February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

The Burj Khalifa is a 828-metre (2,717-foot) supertall skyscraper located in Downtown Dubai, holding the title of the world’s tallest building since its completion in 2010. Designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the tower features a Y-shaped floor plan inspired by the Hymenocallis flower, with setbacks at multiple levels that reduce wind loads as the structure rises. It contains 163 habitable floors comprising residential apartments, corporate office suites, the Armani Hotel Dubai, observation decks, and sky lounges.

UAE Context

The Burj Khalifa was developed by Emaar Properties, the state-linked master developer, as the anchor of the Downtown Dubai mega-project. The tower was originally named Burj Dubai during construction but was renamed upon inauguration in honour of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then President of the UAE. The project was conceived during the early-2000s economic boom and was completed despite the 2008 global financial crisis — a fact that itself became a symbol of Dubai’s resilience. The building’s observation decks, particularly At the Top on levels 124-125 and the SKY lounge on level 148, attract millions of visitors annually.

Key Data

The tower took approximately six years to construct, with a peak workforce of more than 12,000 labourers on site daily. It holds multiple world records, including tallest structure, highest occupied floor, longest elevator travel distance, and highest outdoor observation deck. The building’s foundation consists of 192 piles drilled more than 50 metres into the ground to support the structure in Dubai’s sandy soil.

Vision 2031 Significance

The Burj Khalifa functions as the UAE’s single most recognisable global brand asset. It established Dubai as a symbol of architectural ambition and engineering capability, attracts substantial tourism revenue, and continues to anchor the commercial value of the entire Downtown Dubai district — one of the most valuable real-estate addresses in the Middle East.

  • Dubai Mall — The mega-mall adjacent to the Burj Khalifa within Downtown Dubai.
  • Emaar Properties — The developer behind both the tower and the surrounding district.
  • Dubai Frame — Another iconic Dubai landmark complementing the city’s architectural identity.
  • D33 Agenda — Dubai’s economic strategy that leverages tourism assets like the Burj Khalifa.