Timeline:* January 2004: Excavation commences.
* February 2004: Piling starts.
* 21 September 2004: Emaar contractors (Samsung-Besix-Arabtec JV) awarded construction.
* March 2005: Structure of Burj Dubai starts rising.
* June 2006: Level 50 is reached.
* February 2007: Surpasses the Sears Tower as the building with the most floors.
* 13 May 2007: Sets record for vertical concrete pumping on any building at 452 m (1,483 ft), surpassing the 449.2 m (1,474 ft) to which concrete was pumped during the construction of Taipei 101, while Burj dubai reached 130 floor.
* 21 July 2007: Surpasses Taipei 101, whose height of 509.2 m (1,671 ft) made it the world’s tallest building, and level 141 reached.
* 12 August 2007: Surpasses the Sears Tower antenna, which stands 527.3 m (1,730 ft).
* 12 September 2007: At 555.3 m (1,822 ft), becomes the world's tallest freestanding structure, surpassing the CN Tower in Toronto, and level 150 reached.
* 7 April 2008: At 629 m (2,064 ft), surpasses the KVLY-TV Mast to become the tallest man-made structure, level 160 reached.
* 17 June 2008: Emaar announces that Burj Dubai's height is over 636 m (2,087 ft) and that its final height will not be given until it is completed in September 2009.
* 1 September 2008: Height tops 688 m (2,257 ft), making it the tallest man-made structure ever built, surpassing the previous record-holder, the Warsaw Radio Mast in Konstantynów, Poland.
* 17 January 2009: Topped out at 818 m (2,684 ft).
* 1 October 2009: Emaar announces that the exterior of the building is completed.
* 4 January 2010: Burj Dubai's official launch ceremony is held and Burj Dubai is opened.
Current records
* Tallest skyscraper to top of spire: 818 m (2,684 ft) (previously Taipei 101 - 509.2 m (1,671 ft))
* Tallest structure ever built: 818 m (2,684 ft) (previously Warsaw radio mast – 646.38 m (2,121 ft))
* Tallest structure: 818 m (2,684 ft) (previously KVLY-TV mast – 628.8 m (2,063 ft))
* Tallest freestanding structure: 818 m (2,684 ft) (previously CN Tower – 553.3 m (1,815 ft))
* Building with most floors: 160 (previously both 1 & 2 World Trade Center – 110)
* World's highest elevator installation
* Worlds fastest elevators at speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) or 18 m/s (59 ft/s)(previously Taipei 101 – 16.83 m/s)
* Highest vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 605 m (1,985 ft) (previously Taipei 101 – 449.2 m (1,474 ft))
* Highest vertical concrete pumping (for any construction): 605 m (1,985 ft)
* The first world's tallest structure in history to include residential space
* Highest outdoor observation deck in the world
* Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
* Tallest service elevator in the world
* World's highest installation of an aluminium and glass façade, at a height of 512 m (1,680 ft)
