The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building on the planet, soaring 2,717 feet (828 meters) high with more than 160 stories set in a stepped design that narrows as it climbs, syringe-like, to the sky. The design is patterned after the repetition of a single geometric shape, meant to echo Islamic art. Bringing a new meaning to the term skyscraper, the building is part of the massive downtown Dubai complex of offices, hotels, shopping malls, entertainment precincts, and apartment buildings.
The Basics
With a Burj Khalifa admission ticket, travelers can ride the high-speed elevator to the 124th-floor At the Top observation deck for stunning 360-degree views over Dubai and the Persian Gulf. It's also possible to ride to the exclusive, 125th-floor and then go even higher to the 148th-floor At the Top SKY deck (the tallest viewing platform in the world at 1,821 feet or 555 meters), watching a multimedia presentation on the way and then taking in the sights through the deck's floor-to-ceiling glass walls. If you'd rather not get so high, wander through through the gardens and fountains of Burj Khalifa Park, or shop till you drop at the Dubai Mall, located inside the building. Along with a huge variety of shops such as Galeries Lafayette, Bloomingdale's, and Marks & Spencer, the mall features an aquarium, ice rink, Sega theme park, and movie theater.
Just about every Dubai city tour stops at the exterior of the Burj Khalifa, with some including tickets to the Burj Khalifa observation decks. Comprehensive tours of Dubai, the most modern city in the United Arab Emirates, often also stop at other top Dubai attractions such as the Dubai desert (for a desert safari or dune bashing), Ski Dubai, the Dubai Aquarium, the Dubai Fountain, and the Burj Al-Arab.
Things to Know Before You Go- Burj Khalifa tickets are required to access the structure's observation decks.
- An At the Top admission ticket includes access to levels 124 and 125, while an At the Top SKY ticket allows access to levels 124, 125, and 148.
- Kids under 4 years old enter free.
How to Get to the Burj Khalifa
Previously known as Burj Dubai, the iconic Burj Khalifa is located at the First Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road, not too far from the central business district. Taxis and buses run along Sheikh Zayed Road, the Red Line metro stops here and a free shuttle runs from major hotels.
When to Get There
Both ticket options have prime and non-prime hours, with higher prices during prime hours. For At the Top tickets, prime hours are from 3:30pm to 6pm daily; for At the Top SKY, prime hours are from opening until 6pm.
