 Dubai has a rich collection of buildings and structures of various architectural styles . Many modern interpretations of Islamic architecture can be found here , due to a boom in construction and architectural innovation in the Arab World in general , and in Dubai in particular , supported not only by top Arab or international architectural and engineering design firms such as Al Hashemi and Aedas , but also by top firms of New York and Chicago . As a result of this boom , modern Islamic – and world – architecture has literally been taken to new levels in skyscraper building design and technology . Dubai now has more completed or topped @-@ out skyscrapers higher than 2 / 3 km , 1 / 3 km , or 1 / 4 km than any other city . A culmination point was reached in 2010 with the completion of the Burj Khalifa ( Khalifa Tower ) , now by far the world 's tallest building at 829 @.@ 8 m ( 2 @,@ 722 ft ) . The Burj Khalifa 's design is derived from the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture , with the triple @-@ lobed footprint of the building based on an abstracted version of the desert flower hymenocallis which is native to the Dubai region . The completion of the Khalifa Tower , following the construction boom that began in the 1980s , accelerated in the 1990s , and took on a rapid pace of construction unparalled in modern human history during the decade of the 2000s , leaves Dubai with the world 's tallest skyline as of 4 January 2010 . At the Top , Burj Khalifa , the world ’ s highest observatory deck with an outdoor terrace is one of Dubai ’ s most popular tourist attractions , with over 1 @.@ 87 million visitors in 2013 . 
