How Burj Khalifa’s elevators work — and how fast they go

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building on the planet, rising 828 meters into the sky. Getting to its upper floors takes more than a single lift; the setup works very differently from an ordinary high-rise. And here’s the striking part: the elevators aren’t just quick — they rank among the fastest in the world.

How fast do the elevators move?

According to official information, the elevators in the Burj Khalifa travel at up to 36 km/h. That’s roughly like driving through a city — only not along a street, but straight up. The whole system is designed so thousands of people can move swiftly across more than 160 floors.

The building operates 57 elevators, and some are double-deck, so two groups of passengers can ride at the same time on separate levels of one car. This helps keep queues from forming and keeps waiting times down.

How does it all work?

Because the tower is so tall, engineers devised a smart zoning setup: elevators serve different ranges of floors. Some run only to the middle levels, others higher, and only a few reach the very top tiers — including the observation deck at 555 meters.

The longest single journey an elevator makes here is a 504-meter ascent without stopping. And one of the highest stops sits at 638 meters — another near-record.

Why does it matter?

Compared with other skyscrapers — for example, the tower in Shanghai or Taipei 101 — the Burj Khalifa’s elevators aren’t the absolute fastest, but they are notably reliable and thoughtfully engineered. The building also uses modern technologies to save electricity and care for the environment — for instance, solar panels and collecting water from the air. The elevators form part of this intelligent system. In practice, the smooth flow they maintain is as impressive as raw speed.

What’s next?

Architects and engineers are already discussing what tomorrow’s elevators might look like: faster still, rope-less, and guided by artificial intelligence. Even when new record holders arrive, the Burj Khalifa will remain a symbol of its time, and its elevators — a reminder of how people learn to conquer not just distance, but height.

Ultimately, it’s not only about building the tallest tower, but making sure anyone can reach its summit with ease.