Living, breathing being.

Hi, my name is The Burj Khalifa, and I am a living, breathing being.

My name was chosen before I was born.  I was to be The Burj Dubai, but I shared the fate of many children that come into this world.  My name was changed at my birth , and I was called The Burj Khalifa to honour a family member.

My birth was celebrated on January 4 2010 with great festivity.

I have already acquired a few nicknames; “Vertical city”, being one of them.

I am 828 metres tall and am at this point in time the tallest building in the world.

Yes, I live, I breathe. 

And I love the sun!  Solar energy is used to heat the water flowing through my body and in this way the hot water needs of all residents in my tower are met.

It’s really hot where I live and the condensate from my air-conditioning equipment is collected in a huge irrigation tank. This provides about 15 million gallons of extra water per year which is used for my landscaping.

Shortly after my birth I had internal complications – one of my lifts with visitors in it stopped just below my 124th floor observation deck.  This has been repaired and I am happy to say that I am fully functional again.

During my recuperation period I sadly was not allowed visitors. This saddened me as I love the crowds that visit me daily, straining their necks to see my head, photographing me with awe and cooing over me in the fashion of most adults in the presence of cute babies!

Already I am a lover of art and am pleased to say that over 1000 pieces of art by Middles Eastern and international artists are featured within me and in my immediate surroundings.  Many of them are a tribute to the spirit of global harmony.

My heart often saddens when I view the faces of the many workers hired to care for me, see to my needs and beautify my surroundings.  I know the hardships they have faced in life and the difficult conditions they endure to care for their families in faraway places.

There are many sides to my distinct personality.  I’m a toughie with 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, but in the morning when the sun rises I glow with a soft pink hue of gentleness.

There is someone I know who passes me daily. She seems to understand that I see her. At the moment she is away but she’ll be back soon. I miss her and somehow sense that she misses me too.

If you are ever able to pay me a visit, I will be so happy.

The fountains at my feet will dance for joy in your presence and I will silently but happily gaze upon you all.

Thank you for listening to me and have a good day.