Burj Khalifa

Name: LEGO Burj Khalifa 21031
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 21031

73 · RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: BBB2016333 pcsHigh agreement · 93%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

278

BrickScore

Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"The 21031 Burj Khalifa earns its Recommended BrickScore of 72.7 as a solid upgrade on its predecessor with a more accurate silhouette and a beautifully executed base, though a few craft limitations and a price that feels slightly high keep it from reaching Highly Recommended territory."

The 21031 Burj Khalifa is a clear improvement over the 2011 original, better representing the building's tapered asymmetrical silhouette and petal-shaped base. Expert reviewers landed at a BrickScore of 72.7 with a Recommended verdict, noting strong design gains paired with some craft limitations. Owners rate it more enthusiastically at 4.6 out of 5 across 278 ratings, with 96% recommending it on LEGO.com, suggesting casual buyers and architecture fans connect with it strongly despite the critics' measured take.

Where they split: The main split is between expert and owner sentiment. The Brickset review gave it 65, calling out the too-narrow proportions and loss of the fins detail versus the 2011 version, while owner ratings cluster at 4.6 out of 5 with 96% recommending. JANG rated it 80, more closely matching owner enthusiasm. The gap suggests casual buyers and landmark fans respond warmly to the model even when critics see craft compromises.

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LOVED (7)

01Much more accurate representation of the building's shape than the 2011 version
02Petal-shaped base praised as beautiful and well-executed using newly available Brick 1x4x1 Inv. Bow elements
03Impressive height at around 36-39 cm, towering over other Architecture sets

+4 more with Collector

CRITICIZED (6)

01Price felt high relative to piece count by multiple reviewers; one owner rated value for money at just 20 out of 100
02Loss of vertical texture detail compared to the 2011 version, which used 1x1 round cylinders to convey the building's cross-sectional fins
03Tower appears too narrow relative to its height

+3 more with Collector

Build Facts what critics report

🧩 Difficulty

intermediate

🎯 Audience

adults

In Their Words most-used terms across every critic review

designversiondetailarchitecture2011basebetterbuildingshapecomparedasymmetricaloriginalburjkhalifacollectorsappeal

What reviewers are saying

"I think that this better represents the shape and is in general a better Lego set."

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"The new version is somewhat of an improvement on the other set which consisted of mostly round bricks however the old one did have the stacking round look of the real-life building."

The Brick Fan

Ecosystem

First LEGO Architecture Burj Khalifa (from 5 years prior) — This version is definitely better. The first one was not received very well, was a pretty simple build with mostly large stacks of 1x1 cylinders in gray. This one has a lot more building involved and better represents the shape overall. However, the original had better vertical texture with the cylinders on the wider panels.

21008 — The 2016 version is an improvement; the older 2011 set consisted mostly of round bricks but did capture the stacking round look of the real-life building better in that regard, whereas the new version achieves better overall design refinement.

ArchitectureInvestment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

JANG's LEGO Reviews 🇺🇸

Expert Video Source

"I think that this better represents the shape and is in general a better Lego set."

Key Pros

✓Base design with petal-like shapes is well-represented and pretty
✓Upper spire sub-assembly is nicely shaped and detailed
✓Better represents the building's actual shape compared to first version

Key Cons

✕Loss of vertical texture detail in the main body compared to original version with cylinders
✕Horizontal banding with dark gray parts doesn't go as deep as it ought to

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The Brick Fan 🇺🇸

Expert Video Source

BUY

"The new version is somewhat of an improvement on the other set which consisted of mostly round bricks however the old one did have the stacking round look of the real-life building."

Key Pros

✓Improvement over the 2011 Burj Khalifa set (21008)
✓Accurate design with tri-axial y-shape reflecting the real building
✓Appeals to Architecture set collectors

Key Cons

✕May not appeal to all LEGO enthusiasts

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Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Critics discussed this set's investment case

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Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Technic pulleys
Part of internal structure holding the assembly together
1×3 curved sloped pieces
Used for the tri-axial y-shape outer tower design
1×4×1 inverted bow pieces
Used for the outer tower structure
3 branch cross axles
Used for inner tower construction
Hinge plates
Keep the three tower columns close together
1×1/1×2 cheese slopes
Used for exterior cladding to replicate the building's look