The Burj Khalifa (Arabic: برج خليفة‎), known as the Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration in 2010, is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With a total height of 829.8 meters and a roof height of 828 meters, the Burj Khalifa has been the tallest structure and building in the world since its topping out in 2009, supplanting Taipei 101, the previous holder of that status. The design is derived from Islamic architecture. As the tower rises from the flat desert base, there are 27 setbacks in a spiral pattern, decreasing the cross section of the tower as it rises and creating convenient outdoor terraces. These setbacks are arranged and aligned in a way that minimizes vibration wind loading from eddy currents and vortices created by high level winds. At the top, the central core emerges and is sculpted to form a finishing spire. When the tide is low and visibility is high, people on the observation deck can see the shores of Iran from the top of the skyscraper.