Burj Khalifa observation deck not world's highest

At The Top, the currently closed observation deck at the Burj Khalifa, is only the second highest in the world, preceded by the Shanghai World Financial Centre in China, Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has confirmed.

The CTBUH is an international body in the field of tall buildings and sustainable urban design. It is an authority on the official height of tall buildings and last month awarded the title of ‘The World’s Tallest Building’ to the Burj Khalifa.

The official title for the ‘highest observation deck’ is held by the Shanghai World Financial Centre whose viewing deck stands at a height of 474m, 22m higher than the Burj Khalifa’s At The Top observation deck of 452m.

Antony Wood, CTBUH executive director confirmed this saying “the observation deck at the Burj Khalifa is lower than the Shanghai World Financial Centre.”

But in an emailed statement to Construction Week, Emaar said: "At The Top at Burj Khalifa is the world's highest observation deck with an outdoor terrace."

There is no official category of ‘highest observation deck with an outdoor terrace’ on the CTBUH website.

The world’s third highest observation deck record is held by the CN Tower at 447m, followed by the Taipei 101 at 438m and the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) at 413m.