Burj Khalifa in Dubai – Visit the tallest building in the world

In the middle of Dubai stands the Burj Khalifa, a tower that soars above the rest of the city’s skyscrapers. The Burj Khalifa is an impressive 828 meters tall (829.9 meters including antenna and flagpole) and has been the tallest building in the world since 2007, a source of great pride for Dubai. The skyscraper is located in the popular Downtown Dubai district, where you can also find the world’s largest shopping mall, the Dubai Mall, and the stunning Dubai Fountain.

Thanks to its impressive height, the Burj Khalifa is a must-see during your vacation in Dubai. A visit to Dubai is incomplete without exploring the tallest tower in the world. Curious about how to visit the Burj Khalifa in Dubai? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the observation decks in the skyscraper that offering breathtaking views of Dubai, and tickets for the Burj Khalifa.

Visiting the Burj Khalifa

It is possible to visit the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The towering structure is accessible to tourists by booking a ticket for the popular At the Top observatiedek at 452 meters high. Another option to visit the Burj Khalifa is by booking a room at the 5-star Armani Hotel Dubai, booking a dining in the Burj Khalifa, Book a high tea at one of the restaurants in the skyscraper, or visiting residents in the tallest tower in the world.

For most tourists, buying a ticket for At The Top is the cheapest and easiest way to visit the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. You can book your Burj Khalifa ticket online via this website or on the de website van GetYourGuide. The observation deck of At The Top is located on the 124th and 125th floors, at 452 meters above ground. From this immense height, you have an incredible 360-degree panoramic view of the Dubai skyline.

Only a portion of the 828-meter-tall tower is accessible to the public. The bottom eight floors house the 5-star Armani Hotel, where you can stay in luxury rooms designed by the renowned Italian designer Giorgio Armani for a fee. Above that, from the 9th to the 108th floor, are over 900 luxury apartments. The 111th to the 151st floors mainly contain office spaces. Additionally, the Burj Khalifa houses various swimming pools, restaurants, a fitness center, a mosque, and a nightclub.

On the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa is the Atmosphere Burj Khalifa restaurant. On the 124th and 125th floors is the viewing platform of At The Top, offering a stunning 360-degree view of Dubai. On the 148th floor is the luxury At The Top Burj Khalifa SKYobservation deck. Above that, on the 152nd to the 154th floors, is the highest lounge in the world, which can be visited for a fee. At the Burj Khalifa: Burj Khalifa: The Lounge, you can enjoy snacks and drinks with a spectacular view over Dubai.

Viewpoint in the tallest building in the world

The entrance to the At The Top attraction is not located within the Burj Khalifa itself but in the Dubai Mall shopping center, on the Lower Ground Floor near the Food Court. The At The Top attraction is well signposted on the numerous signs in the mall. After booking a ticket, you walk through a long corridor into the Burj Khalifa and are transported by the world’s fastest elevator to the 124th floor at 452 meters above ground. From this observation deck, you have a stunning panoramic view of Dubai. During sandstorms and due to moisture in the air, particularly at the beginning and end of the day, the view may be somewhat limited. Also, after sunset, the view is less expansive, but you get a spectacular view of the illuminated Dubai skyline.

One half of the observation deck is covered, offering views of the southwest part of Dubai, including the famous Palm Jumeirah eiland and the ultra-luxurious Burj Al Arab. On clear days, you may even see a part of the Dubai Marina with the Ain Dubai in the distance. From the outdoor section, you can view the eastern part of Dubai, including the Sheikh Zayed Road with all its skyscrapers, Downtown Dubai with the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain, the Souk Al Bahar, and the neighboring Address Hotel, The Palace Hotel, and in the distance, the Dubai Frame. Open sections have been incorporated into the windows in the outdoor area, allowing for photography and/or filming without being hindered by glass reflections.

It’s worth noting that the Burj Khalifa – At The Top attraction is fully accessible to people with disabilities and wheelchairs. Guide dogs for the blind are also permitted. However, there are no facilities for visually impaired or deaf individuals.

Visiting the At The Top observation deck in the Burj Khalifa

The At the Top attraction in the Burj Khalifa operates with online tickets, where you must choose a specific time slot. This allows for effective regulation of visitor flow and prevents overcrowding at the tower’s observation platform. During sunset, it may be busier on the observation deck than usual due to visitors lingering longer to witness the sunset.

Before you go up, you must first pass through a security checkpoint, similar to those at airports. There is usually a short queue at this security checkpoint. After the security check, you’ll queue for the elevators. During peak times, especially around sunset, you may have to wait a while before going up. Therefore, consider this when selecting your time slot for booking Burj Khalifa tickets if you wish to see the sunset from the Burj Khalifa. The entire process of passing through security, waiting in line for the elevator, and taking the elevator ride up typically takes about 30 minutes. In the elevator, you’ll ascend at a speed of up to 42 kilometers per hour, though you may not notice the acceleration. Pay attention to the floor counter in the elevator, as it moves very quickly. The elevators in the Burj Khalifa are the fastest in the world, so you’ll reach the 124th floor in no time.

Once you’ve reached the 124th and 125th floors of the world’s tallest tower, you can stay as long as you like and enjoy the 360-degree view of Dubai. Most visitors spend around thirty to sixty minutes on the observation deck itself. On the At The Top floors, you can also purchase souvenirs or post a letter in one of the world’s highest mailboxes. If you wish to share your photos and selfies on social media or with family and friends immediately, you can do so thanks to the free Wi-Fi. If you haven’t had enough of the view and want to see more, you can book an upgrade to the Burj Khalifa, At the Top SKYon the 124th floor, which takes you to a height of 555 meters.

What is the best time to visit the Burj Khalifa?

In our opinion, the best time to visit the Burj Khalifa – At the Top is one and a half to one hour before sunset, around 5:00 PM in the winter months. During this period, the sun sets between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM, depending on the month. If you plan to visit the Burj Khalifa in the summer months, the sun sets between 7:00 PM and 7:15 PM. Check the current sunset times in Dubai on this website, where the sunrise and sunset times are listed for each day.

By booking a ticket just before sunset, you actually get two experiences for the price of one. You’ll see Dubai both in daylight and at night. Due to the security check and the crowd at the elevator, it takes about half an hour before you reach the top. Therefore, it’s best to reserve your tickets about an hour before sunset so you can be on time to watch the sunset. At this time, you can also enjoy the “blue hour” and watch the sunset from a great height. Then, you’ll see the city’s lights come on and witness Dubai gradually becoming dark.

For the (hobby) photographer, the best time to visit the Burj Khalifa is early in the morning because you’ll have little to no backlight if you want to take pictures through the glass. This issue only arises if you want to photograph towards the Burj al Arab and coastline; the other side of Dubai is accessible on the outdoor deck where there are gaps in the glass panels for photography.

Tickets voor At The Top in de Burj Khalifa

If you want to visit the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa, then order your At The Top tickets on the Tiqets website or on the GetYourGuide website. With these tickets, you’ll gain access to the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa and can enjoy a fantastic view over Dubai and the Persian Gulf.

Prices for Burj Khalifa admission tickets start at 49 US Dollar per person for regular Burj Khalifa tickets. Tickets for busier times, such as around sunset, are slightly more expensive, starting at 71 US Dollar per person. For more information about Burj Khalifa tickets, take a look at our Burj Khalifa tickets page. Here, you’ll find a range of tickets for the Burj Khalifa.

Visiting the Burj Khalifa is a popular attraction, so ticket availability may be limited. Therefore, it’s advisable to order your Burj Khalifa tickets in advance online. We recommend reserving your Burj Khalifa tickets three to four weeks in advance, especially if you plan to visit during popular times like sunset, weekends, or holidays. This way, you can avoid disappointment and ensure that you can visit the Burj Khalifa on your desired day and time.

Click here to book you ticket for the Burj Khalifa

At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY

In addition to the At The Top observation deck on the 124th and 125th floors, the Burj Khalifa also has a second observation deck, the At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY viewpoint. This observation deck is located on the 148th floor, 555 meters above the ground, making it officially the highest observation deck in the world. Separate tickets are available for At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY, which are considerably more expensive than tickets for the At The Top viewpoint. Despite the higher price, you’ll experience more luxury, access to a private lift, a private guide, and an even better view of the city from the world’s highest observation deck.

Entrance tickets for the At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY observation deck are available starting from 109 US Dollar per person but the price goes up during popular times in the morning and around sunset. You can reserve tickets for At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY on the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa on the Tiqets website or on the GetYourGuide website. With a ticket for At The Top, Burj Khalifa SKY, you also get access to the regular At The Top on the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa.

Click here to book your Burj Khalifa SKY tickets .

The Lounge Burj Khalifa – the highest lounge in the world

In the Burj Khalifa, not only the highest observation deck can be found, but the tower also houses the highest lounge in the world. The Lounge Burj Khalifa is located on the 152nd, 153rd, and 154th floors of the tallest building in the world at a dizzying 585 meters above the ground. This makes the super-luxurious The Lounge the highest point in the Burj Khalifa accessible to visitors. More information about the exclusive lounge in the Burj Khalifa can be found on our page The Lounge Burj Khalifa..

The Lounge in the Burj Khalifa can be visited by booking a special ticket that grants access to the lounge where you can enjoy snacks and drinks. Tickets for The Lounge are available starting from 190 euros per person and can be booked online on this website or via Tiqets.

Click here to book your tickets for The Lounge Burj Khalifa

Dining in the Burj Khalifa at Atmosphere Burj Khalifa

Atmosphere Burj Khalifa, situated at a height of 442 meters, is the highest restaurant in the world. This luxurious restaurant is located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa and consists of a dining area and a lounge where you can relax. At Atmosphere, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, all with stunning panoramic views of the Dubai skyline. The menu at Atmosphere restaurant is French-oriented, featuring seasonal ingredients and dishes such as foie gras, sea bass served with caviar and yuzu foam, beef tartare, Duck à l’Orange, and Wagyu ribs Rossini.

The restaurant is not cheap, with prices for a 4-course lunch starting at 131 US Dollar per person, and a 7-course tasting menu costing at least 262 US Dollar. Beverages are not included in these prices. Prices for à la carte dishes such as beef tartare start at 109 US Dollar per dish and go up to over 218 US Dollar for a dish with lobster. For more information about dining or having a high tea experience in the tallest tower in the world, you can read on our page about dining in the Burj Khalifa.

Click here to book your dinner at Atmosphere Burj Khalifa

Design of the Burj Khalifa

The design of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is based on the common desert flower Hymenocallis, whose shape is reflected in the tower’s floor plan. The world’s tallest tower was designed by the renowned American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) from Chicago. This architectural firm is known for projects such as the Willis Tower in Chicago and the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai.

Construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004, and the building was officially opened on January 4, 2010, after nearly six years of construction. During construction, the tower was named Burj Dubai, meaning “Tower of Dubai.” Just before the opening, it was announced that the tower would be named Burj Khalifa instead of Burj Dubai. The name is a reference to Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi and also the president of the United Arab Emirates at that time. The tower was named after the then-president of the UAE because Abu Dhabi financially assisted Dubai during the economic crisis to prevent the emirate from going bankrupt. In return, Dubai’s most prominent building was named after Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The total cost of building the Burj Khalifa was about 1.4 billion Dollars, a fraction compared to the total cost of 20 billion euros to build the entire Downtown Dubai project. Another interesting fact about the Burj Khalifa is that the tower has a total of 24,348 windows with a total glass area of 120,000 square meters. The system to keep all these windows clean had a price tag of 8 million dollars. About 1 million liters of water are transported daily through about 100 kilometers of pipelines within the tower.

World Records of the Burj Khalifa

With a height of 829.8 meters, including the antennas and flagpole, the Burj Khalifa is not only the tallest building ever built by humans, but it has also set several other records. The following world records have been established by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai:
– At 829.8 meters, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper in the world.
– On September 13, 2007, the tower reached a height of 555 meters, making the Burj Khalifa the tallest freestanding structure in the world.
– On April 7, 2008, the tower reached a height of 629 meters, becoming the tallest building on earth.
– The Burj Khalifa has the largest number of floors in the world, totaling 163.
– On January 23, 2011, the highest restaurant in the world, At.mosphere, was opened in the Burj Khalifa. The restaurant is located on the 122nd floor, at a height of 422 meters.
– The Burj Khalifa features the fastest elevators and highest elevators in the world.
– The Burj Khalifa holds the record for the highest fireworks display in the world.
– The largest light and sound show on a building is displayed daily on the Burj Khalifa.
– The highest nightclub in the world is located on the 143rd floor of the Burj Khalifa.
– The Burj Khalifa has the highest occupied floor in the world.
– At The Top Burj Khalifa Sky is the highest observation deck on earth, located on the 148th floor, 555 meters above the ground.
– The highest mosque in the world is located on the 158th floor.
– At a height of 575 meters, the highest lounge in the world can be found.
– Armin van Buuren performed on the Burj Khalifa, breaking the world record for the highest performance. The performance also broke the world record for the largest LED screen at a performance.

Photographing the Burj Khalifa

From the At The Top observation deck on the 124th floor, you have the opportunity to capture stunning photos of the surroundings around the Burj Khalifa, including the famous Palm Jumeirah eiland and the Burj al Arab. During the day, it’s even possible to see a part of Iran from the observation platform if the weather is clear.

The Burj Khalifa is also impressive to photograph from a distance. Around the tower, there are several locations to capture the world’s tallest building effectively. The most popular place to photograph the tower is from the terraces and the square in front of the Dubai Mall and the bridge over the water to the Souk Al Bahar. Another suitable location is from the terrace in front of The Address Dubai Mall hotel, where the beautiful pedestrian bridge to the Souk Al Bahar can be included in the photos. It’s advisable to photograph here before 1:00 PM; later in the day, the sun may be in the wrong position, potentially affecting your photos.

For the most beautiful photos of the Burj Khalifa, there are two suitable moments per day: during the day when there are hardly any clouds in the sky, the sky is heavenly blue, and the sun is behind you while taking photos. Or in the evening during the blue hour, which is the period just after sunset. If you want to take beautiful afternoon photos of the Burj Khalifa, it’s advisable to stand along the Emaar Boulevard on the south side of the Burj Khalifa.

How do you get to the Burj Khalifa?

The entrance to Burj Khalifa – At the Top is located in the Dubai Mall, on level LG (Lower Ground) near Bloomingdale’s Home and the entrance/exit to the Waterfront Promenade and the Dubai Fountain. You can also follow the signs in the Dubai Mall, where the At The Top attraction is clearly marked. For a map of the Dubai Mall, visit the mall’s website. The Dubai Mall is easily accessible by car, taxi, or public transportation in Dubai.

By car to the Burj Khalifa
If you want to travel to the Burj Khalifa with your own (rental) car, it’s best to park in the parking garage of the Dubai Mall. The Dubai Mall is well signposted on many traffic signs, and the various entrances to the parking garages near the mall are indicated on the traffic signs. There are more than 14,000 covered parking spaces available, so you’re unlikely to encounter a full parking garage quickly. Those only visiting the Dubai Mall to visit At the Top can park on level 1 in section M or take the Cinema Car Park.

By metro to the Burj Khalifa
If you want to travel to the Burj Khalifa by public transportation, taking the Dubai metro is the best option. The red metro line has a station at the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa. From the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station, you can walk to the Dubai Mall via a covered Metro Link Bridge equipped with air conditioning in 10 minutes. You enter the Dubai Mall via the bridge on the second floor. From here, you can take the elevator or escalator to the lower ground where the entrance to the At the Top attraction is located.

By bus to the Burj Khalifa
You can also travel to the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall by bus. Bus line 27 runs from the Deira Gold Souk busstation to the Dubai Mall, and bus line 29 runs from the Ghubaiba bus station to the Dubai Mall. The buses arrive and depart at the tourist drop-off point at the Grand Drive entrance on the Lower Ground of the Dubai Mall. A bus arrives and departs about every 14 to 16 minutes.

By taxi to the Burj Khalifa
For those who prefer not to deal with public transportation, you can also travel to the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa by taxi. Keep in mind that if you specify the Burj Khalifa as your destination, the driver often drops you off at the tower’s entrance, from where it’s a short walk to the entrance of the Dubai Mall. Therefore, it’s best to give Dubai Mall as the destination to the driver. Then you will be dropped off at one of the central taxi stands at the Dubai Mall and can walk to the entrance of Burj Khalifa – At The Top inside the mall.

In the evening, the taxi stands at the Dubai Mall can sometimes be very busy, requiring you to wait in line for some time before getting a taxi. Therefore, it may be wise to first walk a bit and catch a taxi at a less crowded point, such as near the metro station, Souk al Bahar, or along the road.

The opening hours for the Burj Khalifa.

The opening hours for the Burj Khalifa are as follows:

– At the Top observation deck and At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY are open on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM. On weekends, they are open from 5:00 AM to midnight. The last entry to the observation deck is possible up to forty-five minutes before closing time.
– The Lounge Burj Khalifa is open daily from 9:00 AM to midnight.

Attention!
Due to safety checks and limited lift capacity, it may take some time before you actually reach the top. For safety reasons, it is not allowed to bring your bags and luggage trolleys upstairs. Special lockers are available at the entrance near the Check Room where you can store your luggage if you are visiting At the Top. By exiting the attraction, you can take your luggage.

Certain items are not allowed to be taken upstairs. Some are obvious, such as fireworks, explosives, knives, and pepper spray, but also markers, spray paint cans, alcohol, glass bottles, and shoes with wheels popular among children are not allowed. It is also not allowed to bring dogs and other pets upstairs, except for guide dogs for the blind.

Click here to book your Burj Khalifa tickets.

Useful Burj Khalifa Information

Here is a summary of the key information about the Burj Khalifa: