Burj Khalifa who built it. Burj Khalifa skyscraper - the most magnificent building in the world

Mankind has long wanted to climb to heaven, and the sad fate of the builders Tower of Babel does nothing to dampen the ardor of their followers. From the moment when the construction of skyscrapers became technically possible, different countries and cities periodically compete to see whose building is tallest. For 5 years now (since 2010), the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai has been the holder of the record: a 164-storey building 828 meters high is a difficult example to reproduce.

grand construction

However, the builders did not have time on time, and the solemn event had to be postponed to January 4 next year. Initially, the Burj Khalifa tower was uncomplicatedly called simply "Dubai", but during the opening process, the UAE Prime Minister announced that he was dedicating it to the President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, and called it the name by which it is known today.

During the construction process, the final height of the building was kept secret. The project, developed by the American architect E. Smith, made it possible to vary the height of the spire, so the creators practically did not risk: if a competitor appeared, the Burj Khalifa tower would simply “grow up” by several meters.

Expensive pleasure

The grandiose construction cost one and a half billion US dollars - but this amount, apparently, could be much larger if the developers humanly paid for labor and ensured the safety of workers (brought mainly from South Asia).

The Western press periodically raised a fuss: in 2006, the British Guardian published that workers earn up to 3 pounds a day (one can imagine how horrified this inspired the British), and the BBC reported on the terrible conditions in which people employed in construction had to live .

On the Web, you can find many articles about the ugly truth that the Burj Khalifa hid behind its glittering facade. The country and city in which the construction took place do not look very attractive in them.

Not much has changed since the pyramids were built...

There is evidence that workers worked 12 hours a day and earned about $200 a month (for comparison: the average income of the population of the UAE is more than $2,000). Moreover, this money was not paid on time, their passports were taken away and, in response to indignation, they only threatened with deportation. Despite this, almost all the time of construction, the workers were on strike and even staged riots: in March 2006, the damage caused by the rebels was estimated at half a million pounds.

According to HRW (Human Rights Watch), non-compliance with safety regulations has led to numerous accidents, but only one fatal incident, which is associated with the Burj Khalifa tower, has been officially confirmed: the country and city that is the birthplace of the giant building, only brushed aside from the accusations, not trying to pay attention to these annoying details. The result was above all, and the end justified the means.

Sweet fruits of bitter labors

It must be said that the civilized world, "terribly worried" about the moral side of a specific Dubai business, has demonstrated its true attitude to what is happening by voting, as they say, with a dollar. A year later, the Burj Khalifa paid off with interest - even in the process of erecting the building, its areas were already purchased at a price of 40 thousand dollars per square meter.

An impressive investment was made by the Armani company: it owns 37 floors, from the first to the thirty-ninth (excluding the two technical ones, the 17th and 18th). Here is located a hotel bearing the name of the famous fashion house (the master himself, Giorgio Armani, had a hand in the design of the rooms), and the company's offices.

Almost all the upper floors, starting from the 111th, are also given to businessmen, and a little lower there are apartments that only millionaires can afford. It is known that one floor was completely redeemed by the Indian moneybag Shetty.

Each group of premises (apartments, offices and hotel) has a separate entrance. It's funny that only one elevator connects the first and last floors, and that one is service. So if there is an intention to get to the very top, you will have to make transfers. There are many who wish: one of the two observation platforms is the highest in the world, and the view from it is magnificent. Thanks to this fact, tourists fell in love with the Burj Khalifa tower: the city of Dubai, spread out below, is a beautiful sight. You can spend at least a whole day on the site, time is not limited. But getting on it is problematic, and experienced travelers are advised to worry about tickets in advance.

Tower specifics

The situation with elevators is determined by the configuration of the building: resembling a stalactite in shape, it narrows in steps at the top and ends with a 180-meter spire. During the construction, of course, the climate of the place where the Burj Khalifa tower is located was taken into account: the local heat made life very difficult for the workers. For the construction of the structure, special concrete was used that can withstand heating up to 50 degrees. Moreover, when pouring into the solution, it was necessary to lay crushed ice and work exclusively at night, otherwise the strength of the finished product would be very far from optimal.

An interesting solution was found in relation to water supply. Collecting rainwater and then using it for various needs is not a new idea, it has been used for a long time. The only problem was that in the country in which the Burj Khalifa tower is located, there is practically no rainfall. But (apparently, the designers decided) there will be a huge amount of condensate: the air cooling system “squeezes” water out of the premises, which means that it can be collected and thus save a valuable resource. The idea was very successfully implemented. Now, due to such savings, it is possible to collect about 40 million liters of water per year.

Air conditioners not only cool, but also aromatize the air in the building (the smell is specially designed). But it would be difficult for them to cope if special windows did not reflect. They are equal to three in area and wash them constantly: it takes three months to clean everything, and then the work begins again.

Glitter and poverty of the UAE

The conditions under which the Burj Khalifa tower appeared are curious and revealing. The United Arab Emirates is one of the richest countries in the world. The fabulous fortunes of local sheikhs have long become the talk of the town, and this building can be considered a kind of symbol of the power of money.

The city of Dubai - the capital of the eponymous emirate (a state within a state) - is the largest in the UAE and, perhaps, the most dynamically developing. It is already in the top three in the region (not least due to its location in the most convenient place cutting-edge seaport) and is not going to stop there, trying to conquer more and more new heights.

For all its splendor, Dubai (where the Burj Khalifa rises) is not the capital of the country, losing this honor to Abu Dhabi, the main city of the emirate of the same name, the largest and richest of all. According to some sources, it provides about 70% of the GDP of the entire state as a whole.

federal monarchy

I must say that it is not easy for a European to understand the structure of the United Arab Emirates, since it is some kind of completely wild hybrid of democracy with an absolute monarchy, and there are big questions about the equality of federal units. So, the main authority in the UAE is the Supreme Council, which consists of the heads (read: monarchs) of all seven emirates. But his decisions are legitimate only if there are representatives of the "coolest" ones: Abu Dhabi and Dubai. From the point of view of the triumph of democracy, this is very doubtful. But from the point of view of common sense, it is quite natural: these two emirates provide more than three-quarters of GDP. Who, if not them, should determine the vectors of the development of the state?

Rapid takeoff

Now the UAE is developing very quickly. They attribute this to a favorable tax climate, the presence of free trade zones and the absence of bureaucracy.

Of course, initially oil production gave a start to the economy, but if we strictly adhere to the facts, then the state where the Burj Khalifa tower is located pays due attention to other sources of income. To date, almost 30% of GDP is the service sector, including tourism, and oil provides less than ten.

Emirates trade, mine, purchase Newest technologies and develop - rapidly and mercilessly (especially in relation to those who ensure this development with their work). About 5 million people live in the UAE. Not very many, but even this number should not be confused with the number of indigenous people - directly citizens, who are less than a million.

Justice fallen victim to efficiency

Needless to say, all the menial work in the UAE is done by people from the poorest countries? It is they who work hard like blacks on plantations, earn three kopecks by local standards and do not even have the opportunity to bring their families here: the state where the Burj Khalifa tower is located is a country for the Arabs.

The privileges of the locals are so great that they do not leave the UAE, because nowhere in the world there are such “hothouse” conditions. Welfare is very high, thanks (among other things) to the specific policy of the state. In order to open a company in the UAE, it is necessary to take a citizen of the country as co-owner, and not just for show, but with a share of at least 50%. Given the high pace economic development There are a lot of people who want - and now all the subjects are perfectly arranged.

There can be no doubt that for tourists the UAE - real paradise where all the conditions for beauty are created, unforgettable holiday. Separately, it should be noted that Dubai (according to numerous reviews) is the most free city in the UAE, where many liberties are allowed, for which in other, more traditional emirates, you can easily go to jail. Luxury hotels, beaches, shopping centers, entertainment industry - everything is of the highest level. So a lot of impressions, excellent service and other pleasures are guaranteed.

Dubai is the most Big City in the United United Arab Emirates. It attracts thousands of tourists, surprises with its rich cultural heritage, architectural landmarks. One of the last, and rather the main one, is rightfully considered the Burj Khalifa tower - the most tall skyscraper in the world. It is built in modern architectural style, attracts the attention of everyone who arrives in Dubai on vacation or on a business trip.

The height of the Burj Khalifa tower is 828 meters. This is 300 meters more than the height of the building in the city of Taipei, which is considered the main competitor of the Dubai tower. So far, a building has not been built in the world that could surpass the achieved milestone.

If you are interested in how many floors are in the Burj Khalifa tower, then it includes 163 floors, which housed 9 hotels. There is also a complex of fountains, like in Las Vegas. The total price of the skyscraper is just over $4 billion.

The famous American architect became the author of the high-rise project. His name is Adrian Smith. Prior to that, he was involved in the design of a high-rise building in China, stretching up to 420 meters. The very same Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai has become the heart of business center cities:

on the first 37 floors there are hotels where everyone can rent an apartment of an interesting level of comfort;
45-108 floors are occupied by 700 modern apartments equipped in accordance with the most advanced technologies;
the rest of the area is office space, because the building was built as it was - as a business center. But even this feature did not prevent it from becoming the main architectural landmark of the city and the UAE as a whole.

To find out what kind of view opens from the Burj Khalifa tower, just go up to the observation deck At The Top SKY. It is located on the 148th floor, at an altitude of 555 m. The lift is carried out using a modern high-speed elevator, it is considered one of the best in the world and will take you to your destination in just a few minutes. Being on the observation deck, you can:

explore the whole area, because from here you have an excellent view of Dubai;
arrange relaxation in the lounge;
visit the interactive room.

It is possible to go down to the observation decks located on the 124th and 125th floors. On average, you can stay at the observation decks for about an hour. This time is enough to look at the surrounding beauty from the heights of the tower. Tickets for the venues are sold on the first floor of the skyscraper.

Important! If you buy a regular ticket to visit the Burj Khalifa in the UAE, you can save a lot of money, but in this case you will have to wait for a rather long queue to visit the site. If you do not want to waste valuable time, you can purchase a more expensive express ticket. It costs almost twice as much, but allows you to skip the line. You can buy a pass to the observation deck, which is located on the 148th floor, at the same ticket office or on the 124th floor.

Design features of a skyscraper

It is difficult to imagine how the largest building in the city and the country - the Burj Khalifa tower is kept on the surface of the earth. But this moment was carefully calculated by designers and architects. Especially for the construction of high-rise buildings, a special brand of concrete was developed that can withstand temperatures up to +50. Its filling is carried out at night, and ice must be added to the solution itself. It was this technology that made it possible to build the skyscraper in question.

If we talk about the tower itself and its features, then there are 65 two-story lifts. Their total cost is 36 million dollars. It should be noted that the only way to get from the first to the last floor is by using the service elevator. Residents of the building have to move between its floors with transfers. This does not bring significant inconvenience, because the fastest elevators in the world are installed here. They reach speeds up to 18 m/s.

A modern fire system allows for the fastest possible evacuation of everyone in the building, spending no more than half an hour on it. The skyscraper is equipped with all the technologies that ensure the safety of residents and guests.

The Burj Khalifa is one of the must-see sights for every visitor to Dubai. The point is that the highest this moment the building in the world is visible from anywhere in Dubai, so it is simply impossible not to see it.

We dedicate this huge article to the most iconic object in Dubai. But before moving on to the story about this building, we will present you with the basic facts regarding the Burj Khalifa tower.

Burj Khalifa Facts:

Cost: $1.5 billion

Developer: EmaarProperties

Design: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Type: Skyscraper

Height: 829.84 meters

How many floors: 162

Construction of the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa, formerly known as the Burj Dubai, is located in the center of Dubai, UAE and has a height of 829.84 meters. She is the highest man-made structure in the world. The Burj Khalifa is a stunning work of art and an incomparable feat of engineering.

The Burj Khalifa is part of a new development called Downtown Dubai. It is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, very close to Dubai's main business district. The tower was designed by Emaar Properties and built by Skidmore and Owings & Merrill. Samsung C&T of South Korea, which also built the Taipei 101 and Petronas Twin Towers, was the main contractor for this project. The Belgian group Besix and Arabtec from the UAE were the main subcontractors.

Construction of the project began on September 21, 2004. The $1.5 billion tower has been renamed the Burj Khalifa, in honor of UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who provided decisive support.

Earthworks on the Burj Khalifa tower began in January 2004, and within 1325 days of the start of earthworks, Burj Khalifa became the most tall building in the world.

Over 45,000 cubic meters of concrete weighing over 110,000 tons were used to build the foundation, which has 192 piles buried to a depth of over 50 meters. The construction of the Burj Khalifa required over 22 million man hours, 380 skilled engineers, over 330,000 cubic meters of concrete and 39,000 tons of steel reinforcement.

The construction of the Burj Khalifa was carried out using special mixtures of concrete in order for the building to withstand extreme loads. The consistency of the concrete used in the project was a very important aspect, as one should not forget about the high temperatures that are observed in the UAE in the summer, when the thermometer sometimes creeps up to 50 ° C. Therefore, the concrete could not be poured during the day - it was necessary to wait until the night, when the air got cooler and the humidity got a little higher.

Burj Khalifa world records

The Burj Khalifa has set a number of world records. In July 2007, upon completion of the 141st floor, the tower was named the tallest building in the world, while in September 2007, upon completion of the 150th floor, it was named the tallest free-standing structure in the world. After that, in April 2008, upon completion of the 160th floor, the tower was named the tallest man-made structure in the world, and in January 2009, the construction of the Burj Khalifa tower was completed with the installation of the spire.

Although the tower was completed in January 2009, work on the outer cladding took almost a year, so the official opening ceremony of the tower did not take place until January 2010.

The Burj Khalifa also holds several other world records to its credit, such as "highest installation of a glass facade", "highest floor in the world", "highest Observation deck outdoors in the world", "the elevator with the longest travel distance in the world".

The Burj Khalifa has the world's tallest outdoor observation deck, the world's tallest mosque, the world's tallest nightclub, the world's tallest restaurant, and the world's second largest swimming pool.

The Burj Khalifa has numerous awards to its credit such as "Best High-Rise Building in the Middle East and Africa" and " Best project years in the Middle East.

Residences at Burj Khalifa

Residences in the Burj Khalifa are one of the most prestigious types of real estate. This tower has over 900 residences, including studios, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments.

The residences are located on floors 19 to 108 and offer a rich range of amenities. For example, there is a huge fitness room, indoor / open pool s, whirlpool, lounge for meetings and events, resident library, cigar club, gourmet market, gourmet shop, meeting point for residents and parking service for guests and visitors. Residences at the Burj Khalifa offer an urban living experience in at its best. They offer all the comforts of a metropolis, complemented by the amenities and security systems of an exclusive community.

The fitness club of the Burj Khalifa tower is open not only to residents of the residences, but also to the general public. The four-story fitness club includes facilities such as two luxurious pools (indoor and outdoor), two gyms, a women-only gym and a state-of-the-art spa.

Each suite at the Burj Khalifa is equipped with the most advanced digital and telecommunications amenities. There are special fiber-optic lines here that can offer Internet access speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. In addition, visitors can expect uninterrupted cellular service even while riding the elevator.

Security at Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is protected by a proprietary security system and a team of well-trained security professionals who are ready to ensure safety, security privacy and peace of mind. Security leaders and guards patrol the floors of the building and the streets around it around the clock. Thanks to security technologies, access to elevators is sometimes limited.

In addition, the Burj Khalifa has a home automation system that allows residents to access an automated environment for home lighting, temperature, security, and more. The system helps to access various services, view account statements and pay for services.

Downtown Dubai

Most high building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, is located among the flagship community of Emaar in Dubai, namely, in the Downtown Dubai area.

Downtown Dubai, located on Sheikh Zayed Road close to the Toyota Flyover building, offers an unparalleled lifestyle for guests and local residents with various retail facilities ranging from the world's largest retail and entertainment center Dubai Mall and ending with the atmospheric Souq al-Bahar market. All in all, Downtown Dubai is a place to live with a great mix of traditional and modern facilities.

Visitors can use the Dubai Metro or taxis to get to the city centre. The period from November to March is the best time to visit Dubai CBD as the weather is more pleasant during this time. However, if you decide to go here during the hot summer months, then there is air conditioning on almost every corner, and even on buses.

Top attractions around Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa park

Designed by the leading architects of the SWA Group, the park has six water features, paths under palm trees, gardens and flowering trees. The Burj Khalifa sits in the heart of this park, and at the base of this tower you will see a series of pools and fountains. All railings, benches and signs depict images of the Burj Khalifa and the desert flower.

Plants and shrubs in the park are watered by a condensation collection system that the building uses for its cooling system. Hot and humid air during cooling forms water, which is stored in the basement of the car park. Nearly 15 million gallons of water are produced from the air each year, the equivalent of 20 Olympic swimming pools.

On the territory of the Burj Khalifa you will also find two tennis courts, a splash pool and a playground.

Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world in terms of total area, but it is also the fifth largest mall in terms of total rented area. Part of the Burj Khalifa complex, the shopping center offers 1,200 stores. Among the attractions that can be found in this mall, we can highlight the world's largest Gold Souk with over 220 stores, Galeries Lafayette, interesting waterfall, an indoor SEGA theme park, a 22-screen Cineplex, which is the largest in Dubai, a retractable roof and much more. The mall also includes a 250-room luxury hotel, 120 restaurants and cafes, and 14,000 parking spaces.

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Strategically located in the center of the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums of its kind in the world. It even officially entered the Guinness Book of Records, as it has the largest acrylic panel in the world.

The Underwater Zoo at the Dubai Mall offers visitors the chance to see one of the most diverse collections marine life in the world. The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo has over 33,000 aquatic animals, including many sharks and rays.

Dubai Ice Rink

The Olympic-sized ice rink at the Dubai Mall is a multi-purpose venue that can accommodate over 2,000 guests. There is even an ice skating accessory store next to this rink.

SEGA Republic

SEGA Republic is Dubai's first indoor theme park located inside the Dubai Mall. Having huge area the theme park offers attractions such as the sound bunker, free fall and over 150 entertainment and games spread across five themed zones namely Adventure Zone, Speed Zone, Sports Zone, Redemption Zone and Cyberpop Zone.

Designed by Emaar Retail and SEGA Corporation, the SEGA Republic theme park offers visitors an exciting and unforgettable experience. It is located on the 2nd floor, between Reel Cinemas and Kidzania, and is open from 10am to 1am.

KidZania

Kidzania is an educational and entertainment center that invites children aged 4 to 15 to have fun in this mini-city, which has an area of about 80,000 square meters. There are real streets, shops, buildings in which children can live in their dreams. They can choose for themselves one of 70 professions, such as a race car driver, pilot, policeman, fireman, doctor, etc.

In other words, Kidzania is a small copy of a real city for children.

Cinemas

With 22 screens, the Dubai Mall's cinema complex is one of the largest in Dubai. Here you can see a selection of the latest international blockbusters, including 3D films.

As one of the largest THX-certified cinema complexes in the UAE, Dubai Mall Cinema Complex offers visitors the experience of the next dimension in cinema. In addition, it has a special hall where you will find luxurious armchairs.

Hotels near Burj Khalifa

In addition to the ultra-luxurious Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa, you will find several other great hotels near the tower. All of these hotels offer the necessary facilities for meetings and event planning.

Armani Hotel

Housed in the world's tallest building, the iconic Burj Khalifa, high above the Dubai CBD, the Armani Hotel is the world's first hotel designed by Giorgio Armani.

Every detail in the hotel is signed by Armani. The hotel is located in the famous Burj Khalifa skyscraper and occupies the 8th, 38th and 39th floors. The Armani Hotel in Dubai offers stunning views of the city. This hotel is easy to get to as it offers its own dedicated tower entrance and is within walking distance of the largest shopping center in the world.

Armani Hotel offers its customers eight restaurants with a wide range of cuisines from Indian and Japanese cuisine to authentic Italian cuisine. In addition, in this hotel you will find a large and very famous spa center that offers a unique and excellent service for personalized treatment, personal trainer services and many other services and amenities.

Address Downtown Dubai

Address Downtown Dubai is a 5-star hotel located close to the Burj Khalifa, the stunning fountain and the renowned Dubai Mall.

Address Downtown Dubai offers 196 rooms, 626 serviced apartments and 25 suites across its 63 floors. In addition, this Burj Khalifa hotel offers a wide range of gourmet restaurants, modern meeting rooms, fully equipped fitness center, swimming pools, health club and many other amenities.

The Palace

The Palace Hotel is located in close proximity to the Dubai Fountains and the Burj Khalifa. It has 242 rooms, 3 restaurants and bars serving regional and international cuisines. The managers at each restaurant at The Palace ensure that guests are satisfied and offer personalized service.

The Palace features a full-service spa, health club, outdoor pool, Russian bath and sauna, pool bar, fitness center and many other amenities.

Al Manzil

located in prestigious area Downtown Hotel Al Manzil is popular place among business people who come to Dubai to do business. Located in downtown Dubai, Al Manzil Hotel is just a 5-10 minute walk from Burj Khalifa. It features several luxury restaurants, a Parisian-style sidewalk, an outdoor decked pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center and more.

Qamardeen

Relatively close to the Burj Khalifa, Qamardeen offers a wide range of amenities and entertainment for its guests, including 13 Executive Suites, 123 Queens and 48 Doubles. Facilities at the Qamardeen include TV and internet services, meeting rooms, fully equipped rooms and a 24-hour business centre.

In terms of relaxation, Qamardeen Hotel offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a bar and cafe, a rooftop terrace and a concierge desk.

Burj Khalifa observation deck

The outdoor observation deck, called At the Top, was opened on January 5, 2010 on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. This is the third highest open observation deck in the world, which is located at an altitude of 452 meters. You are probably asking why we then said at the beginning of the article that the tower has the highest observation deck? The fact is that there really is such a platform in the Burj Khalifa tower. It was opened relatively recently on the 148th floor. The height of this site is 555 meters, which makes it the highest in the world.

The observation deck of the Burj Khalifa tower has a telescope, complemented by a special device that allows visitors not only to look at the surrounding landscape in real time, but also to view previously saved images.

The journey to the observation deck begins at the first level of the Dubai Mall. Throughout the journey, visitors will be able to watch a multimedia presentation of the history of Dubai and the marvelous Burj Khalifa building. A standard site visit lasts almost an hour, so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the view of the area.

Visitors can purchase tickets in advance for a specific date and time and receive discounts. The observation deck is open from 10 am to 10 pm from Sunday to Wednesday and from 10 am to midnight from Thursday to Saturday.

Fountains near Burj Khalifa

The world-famous fountains are located right in a large artificial lake near the Burj Khalifa tower. Designed by California-based WET Design, the fountains cost AED800 million. They are illuminated with 6600 lights and 50 colored spotlights. During the fountain show, water jets here can fly up to a height of over 200 meters. These "dances" of the fountains are accompanied by classical, modern or Arabic music.

The world's largest fountains near the Burj Khalifa have attracted more than 50 million visitors since their launch in May 2009. The Dubai Fountains can spray about 22,000 gallons of water into the air at one time. Dubai Fountains' main control room is located on the top level of the adjacent Dubai Mall.

The fountain show usually takes place at 13:00 and 13:30, and every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and from 18:00 to 23:00 on weekends (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world that has ever existed. The exact height of the building is 828 m. The ruler of the emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, opening the 828-meter skyscraper, known throughout the world as the Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower), renamed it, dedicating the building to the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zaid al-Nahyan.

01. "Burj Khalifa" was designed as a "city within a city" - with its own lawns, boulevards and parks. The total cost of the structure is about $1.5 billion. The author of the project is the American architect Adrian Smith, who already has experience in designing such structures. Burj Khalifa is a key element of the new business center in Dubai. Inside the complex there are hotels, apartments, offices and shopping centers. According to the project, a hotel will be located on the lower 37 floors, and 700 luxury apartments will occupy floors from 45 to 108. Most of the space is reserved for office space.

02. Especially for the Burj Khalifa, a special brand of concrete was developed that can withstand temperatures up to +50 ° C. It is poured only at night, and ice is added to the solution.

03. The construction of the skyscraper began in 2004 and proceeded at a rate of 1-2 floors per week. Concrete work was completed after the construction of the 160th floor, followed by the assembly of a 180-meter spire from metal structures. The fire system of the building allows the evacuation of all its inhabitants in no more than 32 minutes.

04. The tower will be completely self-sufficient in generating electricity for itself: for this, a 61-meter wind turbine will be used, as well as an array of solar panels (partially located on the walls of the tower) with a total area of about 15 thousand m². In addition, the building is equipped with special sun protection and reflective glass panels that will reduce the heating of the rooms inside, which reduces the need for air conditioning.

05. In March 2006 the cruelty of the guards provoked a pogrom on the vast construction site of the Burj Dubai tower. 2,500 exhausted workers were waiting for heavily late buses after their shift when the guards began to pick on them. Furious workers beat the guards and proceeded to pogrom the construction headquarters, burning company cars, smashing offices and equipment, cracking safes.

06. The next morning, the workers refused to work, and intended to strike until their employer, Al Naboodah Laing O'Rourke, raised wages and improved working conditions. Thousands of builders of the new airport terminal joined the strike.

07. The height of the building (828 m, 160 floors) was kept secret until the opening. According to the engineers, this did not immediately become an advertising ploy: already during the construction process, it turned out several times that the skyscraper could be made higher than planned. The principal obstacle to the endless upward growth was not technical, but economic factor: the need to sell a huge amount of space, in the case of the Burj Khalifa - mainly residential (the total area of the building is 557.5 thousand m2). Allegedly, this is why the tower has such a slender silhouette - to reduce the usable space inside.

08. The local press calls the skyscraper the "Pride Tower". In the midst economic crisis the name Burj Dubai was taken away from the tower, renaming it in honor of the President of the United Arab Emirates and the Emir of neighboring Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed El Nahyan, who issued a loan of 10 billion dollars to Dubai.

09. The grand opening ceremony took place on January 4, 2010. The building was scheduled to open on September 9, 2009, simultaneously with the opening of the Dubai Metro, but was postponed to January 2010 due to financial problems of the developer.

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12. The tourist part of the tower has very good interiors.

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23. On the 123rd and 124th floors there is a lobby and an observation deck, respectively, the height of the observation deck from the base is 505 meters.

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25. Most of observation deck is glazed. There are electronic telescopes for visitors. In addition to the real picture, you can watch a recording of a night panorama, daytime and historical.

26. There is a balcony where you can look through a hole in the glass railing. It's a kind of suicide prevention.

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28. Photo for memory.

29. You can stay on the observation deck as long as you like, but it’s better to buy tickets in advance, it happens that tickets are sold out in the coming days.

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Records set by the building:
- building with nai big amount floors - 162
- tallest building - 828 m
- the highest free-standing structure - 828 m
- highest altitude injection of concrete mix for buildings - 601.0 m
- in 2008, the height of the Burj Dubai exceeded the height of the Warsaw radio tower (646 m), the building became the tallest ground structure in the history of human construction.

Other posts about the UAE:
General post about the country.

Climbing the tallest building in the world - the Burj Khalifa in Dubai! How much does a tour to the observation deck cost? Where to buy tickets and how to save? Read our review and tips.

It seems that the Arabs, during the construction of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, decided to collect all the titles of "the most": this is the tallest ground structure in the history of mankind, the building with the largest number of floors, the fastest elevator, the highest observation deck, etc.

Information about the Burj Khalifa

The height of the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai is 828 meters, the number of floors is 163, the elevator speed is 18 m / s (according to other sources - 10 m / s). The elevator raises to the 124th floor in a minute, there is a scoreboard in the cabin with a countdown of floors.

The blue dream of almost all tourists in Dubai is to climb this luxurious and breathtaking building. True, no one will let mere mortals to the very top. The maximum height accessible to tourists is 555 meters, or the 148th floor. But the most visited floors are 124 and 125 (456 meters). It is on these three floors that observation decks are located. At the top And At the Top Sky where tickets are sold.

Burj Khalifa is a city within a city: there are offices, apartments, a hotel, restaurants, shopping centers and so on. In front of the building is the famous dancing fountain, which draws crowds with its performances. The equally famous shopping center Dubai Mall adjoins the skyscraper.

Where to buy tickets for Burj Khalifa in Dubai?

Advantages of buying on the official website: cheap (from 135 dirhams), you can buy tickets to the 148th floor or choose a promotion. For example, buy skyscraper + aquarium combo tickets. Site in English.

Benefits of buying on Sputnik: more expensive (from 180 dirhams), but in Russian. Unable to select combos.

We bought tickets for Burj Khalifa on the official website. We took a combo - a tower (124th and 125th floors) + an aquarium. For two it turned out 390 dirhams.

Here are the ticket prices for Burj Khalifa on the official website:

Interesting video! TV presenter and blogger Anton Ptushkin gives a video tour of rich life in Dubai:

Buy tickets for Burj Khalifa in advance, and not at the box office in Dubai Mall - it's much cheaper! After payment, the voucher will be sent to your email. It must be printed out and exchanged for a ticket at the box office.

What time to choose? If you want to visit the skyscraper during the daytime, we advise you to take tickets for 8:30 or 9:00 - there are still few people at this time. At 10 and 11 in the morning, the sites are already crowded: all the windows are plastered with tourists taking selfies, someone is broadcasting live on Instagram, queues are lining up.

Prime time from 16:00 to 18:00 - busiest time(and the most expensive tickets). You can see the sunset, the dancing fountain and the lights of the city at night. However, can you imagine what kind of pandemonium on the sites? And the fountain is beautiful from below. If you really want to look at the fountain not from the ground, go up to the balcony of the Apple Store in Dubai Mall.

Come early. We arrived half an hour before they let us in. In the daytime and evening, it is better to arrive at least an hour in advance, as there is a queue to the ticket office and separately to the elevator.

How to get to Burj Khalifa in Dubai?

The exact address of the skyscraper is 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai. You can take the metro to the station Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Then follow the signs to the Dubai Mall - through the covered walkway. At the mall, follow the signs for Burj Khalifa again. Next, you will reach the cashier and go up to the elevator.

There is a small queue at the elevator, about 10 people are allowed to enter. In a minute you will go up to the 124th floor, where there is an open terrace with glazed walls. On the 125th floor there is also an observation deck, but closed. We weren't on the 148th floor.

Hotel in Burj Khalifa in Dubai

If you want to splurge, then settle in a 5-star (who would doubt) hotel Armani Hotel Dubai 5 *. It occupies 11 floors of a skyscraper. He has excellent reviews - 9.1 out of 10. A double standard costs only 35 thousand rubles!

Our review of the skyscraper

Is it worth visiting? Undoubtedly! It's expensive, but you won't regret it. It is so tall that it hurts your neck when you look at it. To take a photo of a skyscraper, you have to contrive.

If you don't like to be in the crowd, come early in the morning - we did just that. After 10 a.m., haze appears and visibility decreases. Beautiful at sunset and at night, but expensive and crowded. Someone in the reviews complained that night view inferior to the morning - the lights are like lights, the view is almost like from the window of an airplane.