What is the tallest building in the world, and where is it located?

The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa, which is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Burj Khalifa stands at a staggering height of 828 meters (2,722 feet), and it has 163 floors above ground, plus 2 below ground. It was officially opened on January 4, 2010, and it holds multiple records such as the tallest structure, the tallest free-standing structure, and the building with the most floors.

When talking about skyscrapers and tall structures, architects and engineers often consider various categories for records, including the height to the architectural top, height to the highest floor, height to the tip, etc. The Burj Khalifa leads in many of these categories. It was designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, an architectural firm known for designing some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. The design of the Burj Khalifa was inspired by the patterning systems in Islamic architecture. Apart from serving as a marvel of modern engineering and architecture, it includes residences, office space, and the Armani Hotel. The building's Y-shaped plan helps to reduce wind forces on the tower, while the stepped design narrows as it ascends to reduce the mass of the building as it reaches skyward. Skyscrapers like Burj Khalifa are important landmarks in their cities and showcase advancements in construction technologies and materials, such as high-strength concrete and high-performance steel.