Burj Khalifa: How Many Floors and How Tall? (2026)

Burj Khalifa is 828 metres tall and has 163 floors above ground, plus 1 floor below ground. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the official body that measures skyscrapers, the Dubai tower has been the tallest building in the world since it opened in 2010. That is 0.828 km or 2,717 ft.

This is why you see different floor counts such as 160, 163 and 164. Below we explain the difference, what is on each level and the most common questions about the tower, based on official sources.

Burj Khalifa at a Glance

Source: CTBUH Skyscraper Center, Emaar Properties statements.

How Many Floors Does Burj Khalifa Have? 160, 163 or 164?

The answer depends on what is counted, and each figure has a source:

• 163 floors: the official above-ground count in the CTBUH record. This is the most accurate answer.
• 164 floors: the 163 above-ground floors plus 1 basement level. Some sources use this figure for the "most floors" record.
• 160 floors: roughly the number of floors people can use. The highest levels are technical and maintenance floors.

Above floor 160 rises the building's steel spire. It contains narrow maintenance and communications levels, but these are not counted as floors.

How Tall Is Burj Khalifa?

The official height is 828 metres, measured to the architectural top, which is the figure used for world rankings. The tip of the antenna reaches 829.8 metres, and the highest occupied floor is at 584.5 metres.

Burj Khalifa is about 2.5 times the height of the Eiffel Tower and roughly 150 metres taller than the second building on the list.

What Is on Each Floor?

Some floors in between are mechanical floors housing the building's ventilation, electrical and water systems.

What Is on the Top Floor of Burj Khalifa?

The highest point open to visitors is The Lounge on levels 152 to 154, at about 585 metres, known as the world's highest lounge. The floors above 154 are technical and closed to the public. At the very top is the steel spire, accessible only to maintenance crews.

Where Is Burj Khalifa?

Burj Khalifa is in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain are right next to it. The nearest metro stop is Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall on the Red Line.

How Long Did It Take to Build, and Who Built It?

Construction began in 2004 and the tower opened on 4 January 2010, so it took about 6 years. Around 22 million man-hours went into the project, and at its peak nearly 12,000 workers from more than 100 countries were on site.

• Developer and owner: Dubai-based Emaar Properties. Most residences and offices were sold to individual investors; about 90% of the building had been sold by the opening.
• Design: Chicago-based SOM, with Adrian Smith as lead architect.
• Main contractor: a joint venture of Samsung C&T (South Korea), BESIX (Belgium) and Arabtec (UAE).

The Y-shaped plan was inspired by the regional desert flower Hymenocallis, and the shape also helps the tower resist wind.

How Much Did Burj Khalifa Cost?

According to Emaar's statement at the opening, the tower cost about $1.5 billion. Construction used about 330,000 m³ of concrete and 39,000 tonnes of steel rebar. This does not include the wider Downtown Dubai development.

Why Was the Name Changed?

During construction the tower was known as Burj Dubai. On opening day it was renamed Burj Khalifa in honour of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. "Burj" means tower in Arabic.

Is Burj Khalifa a Hotel?

Not entirely. The lower floors house Armani Hotel Dubai, designed by Giorgio Armani; CTBUH lists 304 hotel and serviced units. The rest of the building is residences, offices and observation decks.

How Much Does It Cost to Go Up?

Visitors can choose At the Top on levels 124 and 125, At the Top SKY on level 148 and The Lounge on levels 152 – 154. In 2026, an adult At the Top ticket costs roughly AED 170 – 190 at standard times and AED 235 – 250 around sunset. SKY and Lounge tickets cost more. Prices vary by time and season, so booking in advance on the official Burj Khalifa website is usually cheapest.

Is Burj Khalifa Still the World's Tallest Building?

Yes. As of 2026, Burj Khalifa still holds the title. The building expected to take it is Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, planned to exceed 1,000 metres and complete in 2028. According to announcements in September 2026, construction had reached floor 113, at about 454 metres.

Owning a Home in Burj Khalifa

Apartments in Burj Khalifa are sold and rented on the secondary market. For current prices in the tower and the surrounding Downtown Dubai residences, see our Burj Khalifa area house prices page. The steps for buying property in Dubai as a foreigner are covered in our guide to buying a home in Dubai.