What’s the visitor experience like?
As expected with any major attraction, there’s some queueing involved. You’ll queue to pick up your tickets, then again to get into the lift, but it’s fairly fast moving and there are occasional exhibits to keep you entertained throughout.
As one of the world’s fastest, the elevator to the 124th floor is somewhat disappointing. It takes just a minute to reach the observation deck but it’s so smooth you’d never know you were moving.
Level 124 has an indoor section – complete with a gift shop – for those a little too sheepish to head outside, and you can zoom in on the ground using cameras connected to the touchscreens dotted throughout.
On the outdoor deck, you’ll have to jostle a little for space to press your nose against the glass to peer over downtown Dubai. For an even more dizzying experience, don’t forget to look up to see the remaining 400-or-so metres soaring above you.
There’s an audio tour available, which details the engineering and architectural process, but ultimately the highlight is the astonishing view.
If you’ve invested in the SKY ticket, you’ll wait your turn in an exclusive lounge on the ground floor, with traditional Arabic hospitality of coffee and dates, before being escorted in a VIP elevator all the way to level 148. There are generally only around 20–30 people on this floor at any one time, making it a much more relaxed experience, but you only get around half an hour before you’ll have to descend to 125 to join the crowds.
So is it worth the trip?
If you’re a bucket list ticker then yes – the novelty of going up the world’s tallest building is probably worth the entry fee (though perhaps not all the way to level 148).
But while the panoramas are impressive, one of the best views in Dubai is of the Burj Khalifa itself, as it truly does tower above all the other skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Road.
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