The Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest building, located in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With a height of 828 meters and 163 floors, it is a masterpiece that showcases the harmony of architecture, art, science, and nature. Since its opening in 2010, it has been visited by countless tourists from around the world, becoming a symbol and source of pride for Dubai.

Burj Khalifa, the pride of the world's tallest building

The Burj Khalifa was designed by SOM, an American architectural and structural engineering firm, and built by Samsung C&T of South Korea. Adrian Smith was in charge of architectural design, and Bill Baker was in charge of structural design.

The shape of the building is inspired by the flower known as the Hymenocallis, and it features a Y-shaped cross-section and a spiral pattern. This is to minimize wind effects, maximize views, and ensure structural stability.

The Burj Khalifa is a mixed-use building with various purposes and functions. It includes offices, residences, hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, lounges, observation decks, museums, and galleries. The exterior and interior of the building feature decorations and artworks that reflect Arab culture and history. The Burj Khalifa showcases the diversity and sophistication of Dubai.

Although widely known as Burj Khalifa, it was unified as Burj Khalifa in 2010 by the government and the Foreign Language Advisory Committee.

Structure of the Burj Khalifa

The structure of the Burj Khalifa is a combination of reinforced concrete and steel structure. The reinforced concrete portion reaches up to 584 meters, and the steel structure consists of a 244-meter spire. The total weight of the building is approximately 500,000 tons.

The structure of the reinforced concrete portion utilizes a special method called the Buttressed Core System. This involves the hexagonal core structure at the center of the building and the walls and columns on the wings of the building being connected to form a single structural unit. This helps resist twisting and shear forces, effectively distributes wind loads, and increases the second moment of area of the building.

The steel structure is the spire located at the top of the building, which houses telecommunications equipment and space for tourists. The spire is 244 meters tall and weighs approximately 4,000 tons. The spire is divided into four sections, each of which was hoisted and installed from the ground using a crane. At the top of the spire is a metal sphere with the flag of Dubai drawn on it.

The structure of the Burj Khalifa has been optimized through various wind tunnel tests and computer simulations. The building's orientation was determined considering the direction of the strongest winds throughout the year, and the cross-section and patterns of the building were designed to prevent the wind from creating constant vortexes. This reduces swaying and horizontal forces on the building. The building can withstand wind loads of up to 240 km/h, and the maximum displacement at the top is limited to 1.5 meters.

How to Visit Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Dubai, attracting millions of visitors annually. The entrance fee for the Burj Khalifa is 179 AED for adults. The Burj Khalifa is open from 7 AM to midnight, 365 days a year. (Weekends may have different hours, so please refer to the website below).

The Burj Khalifa is located in the heart of Dubai, making it easy to access by public transportation. The nearest metro station is Dubai Mall station, and buses 27, 29, F13, F16, F19A, and F19B stop nearby.

Tips for visiting Burj Khalifa

You can't visit the entire building, but only certain floors. The most popular floors are the observation decks on floors 124 and 125 and the At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY on floor 148. The observation decks offer breathtaking views of Dubai, while At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY provides premium services and snacks.

The Burj Khalifa can be appreciated not only from inside the building but also from the outside.

Outside the building is the Dubai Fountain, the world's largest fountain. The Dubai Fountain puts on a spectacular show every evening, spraying water in time with various music and lights in the artificial lake in front of the building. The Dubai Fountain is free to watch, and performances take place every 30 minutes.

Also, the world's largest LED screen is installed on the outside of the building. The LED screen covers the front of the building and emits light in various colors and patterns. The LED screen also displays different content depending on special occasions or events.

In 2018, the traditional New Zealand dance, haka, was displayed on the LED screen. In 2019, the traditional Chinese dance, lion dance, was displayed. And in 2020, a message thanking medical professionals for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic was displayed on the LED screen.

Burj Khalifa official website

www.burjkhalifa.ae

Fun Facts about Burj Khalifa

● Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, opened in 2010. However, it underwent various trial runs before that. On September 9, 2009, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, visited the building. On December 4, 2009, contestants from the popular American TV show, The Amazing Race, visited the building. On January 4, 2010, the opening ceremony of the building was held. This day was also the Dubai's accession day.

● In 2011, Burj Khalifa appeared in the popular American action movie, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. The movie features Tom Cruise climbing and jumping off the exterior wall of the Burj Khalifa. This scene was actually filmed at the Burj Khalifa, and Tom Cruise performed it himself without a stuntman. The Burj Khalifa was closed for 23 days for filming.

● In 2014, Burj Khalifa appeared in the Dubai Tennis Championships, a popular sporting event in Dubai. Tennis players Novak Djokovic and Andrea Pettinichi played tennis on the At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY on the 148th floor. This scene was actually filmed at the Burj Khalifa, and the players overcame their fear of heights and enjoyed playing tennis.

● In 2018, Mr. T, a popular rapper from Dubai, uploaded a video of himself rapping from the top of Burj Khalifa on Instagram. Mr. T climbed onto the spire of the Burj Khalifa and showed off his rap skills against the backdrop of the Dubai skyline. The video went viral on the internet. Mr. T was criticized for climbing the spire without permission from Burj Khalifa.