Standing 828 m high, the sky-piercing Burj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure in the world and one of the most prominent attractions in all of the Middle-East. A headlining accomplishment by Emaar, the construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004 and was opened in 2010 as part of a new development called Downtown Dubai. The building is constructed on the government's decision to diversify money from an oil-based economy, and for Dubai to gain international recognition. The building was originally named Burj Dubai but was renamed in honor of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who provide funds for its construction.