Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa rises 828 metres above Dubai, while its 180-metre spire is the tallest in the world. It was originally called the Dubai Tower, but was later renamed in honour of the President of the UAE. Construction took six years, with as many as 12,000 people working on the site each day. Concrete was poured at night and mixed with ice so that the heat would not interfere with curing. The tower’s form resembles a stalactite, helping it resist strong winds. Inside are a hotel, apartments, offices and shops, while observation decks occupy the 124th and 148th floors. At.mosphere restaurant on the 122nd floor allows guests to dine among the clouds, with the sensation of being on top of the world.

Burj Khalifa holds records as though competing with the sky itself: 828 metres high, 163 floors and an observation deck 555 metres above the ground. Its lifts travel at up to 10 metres per second, and at the end of each year the tower becomes one of the world’s most expensive light shows; in 2023, six minutes of spectacle cost $1.5 million.