractor engagement for the project.
The latest development does not alter the Burj Khalifa’s status. The Dubai landmark remains completed, operational and officially recognised as the world’s tallest building.
Project Fact Sheet
Name: Burj Khalifa.
Location: Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Type: Mixed-use skyscraper.
Height: 828 metres.
Habitable levels: 160.
Total built-up area: 5.67 million square feet.
Construction period: January 2004 to 2010.
Official inauguration: January 4, 2010.
Developer: Emaar Properties.
Architectural and structural design: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Engineer of record: Hyder Consulting.
Project management: Turner International.
Main contractors: Samsung C&T Corporation, Arabtec and BESIX.
Concrete used: Approximately 330,000 cubic metres.
Steel reinforcement: Approximately 39,000 tonnes.
Glass façade area: Approximately 103,000 square meters.
Construction effort: Approximately 22 million man-hours.
Peak construction workforce: More than 12,000 workers.
Workforce representation: More than 100 countries.
Current status: Completed and operational.
Current height status: World’s tallest building.
Project Team
Developer: Emaar Properties.
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Structural engineer: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Engineer of record: Hyder Consulting.
Project manager: Turner International LLC.
Main contractors: Samsung C&T Corporation, Arabtec and BESIX.
Vertical transportation: Otis.
Aquatic consultants: Crystal Fountains and WET.
Acoustics consultant: Marsh/PMK International.
Building monitoring: Kinemetrics Inc.
Civil consultants: CBM Engineers and Coalco.
Leave a Reply