5 things you didn’t know about the Burj Khalifa

Musement shares some fun facts about the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, an architectural wonder.

As we’re sure you know by now, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is (currently) the world’s tallest skyscraper. We’ve written about it several times, and we’ve also told you that visiting the top of this Instagram darling is one of those things you have to do at least once in your life. But there are some other interesting and fun tidbits about the Burj Khalifa that you might not have heard before.

1. The tallest building in the world…for now

As we said, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper in the world—but it won’t hold the title for much longer in 2020, the Jeddah Tower, also known as the Kingdom Tower or Mile Tower, will open on the shores of the Red Sea in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Unsurprisingly, the latter nickname is all about its height, which will be the first structure to surpass one kilometer to stand 3,281 feet tall, dwarfing the Burj Khalifa’s 2,720 feet. However, the Creek Tower is slated to bring the title back to Dubai, standing at 4,265 feet.

2. As beautiful as a flower

Nature is always the best muse, and it remains the major source of inspiration even for modern and futuristic works such as the Burj Khalifa. Its design was based on the hymenocallis flower: an elegant white bloom with a corolla similar to the Narcissus flower and a sublime fragrance.

3. The mystery of the world’s highest mosque

It’s not surprising that the world’s tallest skyscraper is rumored to be home to the world’s highest mosque — this information has been reported in numerous international magazines, and even on Wikipedia. However, according to official statements by Emaar Properties, the building’s real estate developer, not only is there no mosque on the 158th floor, but there was never any plan to include a mosque in the project.

4. Some numbers

Naturally, one would expect nothing but greatness from the tallest skyscraper in the world. Does all that height correspond to an equally impressive capacity for occupants? Quite so: the Burj Khalifa can host up to 35,000 people, which is the total number of inhabitants of Holbæk, a charming Danish town.

5. The Burj Khalifa in pop culture

As one should expect from an iconic monument, there are some interesting facts about the Burj Khalifa that transport us straight into the world of pop culture and cinema. For instance, the Burj Khalifa was prominently featured in an episode of the Simpsons entitled YOLO (You Only Live Once, obviously), in which Homer is persuaded by his Spanish pen pal Eduardo Barcelona to go skydiving. As a result, Homer climbs the Burj Khalifa, which, in a twist, happens to be located in Springfield. The skyscraper was also featured in all its glory in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, in which Tom Cruise engages in amazing aerial acrobatics hanging from the side of the structure.

Here’s a fun fact that will definitely astonish acrophobes: Tom Cruise didn’t use any stunt double to shoot this scene.