The Burj Khalifa building in Dubai has held the title of “tallest building in the world” since 2009. It is a modern-day wonder, defying engineering odds to become a structure worthy of global recognition. Pride of Dubai, the Burj Khalifa building features some interesting facts worth noting.
Burj Khalifa’s Name
Burj Dubai was the original name of the structure. It was however renamed in honor of the United Arab Emirates president and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He granted monetary aid and economic funding to the original developers, Emaar Properties, which resulted in the name change.
Burj Khalifa Height
The Burj Khalifa building soars above the ground to reach an astounding height of 828 meters. After its inauguration in 2009, Burj Khalifa surpassed Taipei 101 to become the tallest building in the world. The building is made up of 163 floors but the highest occupied floor is level 154 at 584 meters.
Design
The Burj Khalifa’s design draws inspiration from the spider lily flower. It is a regional desert flower with long petals extending from the center. American architect, Adrian Smith, did the architectural design.
Construction
The Burj Khalifa took approximately 5 years to complete. The construction began in 2004 and ended in 2009. The exterior is made up of 26,000 glass panels that are specifically designed to conserve energy and minimize heat transfer.
Burj Khalifa Building: The Tour
A trip to the Burj Dubai hotel is every Dubai visitor’s dream. The building has three observation decks that you can visit for a chance to see Dubai from a unique view, among other attractions.
Burj Khalifa At the top
Burj Khalifa observation decks are known as “At the top”. These are located at levels 124 and 125 at heights of 452 and 456 meters respectively. At Level 124 enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of Dubai and get to see the entire city spanning in front of your eyes. You can also use high-powered telescopes for a close-up view of the sights. For a more exciting experience, venture out in the open terrace outside and feel the air at 452 meters.
At level 125, a falcon’s eye view of Dubai awaits you. The additional 4-meters height will give you a lot more of Dubai’s stunning views to appreciate.
At the top Sky
At the top Sky is the highest observation deck at Burj Khalifa, located on the 148th floor at a height of 555 meters.
This observation deck features a luxury lounge area where you will receive the best of VIP treatment. You can relax on the open terrace with a refreshing drink while soaking in all the sights of the city.
The Dubai Fountain
Add on to your Burj Khalifa experience by visiting the Dubai fountain, the tallest performing fountain in the world. Situated on the Burj Lake, the fountain dances to a selection of melodies.
To enjoy the sights and sounds of the melody, you can take the Dubai fountain lake ride and get a front-row seat to watch the dancing fountain. Otherwise, take a walk at the Dubai fountain boardwalk for a different perspective of the captivating show.
Burj Khalifa building: Best time to visit
Any time is a great time to visit Burj Khalifa. However, you can time your visit according to the time of day or budget. If you are willing to pay more, the best time to visit Burj Khalifa is before sunset. During this time, you get to see the magical world that Dubai turns into as the sun descends. This is the prime time (3:00 pm to 6:30 pm) with big crowds but definitely worth it.
If traveling on a tight budget, visit the Burj Khalifa at non-prime hours. This can be before sunset (8:30 am to 2:30 pm) or after sunset (7:00 pm to 11:00 pm)
Burj Khalifa Tickets
Burj Khalifa Tickets include the following;
● Morning entrance
8:30 am to 11:00 am
● Afternoon entrance
12:00 pm and 2:30 pm
● Primetime entrance
3:00 pm and 6:30 pm
● Night Entrance
7:00 pm and 11:00 pm
● Fast Track Entrance
These tickets give you the privilege to skip the long queues to get to the elevators going to the observation decks.
The Burj Khalifa building is the true pride of Dubai, giving you the best of renowned man-made structures the world has ever seen. If you are visiting Dubai, make sure to add it to the top of your list.
