The Burj Khalifa was built between 2004 and 2010, with construction starting in January 2004 and the tower officially opening on January 4, 2010.

Key dates

  • Construction start : Excavation and foundation work began in January 2004.
  • Superstructure rising: The main structure started to rise above ground in 2005 and reached its full height (topped out) in 2009.
  • Official opening: The building was inaugurated and opened to the public on January 4, 2010.

How long it took

  • Total construction time was about six years from early 2004 to early 2010.
  • The exterior was completed in late 2009, with interior and opening preparations continuing into early 2010.

Mini context: “built” vs “opened”

  • When people ask “when was the Burj Khalifa built” , most sources treat this as the full construction period: 2004–2010.
  • If you need a single year, 2010 is usually given as the year it was “built” or completed, because that is when it officially opened.

TL;DR : Built over six years (2004–2010), with an official opening on January 4, 2010.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.