It took about six years to build the Burj Khalifa, from early 2004 to its official opening in January 2010.

Quick Scoop

  • Excavation start: January 2004.
  • Main structure rising: Superstructure construction began in March 2005 and the tower passed 160 floors by April 2008.
  • Exterior finished: Cladding was completed in September 2009.
  • Official opening: January 4, 2010, marking roughly six years from start to inauguration.
  • Total effort: Around 22 million man‑hours and up to about 12,000 workers on site at peak.

Why “six years” can be a bit tricky

Most sources say the Burj Khalifa “took six years to build” because they measure from the start of excavation in 2004 to the grand opening in early 2010.

However, some interior work and fit‑outs continued after the inauguration, so the core structure and exterior were done within that six‑year window, while fine details carried on behind the scenes.

Mini timeline snapshot

  • 2004: Ground excavation and foundations.
  • 2005–2008: Tower shoots up past 50, 100, then 160 floors.
  • 2009: Exterior finishes and preparations for opening.
  • 2010: Officially opens as the world’s tallest building.

In forum discussions, people often say “about 5–6 years,” but engineering and reference sites consistently give the full window as roughly six years from first dig to opening.

Would you like a similar quick breakdown for another famous skyscraper’s construction time (like the Shanghai Tower or One World Trade Center)?