Burj Khalifa: For 13 years, tower remains an unmatched skyscraper

TALLEST SKYSCRAPER: It was 13 years ago today (January 4, 2010), when Dubai's Burj Khalifa was launched. More than a decade out, it remains the world's most iconic tower, having bagged 10 world records to its credit, including the tallest man-made structure, the highest observation deck, tallest service elevator, largest LED illuminated facade and the highest base jump from a tower.

TALLEST STRUCTURE IN 2022: Burj Khalifa remained the tallest structure in 2022. Merdeka 118, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia topped out at 679 metres, and is now the second-tallest building in the world, overtaking Shanghai Tower, in Shanghai, China (632 metres).

TOWER OF TOLERANCE: New Year celebrations on the Burj Khalifa, illuminated by spectacular laser and record-breaking fireworks shows, as well celebrations marking national days of various countries, turn the iconic tower into a shining beacon of hope, happiness and harmony.

BIRTH OF AN IDEA: Burj Khalifa was born around 2003, when a decision was made to build the world’s tallest skyscraper in Dubai. An international design competition was won by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) – whose architects followed a form “that is geometric in plan, starting with three branches and three pods,” according to Adrian Smith, then working for SOM, in his book “Adrian Smith: Towards are Sustainable Future.” In January 2004, the tower’s construction officially kicked off. The tower took six years and 22 million man-hours to build.

RISING FROM THE GROUND: As the building started to rise from the ground, Smith said it felt like it wants “to appear as if sculpted from the earth and crystallised in a vertical stalagmite of glass and steel.” An aerial view of the Burj Khalifa (then known as Burj Dubai) under construction.

INSPIRED BY DESERT FLOWER: The design of Burj Khalifa is inspired by the desert flower Hymenocalis. The tower also incorporates patterns that are embodied in Islamic architecture. By this time, the tower has already reached 80 levels with a height of 277 metres.

160 HABITABLE LEVELS: One year before it was launched, Burj Khalia already had established a record of building 160 habitable levels — the most of any building in the world — according to Emaar, its Dubai-based property developer.

RECORD-BREAKING: By 2007, Burj Khalifa had already used a record-breaking 330,000 cubic metres of concrete; 39,000 tonnes of steel reinforcement; 103,000 square metres of glass; and 15,500 square metres of embossed stainless steel.

FINAL HEIGHT: The final height (828 metres) and design had not been decided even after reaching 550 metres, when it had already topped the 451-9-metre Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, according to Smith. Construction under way on Downtown Dubai and Business Bay. In July 2007, it became unofficially the world’s tallest building.

HIGHEST LOUNGE: The tower has achieved many records. In February 2019, the world’s highest lounge opened at the Burj Khalifa, setting a new record in Dubai. The Lounge, located at the height of 585.36 metres, offers a unique dining and leisure concept, taking up three levels of the world's highest building: the 152nd, 153rd and 154th floors.

TALLEST NEIGBOURHOOD: The Burj Khalifa, with a total of 163 floors, is certainly Dubai's architectural signature and is one of the most remarkab le buildings in the world in terms of height, unique architecture and all of the records it has broken. As of 2022, Dubai has completed 28 buildings that rise at least 300 metres (984 feet) in height – more than any other city in the world.

REMARKABLE FEAT: Besides its world-bearing height, another remarkable record of the tower is that its exterior’s condensation produces up to 15 million gallons of water per year – the equivalent of 200 Olympic-size pools, used to irrigate plants on the ground. Dubai’s skyline, with the Burj Khalifa, basks in the sunset.

LIVING WITNESS: For the last 13 years, Burj Khalifa has been standing as a living witness to the establishment of a new era in the history of the UAE through visionary leadership. Photo shows Dubai skyscrapers standing above thick fog in the city.