The structure known globally today as Burj Khalifa was originally conceived and launched under the name Burj Dubai. An important and deliberate aspect of its history is that the inauguration was scheduled for 4 January 2010 to coincide with the anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s accession as Ruler of Dubai. On 4 January 2006, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum formally assumed power, marking the beginning of a new phase in the leadership of the Maktoum family.

At the official opening ceremony, a significant decision was announced when Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum declared that the building would be named Burj Khalifa in honour of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was then President of the United Arab Emirates. This gesture symbolised respect for national leadership and reflected the federal unity and political cohesion of the United Arab Emirates. Consequently, 4 January holds lasting importance in the history of the UAE, as the day on which Burj Khalifa was opened to the general public.

The project was conceived as an off plan luxury real estate development, a model that fundamentally transformed Dubai’s real estate profile and reshaped perceptions of property investment across the Gulf region.

Off plan luxury real estate refers to high quality residential or commercial developments offered for sale prior to completion. Purchasers commit on the basis of architectural plans and design concepts rather than a finished structure. Such investments are typically made through staged payments, with expectations of long term value appreciation.

With the launch of this project, Dubai established itself as a credible and forward looking urban real estate market for international investors.

Construction of Burj Khalifa formally commenced on 6 January 2004. The concept was developed by Dubai based developer Emaar Properties, while the architectural design was produced by Adrian Smith through the firm Skidmore Owings and Merrill. The project was completed over a period of approximately six years, reaching completion on 4 January 2010, after roughly 2190 days of construction. Its greatest significance lies in redefining urban development by shifting global attention from horizontal expansion to vertical urban growth, positioning Dubai prominently on the international map of investment, tourism and luxury living. The building comprises 163 usable floors, including approximately 304 rooms and suites within the Armani Hotel, nearly 900 luxury residential apartments, multiple commercial and office floors, and the world’s highest public observation deck. Burj Khalifa thus stands as a comprehensive symbol of twenty first century urban planning, engineering excellence and real estate vision.

An observation deck is a designated, elevated and commercially managed area of a building that is open to the public, allowing visitors to view the city, surrounding landscape and horizon from a height in a secure and organised manner.

Today, Burj Khalifa is not only the tallest building in the world but also a tangible expression of Dubai’s economic confidence and global real estate ambition. Since its completion in 2010, it has retained its status as the world’s tallest structure and is widely regarded as a landmark of modern engineering, urban planning and integrated investment strategy.

According to current market data for 2026, a mid sized residential apartment typically consists of a one bedroom unit with an area ranging from approximately 800 to 1100 square feet, priced generally between 700000 and 1100000 US dollars, equivalent to approximately 200 million to 310 million Pakistani rupees. The smallest residential units are studio apartments, with areas ranging from approximately 540 to 600 square feet.

Within the same building, commercial office properties typically begin at sizes of approximately 1000 to 1500 square feet, considered mid sized office units. Such offices are currently valued between approximately 4 million and 6 million US dollars, equivalent to around 1.12 billion to 1.68 billion Pakistani rupees.