Burj Khalifa

Rising to a jaw-dropping 828 meters, the Burj Khalifa has been the tallest building in the world since it opened in 2010. To give you some perspective, the Empire State Building — one of the most iconic skyscrapers in history and the tallest for nearly 40 years — stands at “just” 431 meters. That’s barely half the height of the Burj Khalifa. Fun fact: the temperature at the top of the tower can be up to 6°C cooler than at ground level! This architectural and engineering marvel was completed in just six years. It has 162 floors, housing offices, hotels, apartments, and two observation decks located on the 124th and 148th floors. You’ll also find the world’s highest restaurant on the 122nd floor. To reach the top, you’ll ride one of the fastest elevators on the planet — speeding up at 10 meters per second. The tower has 58 elevators in total, allowing quick access to its many hotels and office floors. The main elevator is the tallest in the world, reaching 504 metres. Originally named Burj Dubai, the tower was later renamed Burj Khalifa in honour of the Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the United Arab Emirates, who financed a significant part of the project. The total construction cost was 1.5 billion US dollars – a massive investment, but one that’s made the tower a global icon, with more than 2 million visitors each year. The scale of the project is mind-blowing. Built with cutting-edge technology to endure extreme desert conditions, the tower brought together over 12,000 workers from 30 different countries. It required an astonishing amount of concrete — the same weight as 100,000 elephants! It’s also covered in 26,000 hand-cut glass panels, and cleaning them all takes three to four months. The Burj Khalifa isn’t just a record-breaker — it’s also a magnet for thrill-seekers. In 2011, Alain Robert became the first, and only, person to climb the tower by hand, in just over 6 hours. Meanwhile, Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet set a new world record by skydiving from the top. Given its popularity, you need to book your tickets well in advance if you want to visit one of its two observation decks.