Burj Khalifa: an interactive scroll documentary
Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest building, rising above Downtown Dubai.
Height: 828 m. Floors: 163.
Iconic Design
Inspired by the Hymenocallis flower, the three-winged footprint and stepped, tapering form reduce wind loads and shape an unmistakable silhouette.
Height
Unparalleled Height: 828 m
The tallest structure humans have ever built. Keep scrolling to climb it.
Great Pyramid of Giza: 6×
The tallest structure on Earth for nearly 4,000 years is passed at 139 m. Six of them stacked would just reach the spire.
Eiffel Tower: 2.5×
At 330 m the Eiffel Tower ends well below the halfway point. It takes two and a half to reach the top.
Empire State Building: 443 m
Antenna included, New York's icon stops just past the midpoint of the climb.
The World's Second Tallest: 149 m clear
Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur reaches 679 m, and still falls 149 m short.
Nose to Tail: 11 A380s
The full 828 m equals more than eleven Airbus A380s lined up nose to tail and pointed at the sky.
Seen From Afar: 95 km
On a clear day the spire can be seen from up to 95 kilometers away.
A Different Climate: 6° C cooler
The air at the summit can be around 6°C cooler than at the base.
In One Evening: 2 sunsets
Watch the sun set from the ground, ride the elevator up, and watch it set again from the top.
Anatomy
The Spire: 244 m
The steel spire crowns the tower and carries its telecommunications equipment.
Observation Deck: 555 m
Level 148 is among the highest observation decks in the world, with mechanical floors and water tanks stacked just above.
Elevator Core: 10 m/s
57 elevators run through the central concrete core, the fastest climbing at 10 meters per second.
Mechanical Floors: 163 floors
Water is pumped up to tanks on the mechanical floors, then distributed across the residences and offices.
Grand Lobby: L1
The lobby and Armani Hotel anchor the base, connected to the plaza and Dubai Mall.
Foundation: 50 m deep
The descent ends below ground, where the tower's weight is handed to its foundation.
Premium Experiences
From the At.mosphere restaurant and At The Top observation decks to the Armani Hotel: world-class luxury with unforgettable views.
Floors
A Vertical City: 163 floors
Homes, a hotel, offices, restaurants and observation decks stacked inside a single tower.
Hotel & Residences: 900 residences
The Armani Hotel and around 900 private residences fill the levels above the podium.
Amenities in the Sky: 76 th floor
Sky lobbies carry gyms, lounges and pools. The pool on level 76 is among the highest in the world.
Grand Lobby: 1,000 artworks
Double-height lobbies in glass, steel and stone hold part of a collection of over 1,000 works of art.
Below Ground: 3,000 spaces
Basement levels provide around 3,000 parking spaces alongside plant rooms and services.
Foundation
Below the Plaza: 50 m deep
Everything above rests on what was built far below street level.
Concrete Below Ground: 45,000 m³
The foundations alone contain more than 45,000 m³ of concrete, weighing over 110,000 tonnes.
The Raft: 3.7 m thick
A reinforced concrete raft 3.7 m thick spreads the load of the tower across the piles.
Bored Piles: 192 piles
Each pile is 1.5 m in diameter and around 43 m long, cast in place deep in the ground.
Carried to the Ground: 500,000 tonnes
Together they carry an empty building weight of roughly 500,000 tonnes.
Engineering Marvel
A feat of engineering and design that redefines what is possible in architecture.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is the Burj Khalifa?
The Burj Khalifa is 828 metres tall, making it the tallest building in the world.
How many floors does the Burj Khalifa have?
It has 163 floors above ground.
When did the Burj Khalifa open?
It opened on 4 January 2010 in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Who designed the Burj Khalifa?
It was designed by architect Adrian Smith at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and developed by Emaar Properties.
How fast are the Burj Khalifa elevators?
The tower has 57 elevators, the fastest travelling at about 10 metres per second.
What is the Burj Khalifa built on?
A 3.7 metre thick reinforced concrete raft supported by 192 bored piles, each 1.5 metres in diameter and around 43 metres long.