Terrifying video of workers cleaning world's tallest building 'Burj Khalifa' leaves viewers 'paralyzed by fear'
Not everyone has a head for heights, and after all, if God had wanted us to soar above the clouds, he'd have given us wings.
Despite several concerning aviation accidents in 2025, commercial air travel is still considered far safer than driving. Flying around in a giant metal bird is one thing, but what about scaling new heights without the safety of a plane around you? Prepare to have a new fear unlocked thanks to a viral video of workers cleaning the world's tallest building.
Opened in 2010, the Burj Khalifa has the honor of being the world's tallest building since 2009 and towers above Dubai at a whopping 2,722 feet. With this being just over half a mile high, it's hard to put into words just how tall the Burj Khalifa is – well, unless you live in it.
Although it was already famous in its own right, Tom Cruise scaling the Burj Khalifa in 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol saw its profile raised, especially as viewers were left gripping the edge of their seats watching the stunt.
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While Cruise opted to do his own stunt and appeared to free solo climb the Burj Khalifa, he was actually attached at all times by multiple cables. Still, we wouldn't fancy climbing the massive structure for the Hollywood megastar's monumental wage, let alone for much less money.
Now, a video showing staff cleaning the Burj Khalifa has gone viral, leaving viewers in a state of shock. Even though some were left feeling nauseous by watching YouTuber DyingLama climbing Los Angeles' tallest skyscraper, that's nothing compared to Nepali workers cleaning the Burj Khalifa.
Appearing on the r/Damnthatsinteresting subreddit, the video shows the group chilling in clouds as they clean the windows with simple buckets of water. Although the spires of other skyscrapers can be seen poking above the clouds, the Burj Khalifa stands clear above them all.
One of the workers has a nervous expression, and we can only imagine what it's like to be up there, cleaning the windows of the elite on the world's tallest building.
It apparently takes three months to clean the windows, and as they're cleaned four times a year, it means the work is on a continuous cycle.
As reported by Time Out, cleaners climb to the top of the Burj's spire and use ropes to descend to the ground floor. They then use the lifts to go right to the top, and do it all over again. It's all pretty safe thanks to high-tension ropes keeping them attached, while cleaners are supposedly able to work up to 37 kph. Then again, they stop at 22 kph so as not to splash water everywhere.
Responding to the clip, one person said: "I would be paralyzed by fear. My heart skips a beat just watching this."
Another joked: "If my a**hole puckered anymore, I'd turn inside-out."
A third concluded: "The clouds are helping so much. Not seeing the ground helps me keep my nuts together."
It's estimated that these brave souls have an average salary of $50,000 a year, but to be honest, we'd rather keep our feet on the ground.