Burj Khalifa became the centerpiece of a major Dubai New Year’s Eve fireworks display when it opened in 2010.
Burj Khalifa, in Downtown Dubai, was inaugurated on January 4, 2010. The skyscraper’s height and illuminated exterior made it a natural focal point for large public celebrations around the adjacent Dubai Mall and the waterfront of the Burj Khalifa complex.
The New Year spectacle has combined fireworks, lighting, and later multimedia effects on the building’s facade. International broadcasts often show the tower as the visual centerpiece, while crowds watch from surrounding streets and public spaces.
A common mix-up is confusing Burj Khalifa with Burj Al Arab, another famous Dubai landmark. Burj Khalifa is the skyscraper in Downtown Dubai and has held the title of the world’s tallest building since its completion; Burj Al Arab is the sail-shaped hotel on the coast.