How much did Burj Khalifa cost to build?
Updated October 27, 2026
Quick answer
Burj Khalifa cost about US$1.5 billion (AED 5.5 billion) to build, according to Wikipedia. It was paid for by its developer, Emaar Properties. If you meant a visit, tickets to the observation deck start at $51 (AED 189).
The $1.5 billion is the construction cost of the tower itself, built between 2004 and 2010. It does not include the rest of Downtown Dubai, the district Emaar built around the tower with The Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain and the lake; the fountain alone cost AED 800 million. The tower was finished as Dubai went through the global financial crisis, and that shaped both its name and its early years. Many people searching for the cost of the Burj Khalifa want the price of a visit: the Levels 124 & 125 ticket starts at $51 (AED 189, at 1 USD = 3.6725 AED), and the ticket price page lists every level.
$1.5 billion construction cost
Wikipedia gives the cost as about US$1.5 billion, or AED 5.5 billion. That bought a 163-floor tower with a 45,000 m³ concrete foundation on 192 piles, about 330,000 m³ of concrete and 55,000 tonnes of steel rebar in the structure, and more than 26,000 reflective glass panels covering about 142,000 m² of façade. About 35,000 tonnes of structural steel came from the demolished Palace of the Republic in Berlin. The work took about 22 million man-hours. The tower contains 57 elevators, the Armani Hotel Dubai with 304 rooms, about 900 apartments and several floors of offices.
- Construction cost — US$1.5 billion (AED 5.5 billion)
- Concrete — About 330,000 m³
- Steel rebar — About 55,000 tonnes
- Glass panels — More than 26,000
What it is worth today
There is no published current valuation of the tower as a whole, so we will not invent one. It is not a single asset: Emaar sold apartments to private buyers, while it keeps the attractions and other parts. Wikipedia records how values swung after the opening. About ten months after the tower opened, rents had fallen by 40% and 825 of its 900 apartments were empty. Overseas investors bought in over the next 30 months, and by October 2012 about 80% of the apartments were occupied. For a visitor, the value question is simpler: see whether Burj Khalifa is worth it for what a ticket buys.
Who paid for it
Emaar Properties, the Dubai developer founded in 1997 and listed on the Dubai Financial Market, developed and owns the tower and paid for its construction. Its main shareholders include Dubai's ruler and the Investment Corporation of Dubai, according to Wikipedia. The financing story is tied to the 2008 crash. Wikipedia reports that Dubai had borrowed at least $80 billion for construction projects, and that Abu Dhabi and the federal government lent Dubai tens of billions of dollars. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE president and ruler of Abu Dhabi, organised that support, and the tower was renamed in his honour at the opening. Read what the name means.
If you meant the ticket price
Google groups "how much does Burj Khalifa cost" with the building cost, but many people asking want a ticket. Prices are per person and depend on the level and the time slot; sunset slots cost more. From the partner listings, read on 27 October 2026: the Levels 124 & 125 ticket from $51 (AED 189), fast-track entry from $69 (AED 254), SKY level 148 from $109 (AED 399) and the Lounge on level 152 from $209 (AED 769). All four allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before your slot.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the Burj Khalifa cost in dollars?
About US$1.5 billion, according to Wikipedia.
How much did the Burj Khalifa cost in dirhams?
About AED 5.5 billion.
How much is Burj Khalifa worth?
There is no published current valuation of the whole tower. Its apartments are owned by many private buyers, and Emaar keeps other parts.
Who paid for the Burj Khalifa?
Its developer and owner, Emaar Properties. Abu Dhabi and the federal government later lent Dubai tens of billions of dollars during the financial crisis.
How much does it cost to go up the Burj Khalifa?
From $51 (AED 189) for levels 124 and 125, up to $209 (AED 769) for the Lounge on level 152, before any prime-time surcharge.
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