Burj Khalifa

برج خليفة

At 828 metres, the world's tallest building. The 'At the Top' decks on floors 124 and 125 and the SKY deck on floor 148 overlook the desert and the gulf. It is Dubai's ultimate landmark.

Burj Khalifa opened in 2010. Standing 828 metres tall with 163 floors, it is the tallest building in the world to date. It was designed by SOM, with its shape drawn from the three-lobed structure of the desert spider lily. There are two observation decks. 'At the Top' on floors 124 and 125 (about 455 metres) is the standard ticket, costing about AED 170–190 in off-peak hours and over AED 250 during the golden hour before sunset. 'At the Top SKY' on floor 148 (555 metres) includes a VIP lounge and Arabic coffee, costs about AED 400–550, and is less crowded, so the experience is better. The entrance is on the lower ground floor of The Dubai Mall, and one of the world's fastest lifts takes about 60 seconds to reach the top. From the deck you can see the Dubai Fountain, Palm Jumeirah and the desert beyond, and on clear days visibility reaches 90 km. Tickets must be booked in advance on the official website. Popular time slots often sell out a week ahead, and on-site tickets cost about twice as much. Choose a slot about 45 minutes before sunset to see both the sunset and the city lights come on, then go back down in time for the fountain show. Take the Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station, then walk about 800 metres along an air-conditioned covered walkway to the mall. Another option is to book afternoon tea or dinner at At.mosphere on floor 122, which avoids the queue for the observation deck. Tripods are not allowed through security, and the outdoor areas of the observation deck can be very windy. On New Year's Eve, the fireworks display on the tower draws global attention, so book hotels several months in advance.

Burj Khalifa

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