Burj Khalifa

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

Wheelchair access: Partly accessible

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The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a megatall skyscraper and the world's tallest building, standing 828.8 metres high since its topping out in 2009. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with contributions from architects including Adrian Smith and William F. Baker, the structure combines neo-futuristic and high-tech aesthetics with inspiration from regional Islamic architecture, notably the Great Mosque of Samarra. Its distinctive Y-shaped floor plan optimizes residential and hotel space, while a buttressed central core and lateral wings provide structural support for the extraordinary height. Construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2010; the primary structure employs reinforced concrete alongside steel and aluminium, incorporating salvaged structural steel from Berlin's demolished Palace of the Republic. The building features a specialized cladding system engineered to manage Dubai's intense heat, and is serviced by 57 elevators and 8 escalators. Originally named Burj Dubai, it was renamed Burj Khalifa at inauguration in honour of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former UAE president, whose federal financial support enabled the project's completion during the Great Recession.