The Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building. When we took the elevator up to the top of the Burj Khalifa, one of the employees there mentioned that the only reason the government chose to build it was so that Dubai could claim to have the tallest building in the world, and millions of people would want to travel to Dubai to see it. That is true. The Burj Khalifa is a monument to the success of Dubai as an individual city and a monument to the technology of mankind. Having the tallest building in the world “puts Dubai on the map”, making the city well-known to many people.
However, the tourism industry is changing. Tourism used to be able to sustain itself on landmarks; for example, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Empire State Building in New York used to attract tourists just so they could get a glimpse of the famous structures. Now, tourism has become about re-creating an experience. Tourists are no longer satisfied with just simply seeing a landmark; they want to experience the culture surrounding it and learn about the history of it.
In the Burj Khalifa, the experience is about feeling the progression of the culture from nomadic, desert dwellers to Billionaire tycoons. The experience is also about acknowledging the advancements of mankind and viewing the world from the tallest man made structure ever made.
oliverom 
I think the Burj Khalifa is more than just a tourist attraction, It is also a symbol of the unity between the UAE and the respect and appreciation the differnt Sheiks have for each other. I hope that when people come to visit the Burj Khalifa that they will see the history behind it and not just see it as “The World’s Tallest Building.” I can’t wait to see what new companies and new things that will be opening inside in the Burj Khalifa in the upcoming years.
You are so right. The Burj Khalifa is an attraction people from all over the world desire to see. I am so glad we had the opportunity to go to the top of it. We had been surrounded by tall buildings, lots of people, and many new construction projects for a week and a half. With so much going on around us, it was easy to forget we were in the middle of the desert!
At the top of the Burj Khalifa reality set back in for me. I looked out from the building and realized again that I was actually in the desert. Among all the beautifully crafted buildings and among all the people, one can still see the sand and one can see the land far off that remains empty.
Dubai, which was once a deserted desert, is now one of the most popular cities in the world. It has grown at such a rapid rate- it’s unbelievable that all it lays in the middle of a sand pit.
Well I would have to agree with the person that told you that Dubai only built the Burj Khalifa to have the world’s largest tower and to have more tourists. I remember in one interview that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum mentioned he wanted Dubai to be “number one in the world”. And this is what has caused Dubai to have so many of the world’s largest, tallest, most expensive etc etc…
It truly is amazing to see such a titan of a building. When I went to the top of the Burj Khalifa I started thinking about all the work involving thousands of people that had to be done in order to complete this landmark. I think it is really interesting how the nomadic culture turned into this economically rich society with a ton of potential. When talking to my Emirati friends, they told me that they sometimes wish to go back in time when people didn’t care about looks or material things, but instead about spending time with family and friends and doing traditional things all the time.
dd
The Burj Khalifa is extremely important to Dubai. The fact that it contains the worlds largest building informs others around the world about Dubai’s presence. Whenever I told someone I was going to Dubai, they always would ask: isn’t that where the world’s tallest building is. Had this not been created I wonder what Dubai would be well known for-besides its expensive hotels