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Fireworks are released from the building’s surface to mark the new year. EPA
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Fireworks are shot from Burj Khalifa during its opening ceremony on January 4, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
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Tom Cruise climbs Burj Khalifa in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’. Photo: Paramount Pictures
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Downtown Dubai as taken in 2012 by the Pleiades satellite. Photo: European Space Agency
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A web of lightning forms over Burj Khalifa on January 14, 2009. Paulo Vecina / The National
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A shot of Burj Khalifa from the City Walk shopping district on April 2, 2016. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
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The Moon, in its first quarter phase, starts to set on August 16, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
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A misty morning in Dubai. Getty
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Window cleaners lower themselves from the 111th floor to the 73rd. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Since its completion, Burj Khalifa has held the record as the world’s tallest building. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NG32474PX6JHYXXLF7UVM2CIME.jpg?smart=true&auth=38f6cefdd0a82fdc8a02ee31b22b0ec69e6781ca128146e7e294eb70b3729221&width=400&height=225)
Rawda Al Abrar Mosque in the foreground at sunset. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Burj Khalifa lights up to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars on February 9. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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The skyscraper is barely visible on a rare overcast day. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Burj Khalifa as seen across the creek, from the InterContinental hotel in Dubai Festival City in 2011. Pawan Singh / The National
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A view of the tower from Downtown Dubai in 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
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Lasers light up the sky in Dubai. Christopher Pike / The National
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Fireworks are released from the building’s surface to mark the new year. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T2OSB2HHFPCXEIVXCRKMUG3P4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=9da7988b009d4e27dd9e2e228790b9ebfd5e1816212024045bc84daa4874dceb&width=400&height=225)
Fireworks are shot from Burj Khalifa during its opening ceremony on January 4, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6PK5BFOYXBC5PEXQQUYQEEKOCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b97d6d2192ceca2979844759d119ca25066d1437bacc4e41e6e8b1ace71cb88&width=400&height=225)
Tom Cruise climbs Burj Khalifa in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’. Photo: Paramount Pictures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YE6ZLUEJHRBSCOIDGVRBO5XL5U.jpg?smart=true&auth=f98bef49f9f0b5e069f47ff18140cbcbce10242bf611f506cb4dd1575e3d6db0&width=400&height=225)
Downtown Dubai as taken in 2012 by the Pleiades satellite. Photo: European Space Agency
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7U66YVZVVIT5FXDG7GA7NAO75I.jpg?smart=true&auth=c3aabaed0202df9270d7a21abdea42b81fc80d596208ad62aa397efb64cf8c19&width=400&height=225)
A web of lightning forms over Burj Khalifa on January 14, 2009. Paulo Vecina / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N742LP5V6EK4OYFYIPPJY2AHQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=907feafee2e5681fbc9ded3a2be8119bcbea54ad7152a7dd78470577b977cf48&width=400&height=225)
A shot of Burj Khalifa from the City Walk shopping district on April 2, 2016. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5EPJ3EFF6U3LU34X2RZ2OFIGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b088f507a16e1df67d82c1dc29bab8aa473c096bf94a9b95d2184cdd8c80bce&width=400&height=225)
The Moon, in its first quarter phase, starts to set on August 16, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7VNN4OFSFH6RDAFFB5DWSJZQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b84e3fc4a3713f1ef0a62244798eabeede3a6eaf3e54f59062928d80de3aa5e2&width=400&height=225)
A misty morning in Dubai. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6M5HEZUUNSDWXGN5C2IH7IVZNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d79564db5ee61e99ca8d87d7a25533de3fa35d8b3995c0414f7dda90f54e2b2&width=400&height=225)
Window cleaners lower themselves from the 111th floor to the 73rd. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JM25JZKAW66UL2MGDMBZBP3A2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=3357b5f49426e4255d33cc5c99e5b99b06282bbb303c3416fa783dbcb4a4465c&width=400&height=225)
Since its completion, Burj Khalifa has held the record as the world’s tallest building. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NG32474PX6JHYXXLF7UVM2CIME.jpg?smart=true&auth=38f6cefdd0a82fdc8a02ee31b22b0ec69e6781ca128146e7e294eb70b3729221&width=400&height=225)
Rawda Al Abrar Mosque in the foreground at sunset. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OZYO4EONS53TMKN6N657H7OACM.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f66aa8014b9dd1e02b60b7c6cdf7e07e7dacebfc92cc26b21587ebfe6fcc3bb&width=400&height=225)
Burj Khalifa lights up to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars on February 9. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IIY37D5YWE6Y4XUIO4P7LTTFQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=00b59b174de404d7d7bb89e3aa63a1f31de68bfcd86d8baaeea61f3f9ed49a37&width=400&height=225)
The skyscraper is barely visible on a rare overcast day. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CBTM4WZS3IWWL3EHKVAUP75WNI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7179ca2dbdf77fe7b7d46be2b8b6b90fc5ba021f1fd6e09b6ce4798760c9e073&width=400&height=225)
Burj Khalifa as seen across the creek, from the InterContinental hotel in Dubai Festival City in 2011. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VNPUBQF6SDQURZWFZK3Z6HSXQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c445e373c055bead35d49c4aca0715e2637b23343bd1ce494f9443f2ccff9ab9&width=400&height=225)
A view of the tower from Downtown Dubai in 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
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Lasers light up the sky in Dubai. Christopher Pike / The National
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Fireworks are released from the building’s surface to mark the new year. EPA
Burj Khalifa in Dubai turns 12: why the tallest skyscraper on Earth still wows the world
The tower opened in 2010 as a tribute to President Sheikh Khalifa
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The National
04 January, 2022
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