Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest skyscraper in the world at 2,722 ft (829.8 m). Also known as Burj Dubai, the building is a centerpiece of Downtown Dubai and is surrounded by hotels, shopping malls and entertainment venues.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, the tower is a part of First Interchange, the 490 acre (2 square meter) development project in Downtown Dubai. The tower's construction began on September 21, 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on October 1, 2009. The building officially opened to the public on January 4, 2010. Its primary contractor was Samsung C&T of South Korea.

The tower's completion coincided with the global financial crisis of 2007–2012 and the vast overbuilding in the country. This led to high vacancies and foreclosures. With Dubai mired in debt from its huge ambitions, the government was forced to seek multi-billion dollar bailouts from its oil-rich neighbor Abu Dhabi. Subsequently, in a surprise move at its opening ceremony, the tower was renamed Burj Khalifa, said to honor the UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his crucial support.