How Dubai's Burj Khalifa was built - in pictures

The National
  • The Burj Khalifa construction site on April 29, 2005, in Dubai. Rabih Moghrabi / AFP
    The Burj Khalifa construction site on April 29, 2005, in Dubai. Rabih Moghrabi / AFP
  • Construction under way on Downtown Dubai and Business Bay on January, 29, 2006. Nasser Younes / AFP
    Construction under way on Downtown Dubai and Business Bay on January, 29, 2006. Nasser Younes / AFP
  • A camel handler exercises his animals along Nad Al Sheba track, in front of the Burj Khalifa Downtown Dubai construction site on April 2, 2007. Karim Sahib / AFP
    A camel handler exercises his animals along Nad Al Sheba track, in front of the Burj Khalifa Downtown Dubai construction site on April 2, 2007. Karim Sahib / AFP
  • Construction is under way on Burj Khalifa in 2007. Pawan Singh / The National
    Construction is under way on Burj Khalifa in 2007. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Construction under way on the very top of Burj Khalifa on December 17, 2008. Paulo Vecina / The National
    Construction under way on the very top of Burj Khalifa on December 17, 2008. Paulo Vecina / The National
  • Burj Khalifa and the surrounding Downtown Dubai area still under construction during a media tour of the area on January 26, 2009. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Burj Khalifa and the surrounding Downtown Dubai area still under construction during a media tour of the area on January 26, 2009. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • Fireworks are set off during the inauguration of Burj Khalifa on January 4, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
    Fireworks are set off during the inauguration of Burj Khalifa on January 4, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Burj Khalifa pictured on January 26, 2010, days after it opened to the public. Randi Sokoloff / The National
    Burj Khalifa pictured on January 26, 2010, days after it opened to the public. Randi Sokoloff / The National
  • Tom Cruise is filmed running along the outside of Burj Khalifa for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol on November 5, 2010. Pawan Singh / The National
    Tom Cruise is filmed running along the outside of Burj Khalifa for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol on November 5, 2010. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Downtown Dubai skyline protrudes from early morning fog on September 6, 2011. Pawel Dwulit / The National
    The Downtown Dubai skyline protrudes from early morning fog on September 6, 2011. Pawel Dwulit / The National
  • Burj Khalifa surrounded by fog on February 11, 2012. Jeff Topping / The National
    Burj Khalifa surrounded by fog on February 11, 2012. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Visitors take photos of Burj Khalifa during the Eid holidays in Dubai on August 10, 2013. Satish Kumar / The National
    Visitors take photos of Burj Khalifa during the Eid holidays in Dubai on August 10, 2013. Satish Kumar / The National
  • Burj Khalifa pictured from the metro on September 3, 2014. Pawan Singh / The National
    Burj Khalifa pictured from the metro on September 3, 2014. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Children look at Burj Khalifa, while the lights are switched off during Earth Hour on March 28, 2015. Jeff Topping / The National
    Children look at Burj Khalifa, while the lights are switched off during Earth Hour on March 28, 2015. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Burj Khalifa pictured from City Walk on April 2, 2016. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Burj Khalifa pictured from City Walk on April 2, 2016. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • A full moon rises above the Burj Khalifa on August 7, 2017. Christopher Pike / The National
    A full moon rises above the Burj Khalifa on August 7, 2017. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Burj Khalifa lights up in the colours of Saudi Flag to celebrate the kingdom's 88th National Day on September 21, 2018. Satish Kumar for The National
    Burj Khalifa lights up in the colours of Saudi Flag to celebrate the kingdom's 88th National Day on September 21, 2018. Satish Kumar for The National
  • Between the 111th and 73rd floor, 11 window cleaners wash Burj Khalifa's facade on September 17, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Between the 111th and 73rd floor, 11 window cleaners wash Burj Khalifa's facade on September 17, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Fireworks go off on December 31, 2020, to celebrate the New Year. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Fireworks go off on December 31, 2020, to celebrate the New Year. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Dubai rings in 2022 with fireworks at Burj Khalifa. Photo: Dubai Media Office
    Dubai rings in 2022 with fireworks at Burj Khalifa. Photo: Dubai Media Office