The highest building of the world: the Burj Khalifa

Dubai is home to — how could it be otherwise — the tallest building in the world: the Burj Khalifa.

With its 828 meters total height and 163 usable floors, the Burj Khalifa is a hitherto undisputed giant and has occupied first place as the world’s tallest building with the most usable floors since 2008. If you know Dubai, it is no longer surprising that the Burj Khalifa is located here.

Dubai trumps only so with world records and the Burj Khalifa is probably the most well-known building. You could call it a kind of landmark of Dubai — or even the landmark. From almost everywhere in Dubai you can have a look at this impressive tower. Even on the beach, such as La Mer Beach, the Burj Khalifa towers far away and offers an impressive experience even from a distance.

Should you ever be in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is thus an absolute highlight, which you should not miss. There are different tickets, with which you can visit either the 124 & 125th floor of the skyscraper or also the 148th floor. There are always specials that include a coffee, a small snack or even a dinner. The combination possibilities are very versatile and so you can freely decide whether you want to enjoy “only” the view or still have a romantic, certainly unforgettable dinner.

Our visit to the Burj Khalifa

The prices for the tickets vary a lot. Starting at about 60–80€, the prices rise sharply, depending on which package you choose. We opted for the cheapest version and paid about 70€ for both of us with a voucher. With our ticket we can go out to the 124th and 125th floor and enjoy the view over Dubai from there.

The Burj Khalifa is located at the Dubai Mall, which you can easily reach via the metro and a long, air-conditioned corridor. This is also where the Dubai Fountain Show takes place daily, where you can watch the skyscraper in the background with its matching light show.

Since we were not sure how exactly to get to the entrance of the Burj Khalifa — and we especially wanted to save ourselves the searching walking around at 42° outside temperature — we researched online beforehand. And indeed, the entrance (or maybe an entrance) to the Burj Khalifa is located in the Dubai Mall. On the ground floor, next to the food court is the entrance. Not to be overlooked, but since the Dubai Mall is simply huge, we have not yet come down here.

The tickets, which you better buy in advance online to avoid long queues and usually also to get discounts — — are provided with a time slot. And this is meticulously respected. We had booked our tickets for 6pm to be able to go up just before sunset. Since we left a little earlier — to be able to find the entrance in peace — we were there about 20 minutes before our booked time slot. Since there was not much going on at that time, we thought we might as well go up now but no. We had to wait until shortly before 6pm before we were allowed to go up to the Burj Khalifa.

A long march from the entrance in the mall to the Burj Khalifa

After we had shown our tickets we went past the box office — and many waiting visitors — to the first turnstile. There our tickets were scanned again and we were waved through. With the GoPro in my hand, I went around the corner and was told by the security staff that filming and photography is not allowed in this area.

Through a security check like at the airport with scanners for the bags and these arches, through which you have to go yourself, we then continue on our way to the highest building in the world. Marc was still asked if he has a microphone on his camera, because filming with an extra microphone is also prohibited in the entire building. The reasons for this have not really become clear to us until today. But since we didn’t have a Mirko with us anyway, we could then move on.

Behind the security check, a group of people gathered to listen to a guide explain a few facts and the historical background to the construction of the Burj Khalifa. We weren’t sure at first if we could just walk by but were waved through shortly after so we were the only ones able to continue exploring the long corridor.

Around a few corners, up escalators and further long, really very long corridors — in the meantime, we were no longer even sure that we were on the right track — we arrive again at a waiting area. This seems very inconspicuous and more like another stopover to the actual destination.

With the fastest elevator in the world up to the highest building in the world

An employee leads us — still as the only visitors — into an elevator. Only when we are already going up, I realize that we are just going up to the Burj Khalifa. The walls of the elevator are equipped with screens that show fireworks over the Burj Khalifa on the way up, as well as the skyscraper by day and the view. There are so many impressions at once that I can’t remember everything.

Next to the elevator door is a display that shows the respective floor. And since this is the fastest elevator in the world, we arrived on the 124th floor within a few seconds. The numbers just jump up and the elevator door opens. You step out into an open room, where high panes of glass let the warm air from outside whirl off. There are two revolving doors that lead to the observation deck on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa.

The 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa

As soon as you step outside through the revolving doors, the warm, almost hot air of Dubai flows towards you. The observation deck is open and also framed by high glass panels. These rise about 3 meters into the air and allow a breathtaking view over the whole of Dubai. The open design of the platform makes you feel free and a little like you are standing on a very high mountain. The air as well as the wind flows through the entire platform and thus provides pleasant temperatures.

I find the height as well as the view from here is even more tangible because you are not behind thick glass walls but really outside. The distance, which is otherwise created by walls and glazing, is therefore no longer there and it can be a bit queasy when you step up to the floor-to-ceiling glass panels directly at the edge of the viewing platform.

Here you can now enjoy the view, take photos and simply enjoy the atmosphere. We were lucky because hardly any people were on the platform when we arrived. We took advantage of this directly for a few pictures, which was also good, because a few minutes later many people poured onto the platform and crowded the glass panes. On the way inside the 124th floor, large painted wings again draw attention. These are positioned exactly so that you can stand in front of them to take a photo of yourself with gigantic wings.

The 124th floor also offers inside a view over all of Dubai and of course also a large souvenir store and a small counter where you can buy coffee, a small snack or something else to drink. But that was basically it, which is why we went in search of the 125th floor.

The 125th floor of the Burj Khalifa

Contrary to expectations, it is not the elevator that leads up to the 125th floor, but a staircase. This staircase is located directly next to the two revolving doors to the observation deck of the 124th floor and is — at least in my opinion — very easy to overlook, because it is hidden behind a corner. It takes only a few steps to get to the next floor. Since it is only one floor higher, there is no real difference to the 124th floor.

There is also a large gift store, a small bar and large floor-to-ceiling glass windows all around. Unlike the “lower” floor, it is possible here to walk once completely around in a circle and thus view Dubai from all directions. It is completely air-conditioned and there are — just like downstairs — wings again, which just invite to take a picture.

The special thing here is that the wings have been drawn on the glass panes with the view of Dubai in the background, making these wings look a lot more impressive than the wings on the 124th floor. The floor consists of shiny, dark tiles and if you crouch down with the camera and take a picture of part of the floor, a brilliant reflection is created.

But that was basically it. As impressive as the view is — you can really look very far — after a few minutes you have explored everything. Due to the fact that more and more people are on the road here, you do not really have peace to just enjoy the view. Again and again, new people crowd the windows to quickly take a picture and briefly look over Dubai.

Since it’s more of a walking tour, you don’t feel like you can linger here for long. There is no place where you can be undisturbed and so we decided to go back down.

Goodbye, Burj Khalifa!

With the elevator we go down again within a few seconds. There we follow the long way back until we reach another souvenir store and finally stand in the Dubai Mall again. How should it be different, also here is once again a souvenir store. :-D

In summary, I can say that you must have seen the Burj Khalifa in any case. However, I find that it looks much more impressive from the outside than when you stand on the viewing platforms. Because there are comparatively few other tall buildings and few skyscrapers in Dubai, it is difficult to grasp the true size of the Burj Khalifa from above. You do have a very wide view — which is really impressive — but the very flat landscape doesn’t necessarily make it seem like you’re on top of the tallest building in the world.

We’ve been to some skyscrapers and rooftop bars in Bangkok that weren’t as tall as the Burj Khalifa is. But there you are surrounded by countless other skyscrapers, over which you can look. So there it looks a lot more impressive than it was the case on the Burj Khalifa. In Dubai, unfortunately, the comparable buildings are missing a bit, which then give you the feeling that you are above everything else.

If you now consider the really very expensive entrance fee — just to get the view — unfortunately the question arises in my mind whether it is worth it. Yes, the Burj Khalifa is the highest building in the world and it was really beautiful up there. But for about 70€ it is really expensive. If you want to visit the Burj Khalifa, you should definitely look for coupons or discounts. Also, you should try to go up at a time at which are countless people are also there.

Even though the time just before sunset is definitely the best time for the view, the light and of course the sunset itself. At this time, the crowds are accordingly very high and it is difficult to find a free place. I would recommend going up around 5pm. So you still have a little time without the high rush but can also with some time still watch the sunset. If you can stand it up there for so long :-D