Burj Khalifa is the most iconic building in Dubai, UAE.
With the total height of 2,722 feet (829.8 meters), Burj Khalifa holds the record of being the tallest building in the world.
In this article, we explain everything you need to know before you visit the Burj Khalifa.
1. How to reach?
2. Opening hours
3. Observation decks
4. Best time to visit
5. Tour duration
6. Ticket price
7. Why online tickets?
8. Which ticket to buy?
9. Burj Khalifa tickets
10. Avoid crowd
How to reach Burj Khalifa
The towering structure of Burj Khalifa stands in Downtown Dubai, right next to the Dubai Mall.
If you are taking the Dubai Metro to travel to Burj Khalifa, first take the Red Line to the Burj Khalifa station.
From the station take the F13 bus and get off at the Dubai Mall Bus Stop.
Now, walk to the Mall through an air-conditioned overpass which will take approximately 15 minutes.
You will have to go through the Mall and reach the Lower Ground Floor (LG).
The Ticket Office to Burj Khalifa is at the Lower Ground Floor near the Subway Sandwich Restaurant.
However, if you buy the Burj Khalifa tickets online, you don’t have to stand in the queue at the venue. (Internal Link)
Burj Khalifa timings
Burj Khalifa is open all through the week.
Its opening time is 8.30 am and closing time is 11 pm.
Last entry is 45 minutes before closing.
These Burj Khalifa hours are divided into prime hours and non-prime hours, which decides the price of the ticket.
Non-prime hours: From 8.30 am to 2.30 pm and 7 pm to 11 pm
Prime hours: 3 pm to 6.30 pm
Burj Khalifa At the Top – the observation decks
There are three unique observation decks at Burj Khalifa.
At the Top, Burj Khalifa (Level 124)
This is the lowest of all the three observation decks, and yet the most popular.
Level 124 of Burj Khalifa at 1,483 ft (452 meters) helps to experience the mesmerising view from the top by the fastest double-deck elevators in the world.
These elevators travel at a speed of 10 meters/second.
The Burj Khalifa At the Top also has high powered telescopes, to get closer to the skyline.
Level 125
Level 125 of Burj Khalifa is one level above the At the Top Observatory and stands at 1,496 ft (456 meters).
It is a spacious observation deck decorated in Arabic mashrabiya for illuminating 360-degree views from the top.
At Level 25 you can preserve your moments at the top for eternity with the help of green screen photography, where you merge reality and special effects to take amazing photographs.
Yet another unique way to explore Dubai is to step onto the ‘Dubai: A Falcon’s Eye View’ and get an exhilarating ariel view of the city.
At the Top, Burj Khalifa Sky Experience (Level 148)
The Level 148 at the top of the Burj Khalifa is the highest observation deck of the World along with an outside terrace at 1,821 ft (555 meters).
At this top floor get a personalised tour guided by a guest Ambassador and refreshments at the famous SKY Lounge.
You can explore Dubai’s most impressive landmarks using a brilliant and unique interactive experience using motion senses.
You must buy a VIP ticket to gain access to this Burj Khalifa observatory.
Best time to visit Burj Khalifa
While you can decide to visit Burj Khalifa at any time during the day, the best time to visit the expanding skyline towards the horizon is just before sunset.
If you arrive just at the right time, you can take pictures during the daylight and right through the beautiful amber hued sunset unfolding into the evening.
It is the recommended that you buy your ticket right before prime hours, .i.e. the sunset hours.
Since your ticket price is based on your entry time, you can easily buy a ticket at a regular rate and plan on staying at the top for a couple of hours.
If you are planning to visit the Burj Khalifa to see the Sunrise, you need to go very early in the morning.
The observation deck opens at 5.30 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and it is best to reach before 6 am to see the Sunrise.
Do keep an eye on the weather, for a foggy day means a not-so-good experience.
If you are visiting Dubai in the winter months, it will be best to visit Burj Khalifa in the late mornings or early afternoons since by 6 pm it will be very dark.
Duration of Burj Khalifa tour
If your question is how long does a tour of Burj Khalifa take? Well, the answer is ‘it depends on you.’
On an average, visiting the Burj Khalifa and exploring the tower at your own pace might take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Tourists are also known to finish the Burj Khalifa tour in an hour.
At Level 148 At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY, the maximum time you can stay is 30 minutes.
After that, you are expected to go to either Level 124 or Level 125 and stay for as long as you want.
It is essential to keep in mind that your trip might extend depending on peak times and sunset hours.
We propose you keep one hour of lead time to reach the top because while the elevators reach the observation deck in one minute, the waiting line to enter the elevator might take a while.
Burj Khalifa ticket price
The Ticket prices for the Burj Khalifa range between AED 125 and AED 300 for the adults and between AED 95 and AED 300 for the children.
Tourists get a variety of promotional offers like complimentary breakfast at the purchase of Sunrise tickets (on Fridays and Saturdays).
Burj Khalifa ticket prices you will end up paying will depend on three things –
Observatories you plan to visit
‘At the Top Burj Khalifa experience’ gives you access to two levels – Level 124 and Level 125.
‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY Experience’ gives access to the Levels 124,125 as well as level 148, which is the highest observation deck in the World.
The ‘Burj Khalifa SKY Experience’ provides you with refreshments and a guided tour and is more expensive than the ‘At the Top Burj Khalifa’.
Your time of entry into Burj Khalifa
The next factor that affects your Burj Khalifa ticket prices is the time of your entry.
Prime hour tickets are costlier than non-prime hour tickets.
Since there is massive demand to be on the observatories during sunset, from 3 pm to 6.30 pm has been labelled as prime hours.
Type of ticket you buy
There are two types of tickets you can buy – the general admission ticket or the Skip The Line ticket.
Since Skip The Line Burj Khalifa ticket helps you avoid all the queues and walk right into the building, it is more expensive.
If you are short on time and can afford the increased prices, we recommend you go for Skip The Line tickets.
Best place to buy Burj Khalifa tickets
If you are looking to buy Burj Khalifa tickets, you have two options:
1. Buy them on the day of your visit, at the venue
2. Buy them online, much in advance
Burj Khalifa is one of the most popular attractions of Dubai.
Every month, an average of 200,000 tourists come to see the striking views offered by the Burj Khalifa.
During the peak months like October and November, the waiting time in the queue for general admission might exceed 1 hour. During non-peak months this waiting time is around 30 minutes.
These long waiting lines can be tiring. Especially if you are travelling with kids and/or seniors.
The even bigger issue with buying Burj Khalifa tickets at the venue is the fear of the tickets sold off. Since these are closed observatories, the officials sell only a limited number of tickets for every time slot.
This is why we recommend you buy your Burj Khalifa tickets online and in advance.
Note: When you buy Burj Khalifa tickets online, you can cancel up to 4 days in advance for a full refund.
Which Burj Khalifa ticket to buy?
While buying Burj Khalifa tickets, you are sure to have lots of doubts.
Should you visit Level 124 and 125 or for Level 148?
What is better – a general admission ticket or a ‘Skip the Line’ ticket?
Which hours are advisable – prime hours or non-prime hours?
At the Top vs At the Top SKY
At the Top Burj Khalifa tickets grant access to the Levels 124 and 125 and At the Top SKY provides access to the Levels 124, 125, and 148.
The experience provided at Level 148 is premium, and hence the high price of the At the Top SKY ticket.
Besides the bragging rights of having been on the World’s highest observation deck, this premium ticket also means you get a guided tour of the Level and refreshments at the Sky Lounge.
Our Verdict:
The At the Top SKY ticket is almost 3 times costlier than the At the Top general admission ticket.
If you are on a budget holiday, we recommend you stick to the At the Top tickets.
However, if money isn’t a concern, but you care about the experience we highly recommend the Sky Experience at Burj Khalifa.
You must know that visitors can’t stay at Level 148 for as long as they want – there is a time limit of 30 minutes.
General Admission vs Skip the Line
If you are planning to visit Burj Khalifa and have a lot of time on your hands, then buying the general admission tickets is recommended.
Be aware that during peak times, the general admission tickets holders may have to wait for an hour to get into the elevator.
If you don’t have a lot of time, and money is not a concern, we suggest you go for the Skip The Line tickets – which take you straight to the elevators.
With Skip The Line Burj Khalifa tickets in hand, you will walk past the crowd, like a VIP.
Our Verdict:
Skip the Line tickets at Burj Khalifa are almost three times the cost of general admission tickets.
We recommend it only if you are hard pressed for time, and the high cost of Burj Khalifa tickets doesn’t affect your holiday budget.
Prime hours Vs non-prime hours
The Burj Khalifa ticket prices vary according to the time of entry to the building.
The ticket prices for entry at prime hours are around 40% higher than the Non-Prime hours.
The prime and non-prime hours for different for the different tickets.
At the Top (Level 124 and 125)
Prime Hours: 4 pm to 6 pm
Non-Prime hours: 8.30 am to 3.30 pm and from 6.30 to closing time
At the Top SKY (Level 124, 125 and 148)
Prime hours: 9.30 am to 6 pm
Non-prime hours: 7 pm to closing time
Our Verdict:
If your primary objective to visit Burj Khalifa is to see the sunset on Dubai skyline, you have no option but to buy the ticket during the prime hours.
If this is your first visit to an observatory, and money is not a concern we suggest you go for the prime hours.
If you have already seen the sunset on a skyline from some observatory, we recommend you stick to non-prime hours and avoid the crowd of prime hours.
Burj Khalifa tickets
Burj Khalifa offers various kinds of experiences for visitors.
Before you book your Burj Khalifa tickets online, please read through this section thoroughly so that you the different kinds of Burj Khalifa tickets.
1. Burj Khalifa tickets for Level 124 and 145
This is the most popular ticket to the tallest building in the World.
It gives you access to the world’s most panoramic sight from Level 124 and 125 of Burj Khalifa.
With this ticket, you also get a 10% off at the souvenir shop as well as the “THE CAFE” on the ground floor.
Ticket Prices
(non-prime hours)
Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 135
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 101
Ticket Prices
(prime hours – 4 to 6.30 pm)
Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 216
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 180
2. Burj Khalifa ‘Skip the Line’ tickets for Level 124 and 125
This ticket offers everything the previous general admission ticket provides plus the Skip the Line facility.
With this ticket in your hand, you can skip the long lines at the elevator and get to Level 124 and 125 immediately.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (4+ years): AED 340
Note: On ‘Skip the line’ tickets the prime and non-prime hours don’t apply
3. Burj Khalifa VIP tickets
The VIP Tickets allow Skip the Line access to all the three observation decks on Burj Khalifa – Levels 124, 125 and 148.
All through your visit, you are treated like a VIP – so you don’t wait in long lines for the elevator.
On Level 148 a guest ambassador of Burj Khalifa gives you a tour of the observation deck.
After spending 30 minutes in Level 148, you can come down to Level 124 and 125 and hang around for as long as you want.
Children 3 years and below enter for free.
Ticket Prices
(prime hours – 9.30 am to 6 pm)
Adult Ticket (4+ years): AED 380
Ticket Prices
(non-prime hours – 7 to 10 pm)
Adult Ticket (4+ years): AED 520
4. Burj Khalifa Sunset Tickets (Level 124 and 125)
The ticket helps you experience the beautiful sunset elevated at 125 floors of Burj Khalifa, with 360-degree views of the Arabian Gulf.
The ticket does not include Skip the Line access to the elevator. This means you need to start an hour earlier to factor in the sunset timing.
On the ticket booking page, you can choose between 5 pm, 5.30 pm and 6 pm slots.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 230
Child Ticket (4 to11 years): AED 190
5. Burj Khalifa Tickets for Level 124 and Dinner at Rooftop
With this access, you can witness 360-degree views of the Arabian Gulf from the observation deck at the 124th Level of the Burj.
After enjoying the scenic sights from the top, enjoy a three-course meal at the Burj Club on the 5th floor.
The duration of this visit is around five hours.
On the ticket booking page, you can choose between 7.30 pm, 8 pm, 8.30 pm or 9 pm to start your visit.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (13+ years): AED 296
Child Ticket (4 to12 years): AED 271
6. Burj Khalifa Tickets with Snacks at ‘The Cafe’
The ticket includes access to the Levels 124 and 125 to enjoy and witness breathtaking sights of the city.
Later, you can enjoy a hot drink and a pastry at the newly renovated ‘The Cafe,’ Burj Khalifa’s world-class restaurant.
Ticket Prices
(non-prime hours 10 am to 1 pm, 7 pm to 8.30 pm)
Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 155
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 125
Ticket Prices
(prime hours 3 pm to 7 pm)
Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 235
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 190
7. Burj Khalifa Sunrise Tickets (Level 124 and 125)
Witness the sunrise like never before, standing at the observation deck of the 124th and 125th floors of the tallest building in the World.
The sunset tickets can be booked for four time slots – 5.30 am, 6 am, 7 am, and 7.30 am.
Note: This ticket is a bit of a gamble if you don’t check the Dubai weather before booking. Heavy early-morning fog can play spoilsport.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (12+ years): AED 140
Child Ticket (4 to 11 years): AED 110
How to avoid the crowd at Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Dubai and attracts around 2.5 Million tourists every year.
But three tips can help you avoid the crowd in this usually crowded tourist attraction.
1. Buy tickets online, and in advance
Being the must-visit attraction in Dubai for most tourists, Burj Khalifa tickets are always in demand. Especially during tourist seasons, weekends, school holidays, festivals etc.
This leads to a lot of rush at all times especially at peak hours and peak months when waiting time at the ticket counter can even exceed one hour.
The best way to avoid these lines at the ticketing counter is by booking the tickets online and in advance.
While booking online, helps you avoid the lines, booking in advance helps you get your preferred time slot.
2. Purchase ‘Skip the Line’ tickets
All visitors to Burj Khalifa need to take the elevators to go up to the observatories.
Visitors with ‘general admission’ tickets must stand in long lines till it is their turn to take the elevator.
However, if you buy a ‘Skip the Line’ ticket you can walk past all these people waiting for their turn and get into the elevator.
If you want to avoid crowds at the elevator, it is recommended that you opt for the Skip the line access tickets.
3. Get the time of your visit right
If you want to avoid crowds and are on a low budget, you can choose to visit the Burj Khalifa during the non-prime hours.
The tickets during these times are decently priced and will allow you to avoid crowd for the most part.
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