The world’s tallest tower, developed by Emaar Properties, was unveiled before a crowd of thousands and the world’s watching media in a crescendo of fireworks, lasers and fountain displays.
The official height of the tower, renamed as Burj Khalifa, was announced as 828 m.
A closely-guarded secret during construction, the official height was flashed onto a giant screen before an estimated crowd of more than 400,000.
Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world according to the three main criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) which ranks the world’s tallest buildings based on height to architectural top, height to highest occupied floor and height to tip.
Other world records for Burj Khalifa include the highest occupied floor in the world, at more than 550 m; the highest outdoor observation deck in the world – ‘At the Top’ on Level 124 – and the tallest service elevator, which travels to a height of 504 m.
With a total built-up area of about 557,400 sq m, Burj Khalifa features nearly 185,800 sq m of residential space and more than 27,870 sq m of prime office space, in addition to the area occupied by the keenly-awaited Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features modern lifestyle amenities including clubs, health and fitness facilities and gourmet restaurants.
It is the focal point of the 500-acre ‘mega-project’ by Emaar Properties.