The service charge for the current year in Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, has been set at Dh52.77 per square foot for residential units and Dh55.70 per sqft for office units, Emirates Business can reveal.

The highest service charge is for Armani Residences, at Dh78.63 per sqft, while corporate suites will be charged Dh71.99 per sqft, according to Emaar Call Centre. The service charges for the tower, which was inaugurated on January 4, have been split into three components – community service fee, chiller charge and hot and cold water charge.

An investor said that Emaar had asked him to pay the first instalment before the handover of his unit, while the remaining had to be paid in two post-dated cheques.

The Emaar Call Centre confirmed that the service charges had to be paid in three cheques with the first being paid immediately, the second on July 1 and the last on October 1.

For residential units, the community service fee is set at Dh42.48 per sqft, chiller charge at Dh9.29 per sqft and hot and cold water charge at Dh1 per sqft.

Corporate suites have to pay a community service fee of Dh62.85 per sqft, chiller charge of Dh8.14 per sqft and hot and cold water charge of Dh1 per sqft.

Community service fees for Armani Residences is fixed at Dh39.35 per sqft, chiller charge at Dh9.28 per sqft and water charge at Dh1 per sqft. However, residents have to shell out an additional Armani "hospitality" charge of Dh29 per sqft, taking the total to Dh78.63 per sqft.