Meet the owner of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, world’s tallest building? Not Sultan of UAE, Dubai king, the name is…

Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building in Dubai, was constructed over a span of six years, and was officially inaugurated in 2010. The iconic structure stands a staggering 828 meters (2,716.5 feet) tall, featuring 163 floors and 58 state-of-the-art elevators.

Burj Khalifa Owner: The iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building, is a symbol of unparalleled opulence, with a single-bedroom unit costing a staggering 150,000 to 180,000 Dirham (over Rs 42 lakh) in annual rent, making it one of the most expensive apartment buildings worldwide.

But who actually owns this towering skyscraper, the king of Dubai, the Sultan of United Arab Emirates (UAE), or some other Emirati royal? Well, actually none of the above mentioned people are the owners of the Burj Khalifa. Let us find out who the real owner is.

Who owns Burj Khalifa?

Developed by Emaar Properties, a prominent Dubai-based real estate firm, over a span of six years (2004 to 2010), Burj Khalifa is essentially ‘owned’ by Mohamed Alabbar, an Emirati businessman and real estate tycoon who founded the company that built the world’s tallest skyscraper.

Besides the Burj Khalifa, Emaar Properties is also known for other monumental projects including the Dubai Mall, the upcoming Dubai Creek Tower, and the Dubai Fountain. Notably, Mohamed Alabbar is also the founder and chairman of Eagle Hills, an Abu-Dhabi based private investment and real estate development company.

World’s tallest building

Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was constructed over a span of six years, and was officially inaugurated in 2010. The iconic structure stands a staggering 828 meters (2,716.5 feet) tall, featuring 163 floors that are reached with the help of as many as 58 state-of-the-art elevators.

The towering skyscraper, whose tip is visible from as far as 95 kilometers away, houses 304 luxurious hotel rooms, and 900 high-end apartments, and takes three months to clean the entire exterior of the building.

Burj Khalifa rent

Burj Khalifa is one of the priciest apartment buildings in the world, with average property prices around 78.5% higher than the rest of Dubai city. The lavish building charged 3,000 Dirhams (Rs 70,000) per square foot compared to a city-wide average of Dh 1,680 per sqft at the end of 2024, according to a report.

Figures released on the occasion of Burk Khalifa’s 15th anniversary revealed that the world’s tallest tower rentals skyrocketed in 2024, touching previous highs witnessed in 2015-2016.

According to property brokerage firm, Betterhomes, the monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Burj Khalifa had peaked in 2015-2016 at over Dh 180,000, while the lavish skyscraper charges between Dh 150,000 to Dh 180,000 annually, depending on furnishings and floor levels, Khaleej Times reported.

The data also revealed that the landmark tower always consistently maintains an impressive 85-90 percent occupancy with rental yields of 5-6%, making it a preferred choice for buy-to-let investors, the report said.