Burj Khalifa FAQs 2026: Your Most Common Questions Answered

Ticket prices vary by deck and time slot. At the Top (floors 124 & 125) costs AED 173 during non-prime hours and AED 250 during prime hours (sunset). At the Top SKY (floor 148) costs AED 343 (non-prime) and AED 401 (prime). Children aged 3–12 receive a discount on the At the Top ticket. Children under 3 enter free. For a full breakdown, see our Burj Khalifa ticket prices guide.

Tickets can be bought online through the official website (burjkhalifa.ae) or authorised third-party platforms including GetYourGuide. Walk-up tickets are available at the venue but cost significantly more. Advance online booking is strongly recommended. For a comparison of booking channels, see our where to buy guide.

Yes, strongly recommended. Sunset slots sell out days or weeks in advance, particularly during peak season (November–March) and on weekends. Walk-up availability is not guaranteed for any time slot.

Prime tickets cover the sunset and early evening period (approximately 3 pm – 9 pm). Non-prime covers morning and late evening slots. Prime tickets cost more but include the most visually dramatic viewing conditions. Non-prime tickets offer the same views at a lower price — the only difference is the time of day.

Children under 3 enter free — no ticket required. Children aged 3–12 receive a discounted child ticket for the At the Top (124/125) experience. Children aged 13 and above pay the adult rate. The At the Top SKY (floor 148) has no child discount.

Refund and change policies depend on the ticket type and booking platform. Some tickets are non-refundable. Check the specific terms before completing your purchase. Changes are handled through the booking confirmation email or by contacting the booking platform.

Same-day tickets are available subject to availability. During peak season and for sunset slots, same-day availability is often exhausted. Booking at least 48 hours in advance for weekday visits and 1 week in advance for weekend or sunset slots is recommended.

No. Mobile e-tickets are accepted at the entrance. Show your ticket on your smartphone screen — no printing required.

Yes. Combo tickets combining Burj Khalifa with the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and with Sky Views Dubai are available. See our combo tickets guide for current options and pricing.

Yes, Burj Khalifa offers combo tickets, including attractions like the Dubai Mall Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and Sky Views Dubai. These packages provide a discounted rate compared to buying separate tickets for each attraction.

At the Top (floors 124 & 125): 10 am – midnight on weekdays, 8 am – midnight on weekends. At the Top SKY (floor 148): noon – 10 pm daily. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing. For the full timings guide, see our opening hours page.

For the best overall experience: 60–90 minutes before sunset. For fewest crowds and lowest prices: weekday mornings. For a romantic or calm visit: after 9 pm. For a full breakdown, see our best time to visit guide.

By metro: Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station, then 10–15 min walk through the mall. By taxi: to Dubai Mall Grand Entrance. The observation deck entrance is inside Dubai Mall — not at the tower’s base. For full directions, see our how to get there guide.

Arrive at the Dubai Mall entrance 20–30 minutes before your booked slot. Security checks and the walk through the mall take time, particularly during busy periods.

No strict dress code for the observation decks — casual clothes including shorts are fine. Restaurants inside the tower (At.mosphere, Burj Club, The Lounge) require smart casual. See our dress code guide for venue-by-venue details.

Yes. The observation decks are fully accessible by elevator from the Dubai Mall entrance, with no stairs required. For full accessibility details, see our accessibility guide.

Yes. Strollers are permitted and the observation decks are elevator-accessible. A stroller storage area is available near the entrance. During peak hours, a baby carrier is more practical than a stroller on the crowded deck.

Outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the observation decks. Dining is available at At.mosphere restaurant (floor 122), The Lounge (floors 152–154), and Burj Club (floor 76), all of which require advance reservations.

Yes. Handheld cameras and smartphones are permitted throughout the observation decks. Tripods, selfie sticks, and professional video equipment are not allowed. For photography tips, see our photography guide.

Three observation levels are open to the public: At the Top (floors 124 & 125) — the main experience with indoor gallery, glass floor, and outdoor terrace; At the Top SKY (floor 148) — the premium experience with personal host, SKY Lounge, and complimentary drink; and The Lounge (floors 152–154) — the highest publicly accessible deck. See our observation decks guide for a full comparison.

The glass floor is on level 125, offering a direct view straight down at the streets and buildings 455 metres below. Animated ‘cracks’ appear beneath visitors’ feet. It is included in the standard At the Top ticket.

Yes. The Dubai Fountain is directly below the observation deck on floor 124, at 452 metres. Watching the fountain from above gives a bird’s-eye perspective of the jets and choreography that ground-level viewing doesn’t offer. The fountain runs at 1 pm, 1:30 pm, and every 30 minutes from 6 pm. See our fountain show guide.

The Burj Khalifa light show runs nightly from 7:45 pm. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, extended shows run every 30 minutes from 7:45 pm to 10:45 pm. For the best view, watch from Souk Al Bahar bridge or Burj Park at ground level. See our light show guide.

Three main dining venues: At.mosphere (floor 122) — one of the world’s highest restaurants, fine dining; The Lounge (floors 152–154) — the world’s highest lounge, premium refreshments; Burj Club (floor 76) — rooftop restaurant and social venue. All require advance reservations. See our Burj Khalifa restaurants guide.

828 metres (2,717 feet) to the tip of the spire — the world’s tallest building since its inauguration on 4 January 2010. For full facts and records, see our Burj Khalifa facts guide.

Construction began on 21 September 2004 and was completed in October 2009. The official public inauguration was held on 4 January 2010.

Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Chicago. The structural engineering was led by Bill Baker, also of SOM. The design was inspired by the Hymenocallis, a desert flower native to the Arabian Peninsula.

Yes. As of 2026, Burj Khalifa remains the world’s tallest building at 828 metres. The Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which is planned to exceed 1,000 metres, has been under construction but has not yet surpassed the Burj Khalifa.

163 floors above ground, plus 2 basement levels. 160 floors are habitable.