The best spots for Burj Khalifa photography are the outdoor terrace on floor 124 (for aerial city shots), Souk Al Bahar bridge (for the classic tower-and-fountain frame), and Burj Park (for wide-angle shots of the full tower). Inside the observation deck, press your camera lens directly against the glass to eliminate reflections. The best lighting for exterior shots is 30 minutes before sunset (golden hour) or the first hour after dark when the LED light show begins.
The Burj Khalifa is one of the most photographed structures in the world — and for good reason. From 828 metres, the views are extraordinary. But knowing where to position yourself, when to shoot, and how to handle the glass panels on the observation deck makes the difference between a blurry tourist snapshot and a genuinely impressive photograph.
This guide covers the best shooting spots both inside and outside the tower, camera settings for glass-panel situations, the best times of day for each type of shot, and the ground-level vantage points that most visitors overlook. Combine this with our best time to visit guide for timing your visit to the light conditions you want.
Top Tickets
# Level 124 & 125 Ticket – At the Top Burj Khalifa
# Level 124, 125 & 148 Ticket – At the Top SKY (Premium)
Inside the observation decks, all photography is permitted with handheld cameras and smartphones. Tripods, selfie sticks, and professional video equipment are not allowed. To eliminate reflections when shooting through the glass panels, press your lens hood or the front of your phone camera directly against the glass and shade any remaining gap with your hand. Floor 124’s outdoor terrace eliminates the glass problem entirely — it’s the best deck for unobstructed aerial shots.
The outdoor terrace on floor 124 is the single best spot inside the Burj Khalifa for photography. There is no glass between you and the view — just open air and an unobstructed 360-degree panorama from 452 metres. The safety barrier is low-profile enough that your camera clears it easily. This is where you’ll get the sharpest, reflection-free shots of Downtown Dubai, the Dubai Fountain directly below, and the desert stretching to the horizon.
The indoor gallery on floor 124 has floor-to-ceiling glass panels. These are clean and well-maintained but will cause reflections if you shoot at an angle. Position yourself perpendicular to the glass and eliminate any light sources behind you — turn off your phone screen, stand away from the ceiling lights — then press the lens directly against the glass for a clear shot.
The glass floor on floor 125 is one of the most dramatic photo opportunities inside the tower. Looking directly down at the streets and buildings 455 metres below creates a vertigo-inducing perspective that photographs extremely well. For the best shot: lie flat or crouch down to get the camera as close to the glass as possible, shoot in portrait orientation for maximum depth, and visit during daytime when the streets below are visible. See our observation decks guide for more on what each floor offers.
The At the Top SKY experience on floor 148 offers the highest vantage point open to the public — 555 metres. The smaller group size makes it significantly easier to get to the glass without other visitors in the frame. There is also an outdoor observation area on floor 148, accessed via the terrace, offering unobstructed aerial shots at the highest point. The telescope on floor 148 can be used as a compositional element in photographs.
The best ground-level spots for photographing the Burj Khalifa are: Souk Al Bahar bridge (the classic fountain-and-tower frame, 3 minutes walk from the tower base); Burj Park island (wide unobstructed view of the full tower with Burj Lake foreground); and the Dubai Frame observation deck 12 km away (the only spot in Dubai where the Burj Khalifa appears in context with the full skyline). All are free to access.
The best ground-level spots for photographing the Burj Khalifa are: Souk Al Bahar bridge (the classic fountain-and-tower frame, 3 minutes walk from the tower base); Burj Park island (wide unobstructed view of the full tower with Burj Lake foreground); and the Dubai Frame observation deck 12 km away (the only spot in Dubai where the Burj Khalifa appears in context with the full skyline). All are free to access.
The covered wooden bridge linking Souk Al Bahar to the Dubai Mall waterfront is the most iconic shooting position for the Burj Khalifa. From here you get the tower framed above the Dubai Fountain, with the lake in the foreground and the Souk Al Bahar archways optionally in frame. This is the shot you’ve seen on a thousand travel articles. Best time: at dusk when the fountain is running and the tower begins to light up. The fountain performs every 30 minutes from 6 pm.
Burj Park sits on a small island between the Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa, accessible via a footbridge from the Dubai Mall waterfront. From the southern end of the park, you get a wide, unobstructed view of the full tower from base to tip — the only ground-level spot where you can see the complete structure without surrounding buildings cutting the frame. Best for: full-tower wide shots, including the Burj Khalifa light show after 7:45 pm when the LED facade illuminates.
The walking promenade on the east side of Burj Lake — between Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar — offers multiple angles on the tower with the fountain in the foreground. The fountain performance itself is a spectacular subject: shoot at 1/500s or faster to freeze the water jets, or use a slower shutter (1/30s) with a tripod for motion blur. Note: tripods are permitted outside in public spaces but not inside the observation decks.
The Dubai Frame observation deck in Zabeel Park offers the only wide-angle view of Dubai’s skyline that puts the Burj Khalifa in full context alongside the older Deira and Bur Dubai skylines. From the Frame’s upper walkway, you can photograph the Burj Khalifa from 12 km away — appearing in its full 828-metre height against the broader city. Best time: late afternoon to sunset.
Yes. All handheld cameras including DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and compact cameras are permitted. Tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed inside the observation decks.
Press your camera lens directly against the glass and shade any gap with your hand. Shoot perpendicular to the glass, not at an angle. Eliminate reflective surfaces behind you — turn off your phone screen and remove bright accessories.
The outdoor terrace on floor 124 is the best for aerial photography — no glass, no reflections, 360-degree open-air views. Floor 125 offers the unique glass-floor shot. Floor 148 offers the highest vantage point with a smaller crowd.
No. Drone flights are not permitted anywhere in Downtown Dubai without prior DCAA (Dubai Civil Aviation Authority) approval. Drone flying in the vicinity of the Burj Khalifa without a permit is illegal and can result in significant fines.
Souk Al Bahar bridge and Burj Park are the two best free vantage points. Souk Al Bahar gives you the classic fountain-and-tower frame; Burj Park gives you an unobstructed full-tower wide shot. Both are within a 5-minute walk of the tower.
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