During my visit to Dubai I, of course, visited many places, fashionable hotels, beaches, chic neighborhoods but also the famous Burj Khalifa (Burj meaning tower in Arabic). I briefly talked about it in my article on Dubai but I decided to devote an article to it. You will find, in this article, all my advice for a successful visit to Burj Khalifa. Its history, how to book your ascent of Burj Khalifa? What are your options for visit Burj Khalifa ?
Summary:
> History of Burj Khalifa
> Burj Khalifa visit
> Burj Khalifa in numbers
> Around Burj Khalifa
> My opinion on the Burj Khalifa
> Burj Khalifa: Questions / Answers
Looking for a Dubai travel guide?
Like many, I often travel with a travel guide. If you are looking for a guide for your visit to Dubai, let me recommend the "Cartoville" guide from Gallimard. These guides are perfect for directing you during a city trip.
Organized in neighborhoods with numerous maps, the “Cartoville” guides really stand out from their competitors by their practical and intuitive aspect. You will discover the essentials of each district, the places to eat, where to go out, etc.
First of all, for those who this won't speak to, Burj Khalifa is, quite simply, the tallest tower in the world. Burj Khalifa is therefore 828 meters high, for 160 floors. It consists mainly of apartments, offices and also a luxury hotel. This tower is located (obviously) in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It is located in the district of DownTown Burj Khalifa. This district is really spectacular, you can walk there for long hours. We will soon talk about the different things to see and do in the area.
Direct link :
This link allows you to directly book your visit to Burj Khalifa (124 and 125th floors). Book your visit
History of Burj Khalifa
For the record, Burj Khalifa was originally not to be called Burj Khalifa but Burj Dubai. Indeed the tower was renamed during its inauguration with the name of Sheikh Khalifa, emir of Abhu Dabi and president of the United Arab Emirates. In the midst of a financial crisis, the emirate of Dubai was hampered in its frantic construction momentum by a lack of money. Dubai therefore did not have the financial means to complete its huge Downtown project Burj Khalifa. It is therefore the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi which has come to Dubai's aid by financing Dubai's crazy project to the tune of 10 billion dollars. In return, the tower was renamed Burj Khalifa.
The Burj Khalifa project began in 2003 when one of Dubai's leading real estate companies decided to build the tallest tower in the world. Initially the tower was only to measure 560 meters in height but in view of the many similar projects, the developer decided to considerably increase the size to reach this final size of 828 meters. Although having undergone many controversies, in particular on the working conditions of the workers, the tower is a real technical feat. The figures are dizzying, 39 tons of steel, 000 cubic meters of concrete for a total of more than 330 million hours of work accumulated. The tower can accommodate more than 000 people at the same time, distributed among the 22 hotel rooms and 35 apartments that make it up.
It was in 2010, on January 4, that the tower was inaugurated. It is now possible to visit Burj Khalifa by accessing different floors (124, 125 and 148th) open to the public.
Book your entry to Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa
Visiting Burj Khalifa
Visiting Burj Khalifa is a must in Dubai, climbing this tower is called " At The Top » for floors 124 and 125 and « At The Top Sky » for floor 148. This visit is, of course, not free. The price varies depending on the floor you wish to access. Indeed it is possible to visit Burj Khalifa by joining one of the three floors open to the public: the 124th, 125th or 148th. It is mandatory to book your ascent of the tower in advance. Once you enter Burj Khalifa, you will first wait in a sort of waiting room in which you can admire a miniature representation of the tower.
Once your turn has arrived, you will therefore pass security gates and a souvenir photo further on you will advance through several corridors of the tower until you arrive... at the end of the queue. I you therefore strongly recommends the purchase of skip-the-line tickets. So let's resume our queue through several corridors, plunged into darkness with a timeline telling you the story of the tower and showing you its impressive figures and records.
Finally your turn. You will therefore enter one of the two elevators available to tourists. Large elevators, very design, also totally black with a small counter that tells you which floor you are on.
The elevator starts, and even if we can't see outside, we feel the elevator gaining speed, to reach its maximum speed of 18 meters per second (world record). The floor indicator scrolls through the numbers at quite an impressive visit. Watch out for the ears, they clog very quickly and will hurt you slightly.
Book your Burj Khalifa tour
In view of the attendance of the tower it is essential to book these tickets in advance. These can only be purchased online. No need to make your reservation several weeks in advance, but a day or two before seems more reasonable in order to be sure not to miss Dubai's number 1 activity.
Two types of visits are possible:
- Climbing the tower to the 124 or 125th floor: At The Top
- Climbing the tower to the 148th floor: At The Top Sky
Once at the top, you arrive in a large room, completely glazed and offering you an exceptional view. You can also go out on a small terrace. Raise your head, you will have a rather strange sensation when you see what is left in height, almost 400 meters. The height of the tower is truly impressive. From this point of view you can see almost everything. First of all, the roof of the Dubai Mall, the burj Khalifa lake, the city and its countless towers (which will immediately seem smaller to you), in the distance you will see "The World", the artificial islands of Dubai then horizon the palm jumeirah. Many "interactive binoculars" are available and show you the different places in the city that you see, you can even see what they look like at night, thanks to the screens of these binoculars.
View-from-the-top-burj-khalifa
You will find, on this floor, a souvenir shop as well as a stand for having your photograph taken.
A new queue awaits you before descending, just as quickly, via the same elevator.
I advise you to visit Burj Khalifa during the day, but to stay near it to admire the tower at night. The lighting of the tower and the neighborhood is truly sumptuous. You can also opt for a combiner which will allow you to take advantage of the café located on the ground floor of the tower.
Burj Khalifa in numbers
- 330 m000 of reinforced concrete
- 39 tons of steel beams
- 142 m000 of glass
- More than 24 windows
- 57 lifts
- The fastest elevator in the world: 18m/second or 40 km/hour
- 22 million hours of work accumulated
- Tallest tower in the world: 828 meters high
- 160 floors
- Highest panoramic terrace in the world: 452 meters
- The tower is (theoretically) visible from 90 km away.
- Cost of the tower: 1,5 billion dollars
My opinion on the Burj Khalifa
For me, visiting Burj Khalifa is a must in Dubai. This tower, the tallest in the world, is truly amazing. From start to finish the experience is unique. Even the ascent in the fastest elevator in the world is an experience in itself.
The view from the top of the tower is impressive and offers a breathtaking panorama of the city of Dubai and the surrounding area.
It is therefore a visit that I highly recommend if you visit Dubai.
Around Burj Khalifa
Visiting Burj Khalifa is also visiting the neighborhood that surrounds it. Indeed, in addition to this tower, the district and the surroundings are among the most attractive in Dubai. You will find many hotels there, including the famous The Address, the Dubai Mall, the largest shopping center in the world, a veritable labyrinth of shops where it is pleasant to cool off when the heat becomes unbearable outside. You will also find the Burj Khalifa Lake with its impressive Dubai Fountain, a real aquatic spectacle with the highest water jets in the world. A visit to Dubai must pass near these fountains. Under no circumstances should you miss one of the shows that animates the fountain. Every day at 13 p.m. and 13:30 p.m. (13:30 p.m. and 14 p.m. on Fridays), then in the evening every 30 minutes from 18 p.m. until 23 p.m. the fountains in the basin come alive and offer a beautiful sound and light show. Dubai Fountain's water jets are among the tallest in the world, reaching over 275 meters in height. More than 6 lights illuminate this pool of water located at the foot of Burj Khalifa. It is even possible to see the spectacle more closely by opting for a boat trip on this stretch of water!
Burj Khalifa: Questions / Answers
What year was Burj Khalifa built?
Work on the tower began in 2003 and ended in 2009. The inauguration was celebrated in 2010.
How tall is the tower?
The tower measures 829 meters with the antenna.
Which Burj Khalifa floors can you climb?
It is possible to reach floors 124, 125 and 148.
What is the price to visit Burj Khalifa?
It all depends on the floor you want to go up to.
Between €30 and €47 for floors 124 and 125. Prices vary depending on the hour.
Between €80 and €115 for floor 148. Again, prices vary depending on the time of day.
