Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, is owned and operated by Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based real estate developer founded by Mohamed Alabbar in 1997. It’s not owned personally by any Emirati royal, despite that common assumption — Emaar is a publicly traded company listed on the Dubai Financial Market.
Alabbar stepped down as Emaar’s chairman in December 2020 but continued overseeing daily operations as managing director. In May 2026, Dubai’s ruling structure tightened its grip on the company: Dubai Holding acquired a 22.27% stake in Emaar from the Investment Corporation of Dubai in a deal worth roughly $6.5 billion, pushing Dubai Holding’s total stake to 29.73% — solidifying government-linked control over the company behind Downtown Dubai, the Dubai Mall, and Burj Khalifa itself.
Quick Facts
| Building | Burj Khalifa |
|---|---|
| Owner/Operator | Emaar Properties PJSC |
| Founder | Mohamed Alabbar (1997) |
| Largest Shareholder (2026) | Dubai Holding, ~29.73% |
| 2026 Development | Dubai Holding acquires additional 22.27% stake from Investment Corporation of Dubai (~$6.5B) |
| Height | World’s tallest building |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Mohamed Alabbar founds Emaar Properties |
| 2010 | Burj Khalifa officially opens, developed and owned by Emaar |
| 2020 | Alabbar steps down as Emaar chairman, remaining involved as managing director |
| May 2026 | Dubai Holding acquires a 22.27% stake in Emaar from the Investment Corporation of Dubai for roughly $6.5 billion, raising its total holding to 29.73% and tightening Dubai’s ruling structure’s control over the company |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Despite popular assumptions that Burj Khalifa belongs to a specific Emirati royal figure, it’s actually owned by a publicly traded company — though 2026’s ownership reshuffle shows government-linked entities steadily consolidating a larger direct stake.
- Mohamed Alabbar’s continued involvement as managing director, even after stepping back from the chairman role in 2020, has kept him closely associated with Emaar’s public identity.
- The 2026 Dubai Holding transaction is one of the largest internal ownership reshuffles in Emaar’s history, moving stake concentration further toward Dubai’s sovereign investment structure.
FAQ
Who owns Burj Khalifa?
Emaar Properties, a publicly traded Dubai real estate developer founded by Mohamed Alabbar, owns and operates Burj Khalifa.
Does a member of Dubai’s royal family personally own Burj Khalifa?
Not directly. Emaar is a public company, though Dubai Holding — linked to Dubai’s ruling structure — held roughly 29.73% of Emaar as of a major 2026 stake increase.
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