Who owns Dubai's Burj Khalifa, world's tallest building? Its not Sultan of UAE, the name is...

The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, is owned by Emaar Properties, a publicly listed real estate company based in Dubai, UAE. While Emaar Properties is not directly owned by the Sultan (or ruler) of the UAE, the company has strong government backing. Its majority shareholder is the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), which is the sovereign wealth fund of the Dubai government.

 

Ownership Breakdown & Key Figures

1. Emaar Properties – The real estate developer that built and owns Burj Khalifa.  

2. Mohamed Alabbar – The founder and chairman of Emaar Properties.  

3. Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) – The largest shareholder in Emaar, representing the Dubai government.  

4. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – The ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE, under whose leadership Burj Khalifa was built.  

Even though Sheikh Mohammed is not the direct owner, the project was closely linked to his vision for Dubai's global prominence.

Emaar Properties: The Developer & Owner of Burj Khalifa

Emaar Properties is a Dubai-based multinational real estate company and the developer of Burj Khalifa. It is one of the largest real estate firms in the world, known for building iconic projects, luxury communities, and shopping malls.

Key Facts About Emaar Properties

👉Founded: 1997

👉Founder & Chairman: Mohamed Alabbar

👉Headquarters: Dubai, UAE

👉Major Shareholder: Investment 

👉Corporation of Dubai (ICD) (Dubai government's sovereign wealth fund)

👉Listed On: Dubai Financial Market (DFM)

Emmar Role in Burj Khalifa

Emaar developed Burj Khalifa as part of its Downtown Dubai project, a massive urban development featuring the Dubai Mall, luxury hotels, and high-end residences. The skyscraper was completed in 2010 and remains the tallest building in the world.

Other Major Emaar Projects

👉Dubai Mall – The world's largest shopping mall

👉The Dubai Fountain – A record-breaking musical fountain

👉Emaar Beachfront – A luxury coastal development

👉The Dubai Marina – One of the largest man-made waterfront communities

Despite being a public company, Emaar has strong government ties through ICD, ensuring its strategic alignment with Dubai’s development vision.

Mohamed Alabbar: The Man Behind Emaar Properties

Mohamed Alabbar is a prominent Emirati businessman best known as the founder and chairman of Emaar Properties, the company that developed Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Downtown Dubai. He is a key figure in Dubai’s transformation into a global business and tourism hub.

Quick Facts About Mohamed Alabbar

👉Full Name: Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar

👉Born: November 8, 1956 (Dubai, UAE)

👉Nationality: Emirati

👉Education: Bachelor's in Business Administration, Seattle University (USA)

Role:

Founder & Chairman of Emaar Properties

Founder of Noon.com (E-commerce giant)

Chairman of Eagle Hills (International real estate firm)

Board member of Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD)

His Impact on Dubai

👉Emaar Properties – Built Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and several luxury developments.

👉Noon.com – A major E-commerce competitor to Amazon in the Middle East.

👉Dubai’s Growth – He worked closely with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, to develop real estate and business sectors.

👉Global Influence – Through Eagle Hills, he has expanded luxury real estate projects to countries like Egypt, Serbia, Bahrain, and Morocco.

👉Alabbar is widely regarded as a visionary leader who played a crucial role in turning Dubai into a global real estate and business powerhouse.

Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD): The Wealth Fund Behind Dubai’s Growth

Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) is the sovereign wealth fund of the Dubai government, responsible for managing the emirate’s wealth and strategic assets. It is the largest shareholder of Emaar Properties, which owns Burj Khalifa.

Key Facts About ICD

👉Founded: 2006

👉Owner: Government of Dubai

👉Chairman: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al 

👉Maktoum (Ruler of Dubai, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister)

👉Headquarters: Dubai, UAE

👉Assets Under Management (AUM): Over $300 billion (estimated)

ICD’s Key Investments

ICD controls some of Dubai’s biggest companies, including:

👉Real Estate: Emaar Properties (Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall)

👉Banking & Finance: Emirates NBD (one of the UAE’s largest banks)

👉Aviation: Emirates Airline & Group (world’s largest international airline)

👉Hospitality: Jumeirah Group (Burj Al Arab hotel)
Transportation & Logistics: DP World (global port operator)
Energy: ENOC (Emirates National Oil Company)

ICD’s Role in Burj Khalifa

Since ICD owns a significant stake in Emaar Properties, it indirectly owns Burj Khalifa. However, Emaar operates independently as a public company.

ICD is Dubai’s financial backbone, ensuring the emirate’s economy remains diverse, competitive, and globally influential.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: The Visionary Leader of Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Ruler of Dubai, Vice President, and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is known for transforming Dubai into a global hub for business, tourism, and innovation.

Quick Facts About Sheikh Mohammed

👉Born: July 15, 1949, Dubai, UAE

👉Title: Ruler of Dubai, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE

👉Father: Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (former Ruler of Dubai)

👉Reign as Ruler of Dubai: Since January 4, 2006

👉Net Worth: Estimated $14 billion+

👉Key Initiative: Dubai Vision 2040 – a plan for sustainable development and innovation

His Impact on Dubai

Burj Khalifa & Downtown Dubai: Supported the world’s tallest building, completed in 2010.

Dubai’s Economic Growth: Expanded finance, tourism, trade, and real estate sectors.

Dubai Metro & Infrastructure: Built one of the world’s most advanced public transport systems.

Dubai’s Global Events: Launched Dubai Expo 2020, one of the largest world expos.

Space Exploration: Founded Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), leading UAE’s Mars mission.

His Role in Burj Khalifa

While Emaar Properties owns Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed’s Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) is a major shareholder. He personally supported the project as part of his vision to make Dubai a world-class city.

Sheikh Mohammed is widely seen as the architect of modern Dubai, turning it from a desert town into a global business and tourism powerhouse.

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