Which structure is the tallest completed building in the world?

Burj Khalifa is the tallest completed building in the world. The skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, reaches 828 meters, including its architectural pinnacle, and opened in 2010.

Construction began in 2004, and the project was developed by Emaar Properties with design by the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The tower’s form was inspired partly by the Hymenocallis flower, and its structural system uses a reinforced-concrete buttressed core designed to resist strong winds.

The building was called Burj Dubai during construction and was renamed Burj Khalifa at its opening in honor of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Shanghai Tower is the world’s second-tallest completed building, while Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur is also among the tallest. Height rankings can differ if they count antennas, architectural spires, or occupied floors, so the measurement category matters.