If anything defines modern Dubai it is Burj Khalifa. The most prominent structure in the Dubai cityscape, Burj Khalifa is an extraordinary feat of engineering. People across the world know it as the central charm of Dubai with sights that are the best in the World. Tourists visiting Dubai have Burj Khalifa at the top of their list of sites. This immense popularity is justified.
Approaching this building and gazing up its glass panels is a fantasy. However, the height of fantasy is viewing Dubai from the observation decks “At The Top” and “At The Top Sky.” They are on the 124th and 125th floors and 148th floor respectively.
The “At The Top” decks have observatories with glass walls and an outdoor terrace equipped with digitally-driven telescopes. Visitors can see earlier and contemporary Dubai though them. The extended cityscape in front of the visitors is a sight of a lifetime.
The deck on Floor no. 125 is renowned for “Dubai – A Falcon’s Eye View.” This view of the city has its special charm.
The observation deck standing taller than all high-rises in the emirate offers wide panoramic sights of Dubai that defy description. The city with the ocean takes on a memorable look at dawn and sundown.
The times of the day when the Burj Khalifa is open to visitors
The Burj Khalifa tickets has a couple of time slots for tourists, namely, Prime Hours and Non-Prime Hours.
- The Prime Hours are from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM and tickets for this slot cost AED 210
- The Non-Prime Hours are from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM and from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM and tickets cost AED 135
Both the slots offer access until the “At The Top” decks.
What is the best time to visit Burj Khalifa?
Visitors who are okay with paying more should opt for the prime hours. The view of the city at sundown is bewildering. The impact of the orangey sunlight on the glass-walled high-rises of Dubai and the Persian Gulf is phenomenal. Visitors can verify the time of sundown and purchase tickets accordingly. Huge crowds flock the Burj Khalifa for this hypnotic sight. The crowd is relatively less during the weekdays.
Non-prime hours suit visitors on a limited budget or those who want some other privileges in the Burj Khalifa. The best time would be at 7:00 PM right after the Prime hours. At AED 135, the ticket price is decent and there is the added advantage of a lesser crowd. So, visitors can have a peaceful time high above in the sky at a lesser price.
A key feature of the “At The Top” decks for both the Prime and non-prime visitors is their green screen photography zone. Visitors can take photos of the sights of the city and add special effects if they wish to.
A night visit would be good with superb night sights of the city. Though visitors won’t get a clear view of the city through the telescopes the night sights are worth the investment. A definite bonus of a night visit is the Fountain show.
The Dubai Fountain on the Burj Khalifa Lake is the greatest choreographed musical fountain show ever. Viewing the fountain shows that run to the tunes of different music onboard a boat on the lake is magical. However, this doesn’t allow a total view of the fountain because of its large size. However, people from “At The Top” decks enjoy a spectacular aerial sight of the whole show.
What adds to the experience of Prime and No-prime hours visitors?
The “at the top” decks make for a great viewing experience for prime and non-prime visitors. However, some places in the Burj Khalifa and to the experience. Or lese, you can go for the City tour with Burj Khalifa that is pocket friendly yet give you an amazing view of the city.
One such place is the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa with an excellent view of the Dubai Fountain. Visitors can watch the fountain while having international delicacies. The Prime visitors can take a break from their viewing and enjoy the much sought after afternoon lounge tea.
Another unit is Atmosphere fine dining on Floor No 122 of the Burj Khalifa. Non-prime visitors can watch the splendid sights of Dubai over breakfast between 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM. High tea between 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM and a dinner of international delicacies after 8:30 PM are equally good experiences.
A unique experience of Dubai from Burj Khalifa
We mentioned, “At The Top Sky” at the start of this article. This highest observation deck ever is a wonderful outdoor terrace on Floor No 148 of the Burj Khalifa. This unique experience is not included in the Prime and non-prime tickets and requires a separate booking. The floor features a luxury lounge that offers premier refreshments. Visitors can take breaks from their viewings and refresh themselves here. And, that is not all. Visitors get to enjoy a unique interactive experience. They can explore diverse corners of this Emirate on a full-sized motion-sensing monitor that surrounds them. source
Conclusion
The Burj Khalifa lends the Dubai skyline a dreamlike elegance. Experiencing the sunset from this tower is the dream of every Dubai tourist. However, this towering structure has its charms at other times of the day.
