Burj Khalifa and the vertical city of Dubai
Published on 09/23/2026 at 18:58 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Burj Khalifa rises above Dubai as a layered vertical city, combining offices, residences, hotel spaces and public viewing areas within a single tower. Its architectural height reaches 828 m (2,717 ft), while a tapered sequence of setbacks carries the building from a broad base towards a slender spire.
Opened in 2010, Burj Khalifa is associated with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and architect Adrian Smith. The tower’s height, mixed use and changing outline remain visible from across Dubai.
Burj Khalifa rises through a layered form
The tower begins with a broad, three-sided base and narrows through successive setbacks. The exterior combines reflective glazing, aluminium and textured concrete, producing a surface that changes with the daylight across its vertical tiers.
Burj Khalifa contains 163 floors and reaches 828 m (2,717 ft) at its architectural top. The upper section includes a long spire, extending the building’s profile far above the occupied spaces below. Burj Khalifa’s 163 floors form part of a mixed-use arrangement rather than a single-purpose office block.
From construction project to mixed-use landmark
Construction began in 2004, and Burj Khalifa opened on 4 January 2010. The development is linked with Emaar Properties, while the design and engineering came from the Chicago-based practice Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Adrian Smith served as architect, with William F. Baker as structural engineer. The tower contains offices, residences, hotel accommodation, restaurants and observation areas. These functions occupy different parts of the vertical complex, giving the building several roles within Dubai’s urban centre. Adrian Smith’s role belongs to a design team whose work joined architecture, structure and building services at unusual scale.
The skyline, the spire and Dubai’s centre
Burj Khalifa stands in Downtown Dubai, beside the Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain. The tower forms part of a district of plazas, landscaped routes, retail spaces, hotels and high-rise buildings.
Its visible profile changes from a wide lower section to narrow upper tiers, ending in a spire. The tower’s height is measured to its architectural top, while the complete tip reaches slightly higher when antenna equipment is included. The 828-metre tower contains a concentration of uses that would normally be spread across several separate buildings.
Burj Khalifa’s structure is also part of its public identity. The repeated setbacks break the long elevation into stacked sections, and the central core continues upwards through the building. At street level, the tower is read together with the surrounding plazas and water features. From distant parts of Dubai, the spire provides the clearest marker of the building’s full height.
Visiting Burj Khalifa: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Burj Khalifa stands in Downtown Dubai beside Dubai Mall. Dubai Metro’s Red Line serves the district through Dubai Mall station, with a pedestrian connection to the complex.
- The building is part of a dense urban development of plazas, covered walkways, retail areas, hotels and water features. The approach involves walking through the Dubai Mall complex before reaching the tower’s visitor areas.
- Dubai’s official language is Arabic, and the national currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham.
- Observation areas occupy elevated sections of Burj Khalifa, while offices, residences and hotel spaces occupy other parts of the tower.
Searching for Burj Khalifa on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Burj Khalifa
Where is Burj Khalifa?
Burj Khalifa is in Downtown Dubai, beside Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain. The district is served by Dubai Metro’s Red Line.
What can visitors expect at Burj Khalifa?
Visitors encounter elevated observation areas within a mixed-use tower. The surrounding complex includes retail spaces, plazas, hotels and water features.
What makes Burj Khalifa distinctive?
Burj Khalifa combines 163 floors with an architectural height of 828 m (2,717 ft). Its stepped silhouette rises from a broad base towards a narrow spire.
