Burj Khalifa At The Top: What To Know Before You Go

The elevator doors close. A screen inside shows the building climbing around you as you rise. Sixty seconds later, the doors open on the 124th floor.

Standing on Level 124, the city spreads out in every direction - not just the skyline, but all of it. The grid of Downtown Dubai below. The Palm Jumeirah curving into the sea. Desert at one edge, water at the other. It keeps going long past where you expect it to stop.

Burj Khalifa At The Top is the official observation deck experience inside the world's tallest building. The building stands 828 m with 163 floors and opened in January 2010. There are three deck levels: 124, 125, and 148. Standard tickets cover the first two. The SKY ticket adds Level 148 - the world's highest outdoor observation deck at 555 m above the ground.

This guide covers how to choose your ticket, how to get there from the metro, what the experience is actually like, and a few things most visitors only find out once they are already there.

Quick facts about At The Top Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa broke five world records when it opened on 4 January 2010, after six years of construction beginning in 2004. The building stands 828 m with 163 floors, making it the world's tallest structure by architectural height (Emaar Properties, 2025). The At The Top observation experience operates daily from 5:00 AM to 11:30 PM, which means sunrise, midday, and after-dark visits are all possible.

All Gentoo tickets include access to Levels 124 and 125. The SKY deck at Level 148 requires the premium SKY option.

Which observation deck should you choose?

For most visitors, the standard At The Top ticket is the right choice. Level 124 sits at 452 m and has both indoor and outdoor areas with a full 360-degree view. Level 125 is a semi-outdoor terrace directly above, where the glass panels are set lower - which makes it better for photography (At The Top, 2025).

Level 148 (SKY) is the world's highest outdoor observation deck at 555 m. It is smaller and quieter than the floors below, and it includes an exclusive lounge area. The view does not change dramatically between 124 and 148. What you are paying for is the altitude record and a more private atmosphere.

Choose the standard ticket if you are visiting for the first time, travelling with a group, or on a budget. Choose SKY if you want the highest deck or a calmer experience. Midday on Level 124 can be genuinely busy. At the same time on Level 148, it is a different situation entirely.

How do you get to At The Top from Dubai Mall?

Take the Dubai Metro Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station. From the exit, the walk to the At The Top ticket area takes around 20 minutes - the entire route runs inside the mall, fully air-conditioned, and signposted throughout once you know the landmarks.

The route step by step:

1. Turn right after exiting the metro
2. Walk past the Samsung store
3. Descend three escalator levels
4. Follow "At The Top" signage through the mall

Taxis and rideshare apps can drop you at the Burj Khalifa entrance on 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, which gets you closer to the ticket desk. If you are staying nearby in Downtown Dubai, this is faster. During peak traffic hours from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the metro is more reliable.

According to Visit Dubai, the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station connects directly to both the mall and the Burj Khalifa complex, making it the most practical route for visitors arriving without a car.

What is the observation deck actually like?

The high-speed elevator runs at 10 m/s and reaches Level 124 in approximately 60 seconds. Inside the elevator, a screen shows footage of the building's construction - a well-produced sequence that makes the ride feel more deliberate than just a transit moment. It ends just as the doors open.

Level 124 is spacious and handles crowds reasonably well. At noon on a weekday, the deck was busy but not uncomfortable. People moved at their own pace. The sightlines were clear from most positions along the glass.

From Level 124, the city goes further than you expect it to.

At The Top, Burj Khalifa - Level 124, 452 m above Downtown Dubai

Level 125 is the one most people photograph from. A semi-circular staircase leads up from Level 124, and a large chandelier overhead gives you something to frame the view against. The panels here are lower than on 124, which makes wider shots easier without the glass edge cutting across the frame.

The lower panels on Level 125 make it the better floor for photography compared to 124.

On a clear day from Level 125, the Palm Jumeirah is visible curving into the sea to the south-west. Sharjah's low-rise grid sits to the north. The shadow of the building itself - visible when the sun is at the right angle - stretches for several kilometres across the city below. That one tends to surprise people.

What are the best conditions for photos?

The best light arrives in the first hour after sunrise and in the 30 minutes before sunset. Both are worth planning around. Midday works well for clarity on low-haze days, but the overhead sun flattens contrast. At sunset, the buildings below go gold and the shadow of Burj Khalifa stretches across the city - one of those details that is both genuinely unexpected and photographs well.

At sunset the building's shadow stretches kilometres across the city. Most visitors do not expect it.

If you want to photograph the Dubai Fountain from above, the show runs every 30 minutes from around 6:00 PM. Seen from 452 m, the fountain's scale is harder to appreciate than from the ground - but the patterns it makes across the water are easier to read, and the choreography makes more sense from up there.

Is At The Top good for families?

Yes, and the visit handles families well from start to finish. The route through Dubai Mall is stroller-friendly throughout. The decks have enough space for groups with children to move without crowding, and the enclosed areas mean the height does not feel overwhelming.

The Dubai Mall extends the visit naturally. The mall aquarium, the indoor ice rink, and the large waterfall feature are all within walking distance of the At The Top entrance. A family can build a half-day itinerary without travelling between venues. That is useful if you are covering a lot of ground in one day.

In the evening, the Dubai Fountain show on the waterfront below is free to watch from the boardwalk. It runs every 30 minutes from around 6:00 PM. It is a sensible way to close out the afternoon after the deck visit.

Frequently asked questions

• How long does a visit to At The Top take?

  Most visitors spend 45 minutes to 1.5 hours on the decks. Add 20 minutes for the walk through Dubai Mall from the metro exit, plus around 10 minutes for queueing and the elevator journey. Budget 2 hours for the full visit - more if you want time in the mall before or after.

• What is the difference between Level 124 and the SKY deck?

  Level 124 is the main observation deck at 452 m with indoor and outdoor areas. Level 148 (SKY) is the world's highest outdoor observation deck at 555 m and includes a private lounge. The view difference between the two is subtle - the city is fractionally smaller from 148. Most first-time visitors find Levels 124 and 125 fully satisfying.

• What are the best times to visit?

  Sunset gives the best light for photos and is the most popular time slot. Book 3 to 4 days ahead if you want sunset. Sunrise visits from 5:00 AM are quieter and underrated - the early light can be spectacular and crowds are thin. Midday is the busiest window but gives the sharpest visibility on clear days.

• Can you visit At The Top more than once on the same ticket?

  No. Each ticket covers a single timed entry. If you want to see the view at two different times of day, you need two separate tickets. It is worth choosing your timing carefully from the start rather than buying the cheapest available slot.

• Can you get a discount on At The Top tickets?

  Yes. Use promo code BLOG5 at checkout on Gentoo for an instant discount on At The Top tickets. Applies to both the standard and SKY options, subject to availability.

Anastasiia Yurchuk

Written by Anastasiia Yurchuk, who has visited At The Top Burj Khalifa and covers UAE attractions for Gentoo. Last updated April 2026.