What is the history of Burj Khalifa, and why was it renamed?
Burj Khalifa was built under the name Burj Dubai and was renamed at its opening ceremony on 4 January 2010, in honor of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, according to the Associated Press. It opened amid the Dubai debt crisis that began in 2009, as the world's tallest building.
Key facts
- Original name
- Burj Dubai
- Renamed
- 4 January 2010, at the opening ceremony (Associated Press)
- Named after
- Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Developer
- Emaar Properties
- Cost
- About US$1.5 billion (Emaar chairman, quoted by AP, 2010)
- Records
- Tallest building and tallest man-made structure on land, 828 m (Guinness World Records)
Why was Burj Dubai renamed Burj Khalifa?
The Associated Press reported on 4 January 2010 that the tower was renamed during the opening ceremony in honor of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi. The new name was a surprise. Abu Dhabi had given Dubai financial support during the 2009 debt crisis, which the AP report linked to the choice of name.
What was happening in Dubai when it opened?
The tower opened during the Dubai debt crisis. The AP reported that Abu Dhabi had provided US$25 billion in support during 2009, that Dubai World was seeking new terms on about US$26 billion of debt, and that some Dubai property prices had fallen by nearly half. The same report said the tower was about 90 percent sold. Burj Khalifa apartment prices since then are on the price history page.
What happened on opening day?
The AP describes a ceremony at the base of the tower, watched by the ruler of Dubai and thousands of guests, at which the 828 m height was announced. The observation deck on level 124 opened to the public the next day, with tickets from AED 100 at the time.
Which world records does Burj Khalifa hold?
| Record | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Tallest building | 828 m (2,716 ft 6 in) | Guinness World Records |
| Tallest man-made structure on land | 828 m | Guinness, 3 September 2014 |
| Highest restaurant from ground level | At.mosphere, level 122, 441.3 m | Guinness, 3 September 2014 |
| Tallest lift travel in one run | 504 m | Guinness, 3 September 2014 |
| Largest LED-lit facade | 44,956.77 m2, on 1 January 2019 | Guinness World Records |
Guinness gives 160 floors in its 2014 article and 163 on its later icon page. See the height and floors page.
Common questions
What was Burj Khalifa called before?
Burj Dubai. It was renamed Burj Khalifa at the opening ceremony on 4 January 2010.
Who is Burj Khalifa named after?
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, according to the Associated Press report of 4 January 2010.
Sources
- KHL, "CTBUH ratifies height of Burj Khalifa", 6 April 2010 (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat ratification)
- Skyscraper Center (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat), Burj Khalifa building page, read on 8 October 2026
- MEED, "Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai", read on 8 October 2026
- Wikipedia, "Burj Khalifa" (secondary source, used where no primary figure was found), read on 8 October 2026
- Associated Press via HeraldNet, "Dubai names tallest tower after bailout patron", 4 January 2010
- Guinness World Records, "8 Burj Khalifa records for Skyscraper Day", 3 September 2014
- Guinness World Records, Burj Khalifa icon page (inducted 2024), read on 9 October 2026
- Guinness World Records, "Largest LED-illuminated facade", read on 9 October 2026
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