How was Burj Khalifa built, and how long did it take?
Burj Khalifa took about six years to build. Construction started in 2004, the tower topped out in January 2009 according to secondary sources, and it opened on 4 January 2010. A joint venture led by Samsung C&T built it, with between 7,000 and 12,000 workers on site at different stages, according to news reports. Checked 9 October 2026.
Key facts
- Construction start
- 2004 (CTBUH). Exact day differs between sources: 6 or 12 January 2004.
- Topped out
- 17 January 2009 (secondary sources)
- Opened
- 4 January 2010
- Main contractor
- Samsung C&T, with Besix and Arabtec
- Workers on site
- About 7,000 (The National, late 2008) to 12,000 at peak (AP, 2010)
- Concrete pumped
- To about 606 m, reported as a record (Putzmeister, via search summaries; no Guinness listing found)
- Glass panels
- About 26,000 (Guinness World Records; BNP Media, 2010)
What were the main construction dates?
| When | What happened | Source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Construction starts (day given as 6 or 12 January) | CTBUH; Wikipedia | High for year, low for day |
| December 2004 | Samsung named main contractor | Gulf News, 9 December 2004 | High |
| July 2007 | Tallest building in the world under construction, at over 636 m | The National | Medium |
| 17 January 2009 | Tower tops out | Wikipedia (secondary) | Medium |
| 1 October 2009 | Exterior complete, per an Emaar announcement | Wikipedia (secondary) | Medium |
| 4 January 2010 | Official opening; renamed from Burj Dubai | Associated Press, 4 January 2010 | High |
How many people built Burj Khalifa?
Figures depend on the date. The National reported about 7,000 workers on site around the clock in late 2008. The Associated Press and a Samsung official quoted by the Korea Times (19 May 2011) gave up to 12,000 at peak, mainly from India and Bangladesh, with about 160 specialists from the US, the UK and Germany.
How much concrete and steel went into it?
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete strength | 100 MPa (14,500 psi) | BNP Media, August 2010 |
| Concrete volume | About 330,000 m3 | BNP Media (over 430,000 cubic yards); Wikipedia (330,000 m3) |
| Reinforcing steel | 43,000 tons (BNP Media) or 55,000 tonnes (Wikipedia) | Sources differ |
| Foundation | A raft about 3.7 m thick on 192 or 194 piles (sources differ) | BNP Media; Wikipedia |
| Concrete pumping height | 606 m, a record at the time | Putzmeister |
| Glass panels | About 26,000 | Guinness World Records; BNP Media |
Where two figures are shown, the sources disagree and we have not found a primary figure.
How was the spire put on top?
The steel spire was assembled inside the top of the tower and pushed up with hydraulic jacks, according to the Skyscraper Museum and BNP Media (August 2010). The official site says the spire uses over 4,000 tonnes of steel and was jacked up over 200 m. See Burj Khalifa height and floors.
What made the build difficult?
Trade press named three problems: the height grew from about 700 m at the competition stage (818 m in one report, 828 m as built), concrete had to be pumped to record heights in Dubai's heat, and wind had to be managed on a tower that tall. The 2008 credit crisis also hit suppliers. Wind is covered on the architecture and structure page.
Common questions
How long did it take to build Burj Khalifa?
About six years. Construction started in 2004 and the tower opened on 4 January 2010.
Who built Burj Khalifa?
Samsung C&T of South Korea was the main contractor, in a joint venture with Besix of Belgium and Arabtec of the UAE. Emaar Properties was the developer.
How many workers built Burj Khalifa?
Reports give about 7,000 workers on site in late 2008 and up to 12,000 at peak, according to The National and the Associated Press.
Sources
- Skyscraper Center (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat), Burj Khalifa building page, read on 8 October 2026
- Gulf News, "Samsung is main contractor to build Burj Dubai", 9 December 2004
- Burj Khalifa official site, structures page, read on 8 October 2026
- Wikipedia, "Burj Khalifa" (secondary source, used where no primary figure was found), read on 8 October 2026
- The National, "Burj Dubai moves closer to completion" (late 2008)
- Associated Press via HeraldNet, "Dubai names tallest tower after bailout patron", 4 January 2010
- Korea Times, Samsung C&T on Burj Khalifa, 19 May 2011
- BNP Media and Engineered Systems, "Beyond Limits", August 2010
- Putzmeister, Burj Khalifa project story, read on 9 October 2026
- Skyscraper Museum, Burj Khalifa spire note, read on 9 October 2026
- Guinness World Records, Burj Khalifa icon page (inducted 2024), read on 9 October 2026
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