The world's tallest skyscraper celebrates 10 grand years of representing the image of Dubai. Here are 10 lesser-known facts about the iconic structure
4 January 2020
| Last updated on 8 January 2020The record-breaking structure is twice as tall as the Empire State Building and can be seen as far as 95km away
Synonymous with the grandeur and ambitions of Dubai, the 829.8-metre tall Burj Khalifa began constructions on January 6, 2004 and opened to the public on January 4, 2010.
To this day, the Burj Khalifa remains as the world's tallest building and continues to be a popular attraction for thousands of visitors and residents every year for not just its fame, but the stunning city views found from At the Top Burj Khalifa SKY experience.
This January 2020 marks the Burj Khalifa's 10-year anniversary and to celebrate the occasion, here are 10 interesting facts about the iconic skyscraper.
1. It originally had a different name
The Burj Khalifa we know was originally called the Burj Dubai, but was renamed to honour the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
2. Home to the world's highest post office
The world's highest post office sits on the 125th floor of the Burj Khalifa. Visitors are welcome to send mail, postcards, etc. at the world's highest mailbox, which lies a jaw-dropping 555 metres above sea level.
3. The Burj Khalifa's design was based on a flower
Designers for the Burj Khalifa drew inspiration from the Hymenocallis flower or spider lilies. These flowers are native to the American continents, from the United States to Central America and northern South America.
4. The building took millions of hours to build
In fact, it took an estimated 22 million man-hours to build the Burj Khalifa.
5. The weight is equivalent to 100,000 elephants
Unsurprisingly, the weight of the concrete used to build the Burj Khalifa is equivalent to the weight of 100,000 elephants.
6. Can be seen from the desert
The Burj Khalifa is so tall that its tip can be seen from up to 95 km away.
7. Saves and reuses millions of water
The Burj Khalifa's water sustainability is pretty impressive. An estimated 15 million gallons of water are collected each year and sustainably reused to water plants, trees, greenery, for cooling, and to supply the Dubai Fountain - another one of Dubai's popular attractions due to its daily water, lights, and music show.
8. Holds other world records
The Burj Khalifa is famous for being the tallest building in the world, but the iconic man-made structure also holds the world records for six other titles: The highest number of stories, the tallest freestanding structure in the world, the highest outdoor observation deck in the world, the tallest elevator, and the elevator with the world's longest travel distance.
9. Was featured in Mission Impossible
In the fourth installment of the Mission Impossible series, Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol, the infamous Ethan Hunt (played by Hollywood star Tom Cruise) took to Dubai. It was on the Burj Khalifa that Cruise performed his own character students, from running on the side of the building, climbing the tower, and rappelling down.
During filming, the actor almost got injured when he collided with the side of the building while using a harness.
10. Over 1,000 artworks are found inside the building
Created by international and local artists, the interiors of the Burj Khalifa, as well as the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, feature more than 1,000 pieces of art.