Reasons to Visit Burj Khalifa – Why Visit Dubai’s Tallest Tower

The most popular answer to What to do in Dubai is to check out the Burj Khalifa. The grand ‘Vertical City’ of Dubai rises gracefully to a height of 828 meters. The Burj Khalifa has it all – extraordinary feat of engineering, beautiful artful design, and meticulous craftsmanship. The 200 plus storey building has 160 habitable levels, which is more than any building in the world. This incredible tower used up a record-breaking 330,000 cubic meters of concrete mix; 103,000 square meters of glass; 39,000 tonnes of steel reinforcement; 15,500 square meters of stainless steel and much more. The entire incredible building took no less than 22 million man-hours to construct from the ground up. There are a number of reasons to visit the Burj Khalifa; here are the most important ones.

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The Number Game

Let’s take a look at the Burj by numbers – more reason to reasons to visit Burj Khalifa:

• For one thing, the building is 828m tall
• It used up more than 110,000 tonnes of concrete
• It required 22 million man-hours to construct. Impressed yet? Here’s more.
• 31,000 tonnes of steel rebar was used to build the structure. If these bars were laid out end-to-end, they would cover a fourth of our huge planet.
• The Burj is covered with about 26,000 reflective, mirror-finish glass panels; 36 brave window cleaners polish it continuously.

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Burj Khalifa Fun Facts

Let’s take a Burj Khalifa tour and look at some fun facts: 

• The Burj has the world’s fastest elevator, which travels at 10 meters per second.
• The Burj is three times as tall as the Eiffel Tower and almost twice as tall as the Empire State Building.
• It is the world’s tallest freestanding structure and has the most number of levels in the world
• The Burj has the highest occupied floor in the world
• The Burj’s elevator has the longest travel distance in the world
• It also has the tallest service elevator in the world.
• The total weight of the concrete used to construct the Burj Khalifa weighs as much as 100,000 elephants.
• The total aluminum used to build the Burj equals that of five A380 aircraft.
• Every year the Burj collects 15 million gallons of water sustainably. This water is used for irrigation, for the cooling system and also to supply the Dubai Fountain.
• You can see the Burj Khalifa’s tip from a distance of 95 kilometers.
• The Burj is designed to resemble the Hymenocallis flower. Visit Burj Khalifa to see how the central core of the flower comes out at the top and shapes into a sculpted spire.

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The Observatory Decks of Burj Khalifa

There are three, not one, observatory decks open to the public. Did you know that? The first two comprise the Burj Khalifa At The Top experience, which includes Levels 124 and 125 at 452 meters. This height is just halfway up the building. The third observatory is the SKY Lounge, on level 148, situated at a height of 555 meters.

Even during peak hours, you can spend as much time as you want in the At The Top levels. The difference between the At The Top and the Sky Lounge is that the Sky Lounge tends to be quieter, has soft seating, and costs about 500 AED for just 30 minutes. In fact, buy a ticket for the Sky Lounge and you can enjoy time at the Top levels as well. Always book in advance. Sunrise views are available on Friday and Saturday during winter, and sunset views are available every day.

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The Burj Khalifa Visitor Experience

• The 124^th and 125^th Level At The Top Experience

You’ll have to queue up a lot, especially to pick up your tickets and to get into the lifts, but there’s a lot of stuff to see while you’re queueing. The elevator to the 124^th floor is so fast and smooth, in just a minute you’re at the top. First, you’ll exit to the indoor section of Level 124, where you’ll find a gift shop and touchscreen cameras to take in the view. This is for people who are too scared to look down from the observatory deck as yet. Be brave and get to the outdoor deck and peer into downtown Dubai. If you want to get really dizzy, peer upwards at the 400 or so meters of the Burj soaring over you. If you like, you can plug into the audio tour and listen to how the Burj was engineered and put together. There are telescopes placed at strategic points so you can focus on specific landmarks.

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• The Sky Lounge Experience

If you’ve bought yourself a ticket to the Sky Lounge, you’ll have to wait for a while on the ground floor in an exclusive lounge. Enjoy some traditional Arabic hospitality; sip on hot, thick coffee and nibble on dates. After this, you’re escorted via a VIP elevator to the level 148. This level is not crowded – you’ll only find about 20–30 people on this floor. Here you can spend a half-hour before joining the crowds at Level 125.

• The View

Let’s talk about the view now. The view from the top of the Burj Khalifa shows you all of Dubai and some parts of Abu Dhabi. Take a scan of all the best places to visit in Dubai. You can get a clear sighting of The Burj al Arab, Hotel Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah, The Dubai Frame, Ain Dubai, and several other iconic landmarks. The view is mesmerizing during sunset and sunrise. You’ll never see such a brilliant show put on by the sun from anywhere else. The height makes it possible to literally stand amidst the clouds and get a good look at the myriad colors that make up the sun’s path through the skies.

• High dining at At.mosphere in the Burj Khalifa

When it comes to visiting Burj Khalifa, it does not wrap up with just reaching the observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors. There are numerous other interesting facts about Burj Khalifa that will keep you glued to this building. You can take the opportunity to have a scrumptious dinner while taking in the awesome views of the city. At. Mosphere is a fine dining restaurant located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa. Besides its stylish décor and luxurious ambiance, this restaurant is known for its well-crafted drinks and delicious food. With a stunning view in the background and delectable food on your plate, it is the perfect place to have a romantic dinner with your partner or a quiet lunch with family and friends. Tip of the day, it is important to make a reservation in advance as this restaurant does not entertain impromptu guests.

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Things to Know about Burj Khalifa Tower Before You Visit

The Best Time To Visit Burj Khalifa Dubai

When it comes to visiting Burj Khalifa, it does not wrap up with just reaching the observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors. Rather, you can take the opportunity to have a scrumptious dinner while taking in the awesome views of the city. At. Mosphere is a fine dining restaurant located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa. Besides its stylish décor and luxurious ambiance, this restaurant is known for its well-crafted drinks and delicious food. With a stunning view in the background and delectable food on your plate, it is the perfect place to have a romantic dinner with your partner or a quiet lunch with family and friends. Tip of the day, it is important to make a reservation in advance as this restaurant does not entertain impromptu guests.

How to Select the Best Burj Khalifa Dubai Tickets

Analyzing your requirements and expectations, you must accordingly book your Burj Khalifa tickets. You would find different types of Burj Khalifa tickets offers online depending on the levels of the observation deck and the availability of the slot. The two observatory decks on the 124th and 148th floors respectively are open at prime and non-prime hours. Prime hours are between 4 PM to 6 PM, just before sunset. This is the most recommended and also the highest-paid ticket because it is during this time that you can marvel at the most picturesque and glitzy views of the city skyline. The rest of the working hours (between 8 AM and 4 PM and 6 PM to 11 PM) fall into non-prime hours. If you are looking for a time slot that would be the least expensive, opt for early morning (between 8:30 and 10 AM) and early afternoon (between 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM). But if your concern is to avoid crowds, it would be best to visit after 8: 30 PM.

Getting To Burj Khalifa Dubai

If you are visiting the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, you would have to enter the building through the Dubai Mall. The entrance through the mall is located on the Lower Ground Floor of the building. On the other hand, if you are a guest at the Armani Hotel or dining at At. Mosphere, you can access the Burj Khalifa through the main entrance.

• Taxis: One of the best ways to reach Burj Khalifa is by hiring a taxi. Taxis in Dubai are cheap and easily available too.
• Metro: The problem with taxis is that you can easily get stuck in traffic, especially if you are traveling during peak time. In this case, taking the metro would be the fastest way to reach Burj Khalifa. You have to take the Red Line and get down at Burj Khalifa Metro Station. From here, you can either ride on the F13 bus and get down at the Dubai Mall Bus Stop (next stop) or walk towards Dubai Mall, if you have the time.

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Conclusion

For many people, a trip to the Burj Khalifa equals experiencing the best of life. It’s true. The Burj lives up to its legend each and every time, giving you great value for your money. This unbelievable structure is a must-visit, must-experience item on any traveler’s list. What about you? Meanwhile, do check out other Dubai attractions.

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