Burj Khalifa

What you need to know before your visit

The Burj Khalifa is THE superlative skyscraper. It is still the tallest building in the world and impresses not only with its height, but also with its unique architecture. If you are on vacation in Dubai, then a visit to the Burj Khalifa should definitely be on your to-do list.

The name Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa was originally called Burj Dubai, which means "Dubai Tower." When it was inaugurated in January 2010, it was then renamed Burj Khalifa - in honor of the President of the United Arab Emirates.

Height and floors of the Burj Khalifa

The tallest building in the world rises a full 828 meters into the air. In total, the Burj Khalifa has 189 floors, but only 163 of them are usable.

In addition to the world's first Armani Hotel, the building also houses apartments, offices and several restaurants.

To ensure that everyone can enjoy the view, the tower has two of the highest viewing platforms in the world: At the Top, Burj Khalifa and At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY.

Plan your visit to Burj Khalifa in advance

It is definitely advisable to plan your visit to the Burj Khalifa in advance, as the crowds can be very high, especially during the high season from November to March. You may have to wait in line for tickets for a long time, if you can get any at all. If you book the tickets in advance, you are on the one hand on the safe side and on the other hand you even save money, because the prices are often higher on site. So it pays off twice.

You can buy the tickets for the viewing platforms either on the official homepage of the Burj Khalifa or at Get your Guide. There you can buy the tickets from about 35€ per person. You can even cancel them free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of the tour, for example, in case of bad weather. This happens very rarely in Dubai, but you never know.

When booking tickets, one must distinguish between the following two viewing platforms.

The viewing platform At the Top, Burj Khalifa.

This observation deck is located on the 124th and 125th floors of the building and offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Dubai. In just 90 seconds, the speedy elevator transports visitors to the 125th floor. Unfortunately, it is located inside the building - without windows and thus without a view to the outside. Fortunately, you hardly feel the speed of 10 m/s, so you don't have to worry about nausea.

Once on the 125th floor and thus at a height of 456 meters, a breathtaking view opens up to visitors from the spacious deck. A vast number of skyscrapers built in the middle of a desert. From here, you first get an overview of the dimensions and layout of the city.

The highlight of the floor is certainly the glass floor, which gives the intrepid a fabulous view down.

One floor down, there is another outdoor terrace with a view of the skyline. The exterior walls of the terrace are glazed, but there are small gaps so you can take photos without annoying reflections. Since the area is not fully protected from the sun, make sure you have adequate sunscreen and it's best to bring water as well.

The cheapest way to get tickets for the viewing platform is at Get your Guide. After purchasing, you will immediately receive an online voucher, which you can exchange for a valid ticket on site at the ticket office. Since you have to choose an exact time when booking, you save a lot of time because the often tiring queuing is no longer necessary. It could hardly be more uncomplicated and relaxed.

The viewing platform At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY

This observation deck is a bit higher than the first one and due to its price it is less frequented. It is located on the 148th floor and, in addition to an outdoor terrace at 555 meters above sea level, offers a premium lounge where visitors are served refreshments. In addition, there is a personalized guided tour where you can learn more about the Burj Khalifa and Dubai's skyline.

After the exclusive stay in the SKY Lounge, it then goes down to the 124th and 125th floors, where you can also look around. So this ticket includes access to three floors.

Here, too, it is a good idea to purchase the tickets in advance to avoid waiting times. At Get your Guide you get the tickets for about 123€ per person. A hefty surcharge for a not much better view. The only advantage of this viewing platform is the exclusivity and the personal attention you get.

Sunset from above

Many tourists prefer to visit the Burj Khalifa during sunset. Understandable, because then you can not only marvel at the setting sun on the horizon, but also view the city in daylight as well as in the evening.

Because of this demand, there are so-called peak and off-peak ticket prices. During the sunset period, prices are correspondingly the highest. You can see exactly when the sun sets on your desired date here. In the peak season, the time of sunset ranges between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm.

If you choose the peak time ticket, plan to be at the top at least 30 minutes before sunset. If you booked the ticket in advance, there should also be no waiting time, so you will be up on time.

Access to the viewing platforms and dress code

Access to the viewing platforms is through the basement of the Dubai Mall. The direction to At the Top, Burj Khalifa is signposted in the mall. At the ticket counter, you can then exchange your online voucher for a valid ticket or try to purchase a ticket for the day. If you have booked in advance, you should be at the ticket counter halfway on time. However, it does not depend on a few minutes.

There is no dress code for the viewing platforms. You can therefore be dressed casually. Women in particular, however, should not appear too revealing out of respect for Arab culture. However, there are no consequences for too much naked skin here. Which clothes are appropriate in Dubai and what you should consider, you can read in my article.

Is a visit to the Burj Khalifa worth it?

Although the price of at least 35€ is steep, the visit is definitely worth it. If you have the opportunity to stand in the highest building in the world, you should take it. The panorama remains unforgettable.

However, you can do without the expensive tickets for the SKY Lounge if you are only interested in the view. A height of 456 meters is quite sufficient for a breathtaking view.

Whether you want to buy tickets for the sunset, you should also weigh well. Because not only the price is much higher, but also the crowds. In the morning, for example, it is much quieter and you can enjoy the time above more. It's a matter of preference and partly also of budget.

Burj Khalifa - a building of superlatives

To start with, I have compiled the most interesting and impressive information about the Burj Khalifa for you:

• The Burj Khalifa is with 828 meters the highest building in the world.

• It was built within only six years, between 2004 and early 2009.

• It is the emirate's landmark and one of the most important Dubai attractions.

• The emirate's flagship is located in Downtown Dubai, right next to the Dubai Mall.

• Burj Khalifa houses offices, apartments, suites, restaurants and several observation decks.

• 57 elevators run in the world's tallest building. They take visitors and residents up to the more than 160 floors at lightning speed.

The At.Mosphere restaurant, part of the Armani Hotel, is located on the 123rd floor, making it the highest restaurant in the world.

Unique spectacle: the Dubai Fountain

A special highlight at the world's tallest tower is the Dubai Fountain, the water feature at the Burj Khalifa. Starting at 6 p.m. (or 7 p.m. in winter), the giant fountain at the Dubai Mall starts its show every half hour - the water jets dance to Arabic, Asian, classical and European sounds in the basin in front of the Burj Khalifa.

The fountains shoot up more than 30 meters to the beat of the music, while the tower glistens in the background. At these moments, the bustling life here stops, everyone pulls out their cameras and is enchanted by the water show. If you are ever in Dubai, you must take the time at least one evening to enjoy this unique spectacle. Alternatively, if you don't want to crowd the most popular spots with other onlookers, you can book a boat tour for the best view of the Dubai Fountain Show.

At the Top - fantastic views

Seeing Dubai from the top - that's an absolute dream for many, and one that can be realized very easily. After all, you have the chance to view the city from a completely different perspective from the 124th and 125th floors. This is where the Observation Deck and a large, open terrace are located.

You'll also have the chance to visit the Observation Deck At the Top Sky on the 148th floor. Tickets for the two-story observation deck At the Top and At the Top Sky can be purchased on-site, but tickets for the same day are much more expensive than those purchased in advance. Therefore, book your tickets at least one day in advance and you will save a lot of money. Online tickets can then be picked up on site and are always valid for a specific time that you select in advance. Be sure to be there on time, because the rides up are strictly timed.

Best time to visit the Burj Khalifa

It is best to book your ticket for 5 pm, then you can still see the city in the light and then look directly at the fantastic sunset. After that you will have the chance to see the dancing water fountains of the fountain. There is a fixed date for the ascent, but when you go down again is up to you. So you can kill three birds with one stone and get the most out of your trip. These times are of course very popular, so you need to book a little longer in advance to make sure you get tickets.

Prices for the Burj Khalifa

You can choose between the following tickets: A Burj Khalifa ticket for floors 124 and 125 is available online for as little as €35 (admission between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.), while those who want to enjoy a sunset will pay upwards of €57 for their ticket - as long as you book it in advance. If you want to go up to the 148th floor, you'll pay around 100€ for your ticket, depending on the time.

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. So to speak, a mega tower among skyscrapers. Burj Khalifa measures 829.9 meters to the top and is located in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

With 189 floors spread over 828 meters, Burj Khalifa is five times taller than Cologne Cathedral. But the building, inaugurated in 2010, breaks even more records: Burj Khalifa is not only the tallest building in the world, but also the tallest free-standing structure in the world, the building with the highest floor in use, the building with the highest roof and the structure with the highest observation deck.

The giant is being built

Preparatory work for Burj Khalifa began in February 2004. The tower stands on a 7,000-square-meter foundation slab, the size of a soccer field. Construction work was carried out 24 hours a day in three shifts. A new floor was completed every four days. Up to the 156th floor, the skyscraper is a reinforced concrete structure. Everything above that is made only of steel.

High-strength concrete with a strength grade of C80 was used to build the Burj Dubai. Its compressive strength is three times that of normal concrete. It was only applied at night because otherwise it would have been damaged in the Arabian heat. The entire building cost around $1.5 billion and was originally to be paid for entirely by the royal family of Dubai. Ultimately, however, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the Arab Emirates, Sheikh Chalifa bin Zayid Al Nahyan, ensured financially that the building could be opened. He thus also became the tower's namesake.

How is the building used?

Today, the Burj Khalifa is a crowd puller. 4000 people go up to the observation deck every day to take a souvenir photo. There are a total of 54 elevators, the fastest of which covers 500 meters in 55 seconds - at a speed of 36 kilometers per hour. Besides observation platforms, there are apartments, offices, hotels and restaurants in the building. Who wants to buy an apartment there must have a lot of money. The fact that rich people come and go can be seen from the fact that there is even an ATM where you can withdraw gold bars.

How long will the record last?

How long will the record of the tallest building in Dubai last? We can be curious! In the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, a skyscraper is currently being built that will be over a thousand meters high. But another mega tower is also planned in Dubai. The building, named Calatravas, is being built on behalf of a company as a gift for the city of Dubai. It is to be completed by the World Expo in Dubai in 2020.

Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa is the tallest, most visited structure in the world at 828 meters high and is located in the Downtown Dubai district, the "new center" of the desert metropolis on the Arabian Gulf.

The correct pronunciation is "Bursch Khalifa" and Burj means "tower" in Arabic.

Emaar is the developer of the Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai and also the Dubai Mall.

One family / one location - Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, the Burj Lake with the famous water games together form one unit. So you never visit only Burj Khalifa alone.

At.mosphere Burj Khalifa - Restaurant

Popular eatery in the Burj Khalifa at a height of 442 meters. At.mosphere is located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served here.

Armani Hotel

This 5 star hotel is located on the second floors (spans 11 floors) and floors 38/39 of the Burj Khalifa. The Armani Hotel was designed by Giorgio Armani himself. 7 restaurants are housed in the hotel.

Emaar Properties PJSC

Emaar Properties, based in Dubai, is one of the world's largest real estate groups. This company plans, builds and operates entire neighborhoods in Dubai. The company is one of the best known in the Arab region. It is currently developing into one of the world's leading providers of innovative and luxurious real estate projects and is one of the best-known developers of mega-projects.

With the holistic conception and realization of so-called lifestyle communities in extraordinary dimensions, the company is shaping Dubai's cityscape and making a decisive contribution to the fact that the city is now regarded as the epitome of superlatives and luxury.

With its visionary projects, such as the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, Emaar Properties is the driving force behind the real estate and construction sector in the United Arab Emirates.