11 Burj Khalifa less known facts: 500,000 tonnes, 100,000 elephants

Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest tower, but did you know that the empty weight of the tower is 500,000 tonnes?

Built at the cost of $1.5 billion, the 828-metre tower, with over 160 storeys, is tangible proof of Dubai's growing role in a changing world as in less than 30 years, the city has transformed itself from a regional centre to a global one.

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, the developer, has said: "Burj Khalifa is the Arab world's tribute to the art and science of modern engineering and design. Burj Khalifa symbolises the aesthetic unison of many cultures - from Arabia and the rest of the world."

The tower was official opened on January 4, 2010. Although we know it holds the following records - tallest building in the world; tallest free-standing structure in the world; highest number of stories in the world; highest occupied floor in the world; highest outdoor observation deck in the world; elevator with the longest travel distance in the world and tallest service elevator in the world; Emaar has now revealed more information on the tower on social media.

Here are some more facts:

# Each glass panel of Burj Khalifa weighs 362kg and comes with an energy saving coating to limit solar heat.

# At any given time, Burj Khalifa holds around 10,000 people at once.

# Burj Khalifa can hold up to 35,000 people.

# Every component of the Burj Khalifa was tested during design development to ensure performance expectations.

# Burj Khalifa, the 'Vertical City' has 900 residences.

# During the inauguration of Burj Khalifa, 10,000 individual fireworks were shot to choreograph the show.

# There are more than 24,000 window panels covering the tower's façade.

# The weight of concrete used to build Burj Khalifa is equivalent to 100,000 elephants.

# Located at level 155 is the world's highest electrical substation.

# Burj Khalifa's flight stroboscopes sparkle 40 times a minute.

# Burj Khalifa has an empty weight of 500,000 tonnes.

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