Must See: The golden Dubai Frame

The Dubai Frame — the largest golden frame in the world. Shining, encased in gold and with its enormous size, the Dubai Frame soars into the sky.

With its 150 meters high and 93 meters wide, the Dubai Frame is the largest frame in the world. And of course the world record holder is located in Dubai. Even from afar, you can see the frame jutting into the clouds, and you are almost drawn to its magical shine like a fly to light. If you are ever in Dubai, you definitely have to visit the Dubai Frame!

Where is the Dubai Frame located?

We saw the Frame a few times from the metro. If you take the Red Line towards EXPO 2020, the Dubai Frame is located between the “Al Jhafalia” and “ADCB” stops. Pretty much in the middle of these two stations, the Frame attracts all the attention. Basically, it is one of the only really high buildings in this area of Dubai, and since it is also golden, it stands out even more.

Around the Dubai Frame a large park was built. Or the Dubai Frame was built in this park, I don’t know exactly. The fact is that a large park area extends around the frame, which invites to go for a walk just so. Unfortunately not, with 43° outside temperature. You feel like you’re walking through a sauna, and after just a few minutes you’re dripping with sweat.

We had first considered whether we should walk from one of the Metro stations to the Dubai Frame. Because of the enormous heat and the blazing sun — and also because we liked to get there in daylight towards the sunset — we finally decided to take a cab.

The ride from our hotel at the Emirates Towers to the main entrance of the Dubai Frame Park took just 10 minutes. It wasn’t until we pulled into the large parking lot that we realized just how huge this place is. The decision to take a cab was definitely right. Especially when you don’t know exactly where to go, it’s very helpful to be dropped off by locals right at the right spot.

The Dubai Frame

The whole park around the Dubai Frame is fenced. Every now and then you will find entrance gates that allow you to enter. At the main entrance there are two small houses next to the big gates, where you can buy tickets for the Dubai Frame through a window. The entrance fee for adults is about 11€. Children, students and disabled people get a free ticket.

After the tickets were checked again one meter next to the ticket booth where we bought them — although it was clear that we had just bought them there — we were led through the gate into the park. The paths are paved and now and then there are small green areas with flowers. Actually, in the entire park — and of course in the frame itself — masks are mandatory. However, for drinking, eating or even taking pictures, the mask can be taken off briefly.

Already here outside, shortly behind the entrance, the enormous size of the Dubai Frame becomes apparent. Lit by the sun, the gold reflects and creates a beautiful play of light. But it is also quite dazzling, depending on where you look at the frame from. It’s so big that you can’t quite get it in a photo on a normal cell phone photo, or even with a camera that’s not wide-angle. Even if you crouch low, the Dubai Frame is beyond the scope of cameras.

We walked around the entire Frame once and walked a few feet away on the opposite side of the main entrance. Most of the visitors — actually all of them except us — stood right at and under the Frame and somehow tried to take a photo of themselves and the Frame. Since we were standing there ourselves, we know it was impossible to photograph the entirety.

Now that we were standing further away, we could admire the Frame in its entirety. Also, the perspective is different than standing frontally in front of the frame, so you get great photos. Camera unpacked, photographer and “model” put in the right position and we were ready to go. Because of the distance, we were able to take some great pictures with us and the whole Dubai Frame. However, because of the heat, we didn’t last long either and walked back to the Frame after just a few minutes.

A visit to the Dubai Frame

The ticket we received at the beginning allows access to the Dubai Frame. The special thing here — apart from the fact that the Dubai Frame is the highest frame in the world — is that you can walk on top of the frame on glass panels and thus have a unique view down. You walk “floating” on the frame, so to speak.

There was already a long line in front of the entrance of the frame. Probably because we were there on the weekend and it was also the perfect time, just before sunset. So we queued up and after about 10 minutes of waiting we could enter the inside of the frame. Marc had thought that we would get right into the elevator there, but he was wrong. In the air-conditioned vestibule we had to stand in a long queue again.

But the air conditioning made it much more pleasant than outside. Another 10 or even 15 minutes later we had passed the photo spot and it went up an escalator. Through further long corridors — which were interestingly arranged with pictures, historical stories about the Dubai Frame and others — we finally went to the elevator.

At the top of the frame, it was briefly explained to us that on the right side was the new Dubai and on the left the old city of Dubai. In addition, we could take photos here — which is actually generally prohibited — and also drink a coffee if we wanted. So far so good.

In the middle of the long, narrow corridor is the “Skywalk”. As soon as you enter one of the tinted windows, it reacts and gives you a view downwards. On clear glass panes, you can thus walk along the entire length (93 meters) of the Dubai Frame and view the frame from above.

It’s a very cool, but also somewhat strange feeling to walk across the glass and see the ground so deep below you. But after a few times, at least I got used to it. We took a few photos, enjoyed the view and the sunset and finally went back down.

Once down, it’s already dark and the frame is spectacularly lit up in bright colors. Before you leave the frame, you are again led into a projection room and get explained in a 3D cinema the future of Dubai. Further it goes in a large room, in which one can buy various souvenirs and also the photos of the beginning. Finally in a room with a light-flooded installation and then down the escalator. Then one had reached the actual exit.

The Dubai Frame at night

Also at night the Dubai Frame offers an impressive picture. It is illuminated in changing colors and appears just as large in the dark, if not larger, than in the light. It shines up into the sky and attracts all attention even at night.

It is also possible to drive up to the frame in the dark and enjoy the view over colorfully illuminated Dubai. However, one should keep in mind that the Frame is only open until 9 pm. But still, from there you can also see the Burj Khalifa and this offers every evening from 6 pm a brilliant light show, in which he flashes, shines and and and. It is certainly also in the dark a great experience to be on the frame.

Conclusion

I must say, it was already a great experience. Even if you don’t spend a lot of time on the frame or even down in front of it (you can spend hours there, of course, but you’ve already seen everything after several minutes) it is very impressive. I personally found it very cool and exciting to walk on the skywalk and have a clear view all the way down.

Also the view of Dubai Oldtown and the new Dubai with the Burj Khalifa and many other skyscrapers is very impressive. You have a wide view and the contrast of the left to the right side is very fascinating. If you do not come here at rush hour or on your days off, you can also enjoy the frame in peace.

Unfortunately, we had the bad luck that there were a lot of visitors and so it was also easy to crowd on top of the frame and you didn’t want to be in anyone’s way. The entrance fee is worth it all. I would recommend anyone who is in Dubai to visit the Frame. It is definitely a great, unique and impressive experience!