Before Burj Khalifa, the skyline of Dubai was dominated by shorter towers and mid-rise buildings. Its construction heralded a new era of vertical ambition and remains a constant reminder of the city’s vision for the future.
It officially opened on January 4, 2010, and stands at 828 metres. Since its completion, it has held the title of the tallest building in the world, outshining the closest structure, the Shanghai Tower, by more than 200 metres.
While many are familiar with its record-breaking height, there’s more to this engineering marvel than its size. Whether hosting daring climbs, appearing in blockbuster films or serving as a backdrop to celebrations, Burj Khalifa has firmly established itself as one of the most renowned landmarks in modern history.
Here are 15 fascinating facts to celebrate the building’s legacy.
Impressive numbers behind its construction
It took six years, 22 million man-hours, more than 12,000 workers and an estimated $1.5 billion to complete Burj Khalifa. The tower’s construction used more than 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, 39,000 tonnes of steel reinforcement and 103,000 square metres of glass.
The building’s foundation includes a concrete raft supported by 192 piles that extend 50 metres into the desert ground, allowing the structure to stand firm.
A desert flower inspired the design
Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's architectural design for Burj Khalifa, was inspired by the Hymenocallis, also known as a spider lily. This desert flower grows across the UAE and is recognisable for its long, slender petals. The building’s shape mimics the way it flowers outward, with a triple-lobed footprint and setbacks that spiral upwards, but also takes influence from Islamic architecture and its arched domes.
It holds several world records
Besides its height, Burj Khalifa holds numerous records, including the highest occupied floor (on level 160), the highest outdoor observation deck (at 555 metres), the highest restaurant from ground level (441.3 metres) and the longest single lift shaft in the world.
The lifts move up to 10 metres a second, making them among the fastest in the world. Visitors reach the 124th floor in less than a minute. They also cover a total vertical distance of 504 metres, the greatest of any system in the world.
A testament to engineering innovation
When conceived more than 15 years ago, the construction of the neo-futurist-style building pushed the boundaries of engineering. It uses a Y-shaped design and a high-performance concrete mix to counteract wind pressure and other structural stresses. The building’s spire, made of lighter materials, also plays a role in its stability.
Despite its height, it is designed to withstand high winds and seismic activity. During extreme weather, it sways about 1.5 metres in any direction at the top. Its tiered, spiralling shape also helps disrupt wind patterns.
The spire isn’t just decorative
Without the spire, which measures 200 metres, the building wouldn’t be the tallest in the world. On a clear day, the tip can be seen from up to 95 kilometres away. It also houses communication equipment, including antennas to enhance telecoms capabilities.
It uses – and reuses – a lot of water
Burj Khalifa consumes an average of 946,000 litres of water daily, and at certain times of the year, it requires 10,000 tonnes of cooling. Dubai's hot, humid weather, combined with the building’s cooling requirements, creates condensation collected in a separate piping system, which provides about 15 million gallons of supplementary water a year. This equals about 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools, and the water is collected and recycled for landscaping and cooling purposes.
It also uses the sun as energy
The building incorporates 378 solar panels, 2.7 square metres each, contributing to its energy efficiency. These panels are said to save about 3,200 kilowatts of energy a day, or 690 megawatts annually, reducing the building’s reliance on traditional energy sources. The panels can heat 140,000 litres of water within seven hours.
The building was also designed to maximise natural light, further reducing energy consumption.
It’s a tourist magnet
Did you know more than 17 million people visit Burj Khalifa every year? This is according to research conducted by analytics website Switch On Business.
At the Top observation deck is a major attraction, offering incredible views of the Dubai skyline and beyond. While the 124th and 148th floors are popular with tourists, the 163rd floor – known as the Sky Deck – is only accessible to anyone with a residential or commercial pass.
Setting the stage for art
Burj Khalifa has embraced art in its public spaces and reportedly has about 1,000 works throughout its interiors. These include pieces by more than 85 Middle Eastern and international artists.
One standout is World Voices, a large-scale installation by artist Jaume Plensa in the residential lobby composed of 196 handcrafted cymbals attached to stainless steel tubes above pools of water. Each cymbal represents a country in the world, and water slowly drips on to the cymbals, producing ambient sounds that symbolise humanity’s interconnectedness.
The building exterior has also become a canvas for artistic expression, including LED light shows and projections celebrating global events, cultural milestones and contemporary art installations.
The temperature difference from base to summit
The outside temperature is believed to vary up to 6°C between the bottom and the top of the building. This makes it cooler at the top, but also improves cooling efficiency.
Cleaning its facade is a logistical marvel
Keeping Burj Khalifa’s 24,348 glass cladding panels clean is no mean feat. The task requires a team of about 36 workers, who spend three to four months covering the total curtain wall area of 132,190 square metres. Specialised robots assist in cleaning hard-to-reach areas. By the time the team finishes, they must begin again.
Its starring roles in Hollywood and Bollywood
The tower has become a fixture in cinematic backdrops. Its most memorable appearance came in the 2011 blockbuster Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, where Tom Cruise scaled the building’s exterior and ran across its glass walls 123 floors above the ground.
The architectural marvel has also appeared in films such as Furious 7 (2015), Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), Star Trek Beyond (2016) and Geostorm (2017), as well as Bollywood films like Happy New Year (2014), Laxmii (2020) and Pathaan (2023). It often plays a role that symbolises futuristic ambition or the pinnacle of human achievement.
Record-breaking feats of human endurance
Burj Khalifa has also attracted athletes who are eager to test their limits. One of the most daring feats was achieved by Alain Robert, known as the French Spider-Man. In 2011, he climbed the building’s exterior without safety ropes or equipment, scaling 828 metres in just over six hours.
In 2014, the late professional base jumper Vince Reffet made history by leaping off the tower wearing a jet-powered wingsuit.
It set the stage for drone innovation
The building has served as a testing ground for drone technology, influencing fields such as entertainment, communication and infrastructure management.
For example, the building has hosted groundbreaking drone light shows with high-powered projectors, illuminating the tower with intricate patterns and animations. Drone technology has also been used for the building’s maintenance and inspection, reducing the need for manual intervention in dangerous-to-reach areas.
The birthplace of many an urban myth
Burj Khalifa has also inspired several urban myths. One popular misconception is that the tip sways in the wind, unsettling occupants within. While it was designed to sway slightly, advanced engineering actually makes the movement imperceptible inside.
Many also believe astronauts aboard the International Space Station can see the building from space with their naked eye. But while the structure may appear in images captured from orbit, you can’t see it without a telescope.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 1 (Cantwell 75') Manchester United 2 (Aghalo 51' 118') After extra time.
Man of the match Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Aston martin DBX specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Top speed: 291kph
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: Q2, 2020
Company%20profile
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Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
