8 interesting facts you didn’t know about the Burj Khalifa

Dubai's Burj Khalifa isn’t any old building. It’s the titan of towers, a record-smashing skyscraper that owns the Dubai skyline. This architectural heavyweight pierces the heavens as a leader in the vertical race to the extraordinary. Think you know all about this mammoth structure? Buckle up, because these seven mindblowing facts about the Burj Khalifa are set to turbocharge your knowledge, making your next visit, whether real or virtual, a journey into the heart of human ambition and sky-high engineering. Get ready to crack open the vault on what makes this behemoth Dubai’s most iconic building.

1. It took an army

Building the Burj Khalifa was a Herculean feat—even in the city that created one of the world’s most fascinating water fountains. The spider lily-inspired design set the stage for a record-breaking build that makes other skyscrapers look like sandcastles. Over 12,000 workers stormed the site daily — talk about a human powerhouse! Dubai might be no stranger to skyscrapers, but the Burj Khalifa was its crowning glory, an epic tale of manpower and ambition (and tens of thousands of hard hats).

2. Heavy metal(s)

The Burj Khalifa is the ultimate showcase of infrastructural engineering muscle. To keep this 830-meter titan standing, the architects went all-in on concrete — enough to rival the weight of 100,000 elephants. Built with a Y-shape foundation for stability, this heavyweight champ is built like a fortress. After all, when you're dealing with the world’s tallest building, you don’t just need steel, you need an iron will and a mountain of concrete.

3. Reaching for the stars

The Burj Khalifa wasn’t content with just scraping the sky — it aimed to own it. Not only did it shatter the record for the tallest building, but it also snagged a couple more Guinness titles. Fancy living in the clouds? The Burj Khalifa’s got the world’s highest digs. And forget stair climbing. The world’s tallest elevator in this tower makes a trip to those lofty abodes a breeze.

4. Going the distance

It might be debatable whether you can see the Great Wall from space. But there’s no doubt that the Burj Khalifa is visible from 95 km away. Whether you're getting gritty in the desert dunes or chilling in the bay, this sky needle is always in sight. So, next time you're out and about, look up — you're probably under its watch.

5. A Feast Above the Clouds

Hungry for a view? Head up to At.mosphere on the 122nd floor. No matter where you find yourself seated, these lofty vistas — at dizzying 441 meters — are unbeatable, thanks to the multi-tiered floor plan making every angle a top-notch vantage point. There’s simply no sweeter end to a meal than the twinkle of the skyline before you.

6. A little spring cleaning

Ever thought about window cleaning as an extreme sport? The Burj Khalifa’s 26,000 glass panels make it one. This isn’t your regular spring clean—it's an-every-three-months sprint. And just when you think it's done, it’s time to start over. Not for the faint-hearted, but the sights from the observation deck are worth every squeaky-clean pane.

7. Art and fashion in the heights

The Burj Khalifa also doubles a soaring vertical art gallery. At the corporate entrance, for example, is Egyptian artist Karim Rashid’s mesmerizing oval sculpture; while homeowners are greeted with a chorus of “World Voices,” an installation of 196 cymbals by Jaume Plensa, when they enter the lobby at the Residences of Burj Khalifa. Fashion lovers: You can also rest your head at the plush Armani Hotel whose rooms are spread between the 8th and 39th floors.

8. And…sewage shenanigans?

Dubai might dazzle with the Burj Khalifa, but here's a little-known, not-so-sweet fact: this icon lacks a direct link to the city's sewer system. Yep, every bit of waste from this soaring tower is trucked out daily in an armada of poo trucks. It's a solution that's as pragmatic as it is pungent, born from cost-cutting measures during the 2008 financial crunch. Hosting up to 35,000 people, the Burj churns out 15 tons of sewage per day. Plans are in place for a sewage system upgrade, but until then, watch out for the orange brigade if you're visiting!