Burj Khalifa In Dubai: Architecture Beyond Imagination

Everyone knows that Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, which is 828 meters high, making every other building look like a miniature one. The Burj Khalifa is a testament to the country’s technology and invention while breaking all boundaries of human imagination. 

Burj Khalifa is a must-visit on your Dubai Tour, because there is nothing like it, and you would not want to miss out on that. Burj Khalifa is not just a building; it is the most stunning piece of architecture that has broken all records in terms of its height, being home to the highest observation deck, and having the highest restaurant in the world. 

History Of Burj Khalifa

The city was in need of an attraction that would surpass any other attraction in the world in terms of grandeur, height, innovation, luxury, and technology, making Dubai the benchmark tourist destination. 

The construction of Burj Khalifa started in the year 2004, and was completed after five long years in 2009, however, its official opening was in 2010. Approximately 12000 workers worked on the Burj Khalifa project day and night to make this stunning piece of architecture, which is the pride of Dubai city. 

Before the existence of Burj Khalifa, the Petronas twin towers in Malaysia were the tallest buildings in the world, with a height of 451.9 meters and 83 storeys. However, in 2003 Taiwan’s Taipei 101 took the title of the tallest building in the world, rising to the height of 508 meters. 

One year later, in 2004, the construction of Burj Khalifa started, and the rest is history. 

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Architecture Of Burj Khalifa

EMAAR developed the Burj Khalifa project, and the architects involved in the construction of the Burj Khalifa were Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, and they were headed by a renowned architect from America, Adrian Smith. 

When the construction of Burj Khalifa was going on, people had several questions about whether it was even possible to make a building that tall, and this was a concern when the building was planned to be only 518 meters tall, which is 10 meters taller than the Taipei Tower. 

However, during the time of its design process, the building grew to a whopping 310 meters, which is the height of the Eiffel Tower. So, can you imagine the height of Burj Khalifa, considering that only a small part of it is equal to the height of a popular iconic building in France?

There were also concerns about whether the architecture would be able to withstand the high-pressure wind because the higher the building, the more it is exposed to risks. However, the Burj Khalifa is designed to withstand seismic activities up to some extent due to its neo-futuristic style, with a Y-shaped cross that reduces the effect of the wind. 

There were almost 26000 hand-cut glass panels used for the offices inside the Burj Khalifa. The stalks that are in the central spire of the building help in deflecting the winds to ensure the safety of the building. 

Currently, the height of Burj Khalifa is 828 meters, which means it is the tallest skyscraper in the world the fascinating part about the Burj Khalifa is that it is two times higher than the Empire State Building, three times the height of the Eiffel Tower in France, and 15 times the height of Niagra Falls. 

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What Is Inside Burj Khalifa?

• Armani Hotel: You can enjoy the Armani Hotel inside the Burj Khalifa, owned and managed by the EMAAR Company. The hotel is at the 39th floor.
• Residential Floors: There are 900 residential units, where some individuals own the apartments and live there, and some even own as many as 22 apartments in the building. The residential floor is from the 40th floor to the 108th floor.
• Corporate Offices: How lucky does one have to be to have their office inside the Burj Khalifa? There are almost 37 floors for corporate offices, where most of them have been sold rather than rented. The offices are on the 109th floor to 154th floor.
• Observation Deck: On the 125th floor, you will find an observation deck, which is again managed by EMAAR, and allows you a 360-degree view of the area, which is a sight to behold. There are three observation decks on floors 124 and 125, and on the top is the 148th floor.
• At.mosphere Restaurant: Now this is the world’s highest restaurant serving some delicious food and an even better view of the area. The restaurant is on the 122nd floor and is a must-visit in Burj Khalifa. 

The mechanical floors are from 155 to 163. From the ground to the top floor, there are a total of 2909 staircases. Burj Khalifa is recognised as having 163 floors, but if we were to talk technically, then there are a total of 209 floors. Now you must be wondering why there are 46 more floors but they are not accessible. 

The reason is that these floors are not habitable, and they act as a base for the spire, so there are only 163 floors in Burj Khalifa if we don’t take the technical aspect into consideration.

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Facts About Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa was named after the Sheikh Khalifa; previously, it was decided that the name of Burj Khalifa would be Burj Dubai, but during its official opening, the name was changed to Burj Khalifa. 

During the architectural development, the EMAAR developers faced financial difficulties, and they were provided financial assistance by Sheikh Khalifa, hence the giant building was named after him. 

It takes a total of 3 months to clean the Burj Khalifa from top to bottom; well, we are not surprised at all. 

Since the height of Burj Khalifa is 828 meters, it has got the title of the tallest building in the world, but wait, that’s not it; it has broken other records as well, including: 

• A building with the highest floors
• World’s most travelled elevator
• A Building with the highest number of stories
• World’s fastest and most advanced elevator
• The world’s highest observation deck
• World’s highest restaurant

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Places To Visit Near Burj Khalifa

Located in Downtown Dubai, there are plenty of places to visit near Burj Khalifa, such as:

• Dubai Fountain: Dubai Fountain is the tallest performing fountain in the world, rising up to 900 feet high in the air, and is as big as two football fields. The fountain has 25 colour projectors, 2.5 million lumens, and 1000 different water expressions. The fountain performs various music, from contemporary to Emirati Music. While the fountain is performing, there are 22000 gallons of water in the air at any given moment. Situated on the Burj Lake, you can enjoy the boat ride while the fountain performs to have a closer look. 
• Dubai Mall: If you are on a shopping spree, then you should head straight to the Dubai Mall, for there are 1200 shopping outlets, including international brands such as Bloomingdales, Armani, and several others. There are about 200 eating outlets to get rid of the hunger pangs and savour your taste buds with some lip-smacking food. Known for being the largest mall in the world, the mall also has an underwater zoo and an aquarium featuring hundreds of water species. 

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Burj Khalifa Tickets

The ticket price starts from AED 159, and if you want to access the rooftop access, then the ticket price is AED 259, and AED 20 for fountain tours, which gives an amazing view of the Fountain up close and the Burj Khalifa.