Look: When 'Spiderman' Scaled The Towering Burj Khalifa 14 Years Ago

Up in the sky – was it a bird? A plane? Superman? No, it was Spider-Man.

It was 14 years ago this day – March 28, 2011 – when Alain Robert, famously known as the French Spider-Man, turned the gleaming glass and steel surface of the world's tallest tower – the Burj Khalifa – into a vertical climbing wall.

As reported by Khaleej Times, Robert – who was then 48 years old – began to scale the 828-metre Burj Khalifa at 6.10 pm , just before sunset. Strong winds caused a delay to his climb. But the loud cheers from onlookers gave him the energy as he dipped his hands into a small pack of powder tucked onto his back and started ascending the glass wall from the eighth floor – the actual base of Burj Khalifa.

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Before taking on the Burj Khalifa challenge, Robert climbed more than 70 towers , including New York's Empire State Building, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, and Chicago's Willis Tower. A year before Burj Khalifa opened, he conquered Taiwan's Taipei 101, which was the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010.

The French Spider-Man was also arrested several times in various countries as authorities rarely gave permission for his dangerous climbs.

His Burj Khalifa hike was organised as part of the 'Education Without Borders Conference' of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). He even unfurled a portrait of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, while hanging on to steel bars.

Unlike many of his previous climbs, Robert used a rope and harness to comply with the organisers' requirements. Paramedics and safety crew were positioned at the foot of the Burj Khalifa as he climbed to the top using his bare hands and extraordinary climbing skills.

As night fell, a row of powerful spotlights shone on the side of the tower so spectators could see Robert in action.

Finally, after six hours, 13 minutes, and 55 seconds, Robert ascended the exterior of the world's tallest tower.

“It was difficult climbing Burj Khalifa because the building is very smooth. There was hardly anything to hold onto. Even the glass was slippery because of the windy conditions, and the metal window latches were very narrow,” Alain told Khaleej Times the day after his climb.

“There was no question of quitting the climb. I kept climbing until there was nothing to hold onto. The only worry was the wind and the cold weather. All in all, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it from bottom to top,” he added.

“Climbing for me is like conquering something that is already so awe-inspiring, since man-made structures are getting taller and more impressive every year,” Robert said. He added,“I think all of us have dreams but we should work to make these dreams true. We should be living instead of just surviving.”

Robert also shared he took mini-breaks to eat protein bars and replenish liquids to boost energy levels during his climb.“It was nice to set a record, but for me, it was the thrill of the climb rather than getting titles that was more important,” he added.

Meanwhile, the French Spider-Man was not the only one who reached the top of Burj Khalifa.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, proudly waved the UAE flag atop the Burj Khalifa in 2013 to celebrate the country's 42nd National Day, and as part of a campaign aimed at securing the 2020 World Expo for Dubai.

Hollywood star Tom Cruise scaled the Burj Khalifa earlier in 2010 while filming Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. And stuntwoman Nicole Smith-Ludvik became the first woman to stand atop the Burj Khalifa in 2021 as part of the Emirates Airlines ad campaign.

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