Burj Khalifa turns 11: the day Dubai's skyline changed forever

Closely guarded secrets and millions of man hours led to the inauguration of the 828-metre landmark in 2004

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is almost unimaginable to picture Dubai's skyline without the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, which turns 11 today.

When it opened, it was said to be so tall, visitors could witness the sun set twice: once from the ground floor and again two minutes later from the top.

Since then, the almost-a-kilometre-tall building has served as a flagstone of the emirate and its spiked silhouette has become recognisable across the world – cementing its place in the architecture pantheon of modern structures.

It is a hotel, residence, and the world's largest billboards, displaying images and tributes on its facade and even, famously, the countdown to the New Year.

Construction began on January 6, 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on October 1, 2009.

Its height was kept a secret by developer, Emaar, until the very end but it had already broken records during construction, when it surpassed Chicago's Sears Tower and Taipei 101.

It is said to have taken 22 million man hours to build with an estimated 12,000 workers were on site at any one time. Much of the Downtown area was constructed at the same time.

The 828-metre skyscraper was inaugurated on January 4, 2010, by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who also revealed its new name. Instead of the anticipated Burj Dubai, it was named Burj Khalifa.

In a glittering ceremony punctuated with skydivers and 10,000 fireworks, Sheikh Mohammed told cheering crowds that the name was one that "reflected greatness".

Motorists parked their vehicles on Sheikh Zayed Road and all along the tower to take pictures with people arriving up to four hours in advance of the event to secure an advantageous spot.

Last year, Burj Khalifa was named the 16th most Instagrammed location in the world. Four spots above the Empire State Building, and the only top 20 location not in the Americas or Europe.

It has appeared in blockbuster films, countless documentaries and can even be seen from space.

As Dubai enters one of its biggest years, with the Expo due to begin in October, Burj Khalifa continues to serve as a key landmark for the emirate, drawing tourists from around the world.