Inside One of the Tallest Homes in the World: The Burj Khalifa Penthouse

Photo: Courtesy of GT&I Limited

Living among the clouds is no longer just a dream—it’s a reality for the future owner of one of the world’s tallest homes. Nestled within the iconic Burj Khalifa, Dubai’s record-breaking skyscraper, the Sky Palace penthouse is officially on the market for a staggering $51 million (approximately R943 million). “The views from the penthouse are nothing short of spectacular," shares Asad Khan, CEO of Invest Dubai Real Estate and the listing agent for the residence. "Every direction offers a reminder that you’re living atop one of the most extraordinary buildings on Earth. You can watch the sunrise over the endless desert and the city sparkle at sunset, all from your private sanctuary in the sky.”

Perched on the 107th and 108th floors, the 21,000-square-foot duplex soars approximately 1,300 feet (396 meters) above the bustling city below—At 2,722 feet from base to spire, the Burj Khalifa remains the tallest building in the world, easily surpassing Taipei 101, which stands at 1,667 feet. It holds multiple world records, including the tallest freestanding structure and the most floors (163).

For context: two Eiffel Towers stacked atop one another would still fall short of Burj Khalifa’s height, and the Empire State Building barely surpasses its halfway mark. Currently sold as a shell-and-core unit, the future owner has the rare opportunity to craft a personalized masterpiece in the clouds, unrestricted by rigid design mandates.

The penthouse boasts a private elevator, an indoor swimming pool, and 12 dedicated parking spaces. While the only restriction in the building prohibits adding another swimming pool (due to weight limitations), the possibilities for interior design are otherwise limitless.

The Burj Khalifa’s world-class amenities—spanning an elegant lounge, a spa, an infinity pool, a fitness center, and co-working spaces—are also at the owner’s fingertips.

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A Brief History of the Sky Palace

The current owner, Karl Haddad, CEO of IRC Invest, purchased the unit in 2020 from Mohamed Alabbar, a founder of Emaar Properties, the developer behind the Burj Khalifa. According to Khan, Haddad is selling the penthouse simply because he doesn’t have the time to undertake the extensive renovation process needed to bring the vision for this extraordinary property to life.

Since hitting the market in late 2024, the penthouse has captured the attention of the global elite—particularly wealthy Americans, including business moguls, sports agents, and Hollywood insiders.

Floor-to-ceiling windows envelop the duplex, offering breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf, the shimmering Dubai skyline, and the golden desert beyond. Whether imagining a sleek, modern oasis or a lavish, opulent retreat, the buyer has total creative freedom. "You feel as though you’re floating," Khan describes. "It’s a complete escape from the city’s energy while remaining firmly at its heart."

Even the bathrooms, according to renderings, could feature dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass walls, heightening the sense of living above the world.

How Does It Compare?

While the Sky Palace is the most expensive unit within the Burj Khalifa, it is not the priciest residence in Dubai. Recent sales highlight Dubai’s booming ultra-luxury market, including a penthouse at Como Residence that fetched $136 million (about R2.5 billion) and the Marble Palace, which reportedly sold for just under $116 million (roughly R2.1 billion) in early 2025.

Globally, the tallest residential unit is still held by a triplex in New York’s Central Park Tower, located on the 129th floor and standing an astonishing 1,416 feet (431 meters) above the city streets. The total construction cost of Burj Khalifa was around $1.5 billion—making it an extraordinary achievement, though not the most expensive building in the world (that title belongs to Saudi Arabia's $15 billion Abraj Al-Bait Towers).

Beyond the price tag, Burj Khalifa stands as a testament to human ingenuity. As Smith explains, designing a building of this magnitude presented challenges never encountered before, particularly in dealing with wind forces at such extreme elevations. In fact, insights from the Burj Khalifa’s wind tunnel testing led to minor but crucial adjustments, like rotating one of the structural legs 10–15 degrees to better resist the wind.

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Living Above and Beyond

Though there are 50 floors above the penthouse within the Burj Khalifa—home mostly to mechanical and corporate facilities—the penthouse remains one of the highest private residences ever built. Nearby, the famed Atmosphere restaurant on the 122nd floor and public observation decks on the 124th and 125th floors give a sense of the building’s soaring magnitude.

For those who dare to dream big—and live even bigger—the Burj Khalifa penthouse offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to claim a sky-high crown jewel.