It is the highest publicly accessible observation deck in the world and has been open to visitors since January 2010.
If you are visiting Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is the one thing most people put at the top of their list. Standing at the bottom and looking up is impressive enough. But going inside and riding up to floor 124, 125 or 148 is something completely different.
At The Top gives you a 360-degree view of Dubai from over 450 metres in the air. You see the city, the Arabian Gulf, the desert, and on a clear day, the coastline stretching far beyond Dubai.
This guide covers everything you need to know before you go, including what is on each floor, ticket prices, timings, photography tips and how to choose between the standard deck and SKY.
What Is At The Top Burj Khalifa?
At The Top is the official name for the observation deck experience at the Burj Khalifa. It opened on January 5, 2010, just one day after the building’s grand opening ceremony. Emaar Properties runs the experience, and it welcomes millions of visitors every year.
There are three observation levels in total: floors 124 and 125 (the standard At The Top experience) and floor 148 (At The Top SKY, the premium level). The Lounge on floors 152 to 154 is a separate food and drinks experience at 585 metres, but it is not part of the standard At The Top ticket.
If you want to understand the building’s full layout before visiting, our guide to Burj Khalifa: The World’s Tallest Building covers everything in detail.
The Three Observation Levels: What Is on Each Floor?
Floor 124: The Main Observation Deck (452 m / 1,483 ft)
Floor 124 is where most visitors spend the bulk of their time. You arrive here by double-deck elevator from the concourse level of Dubai Mall, and the ride up takes under 60 seconds. The floor has both an indoor area with floor-to-ceiling glass walls and an outdoor terrace.
The indoor area has high-powered telescopes you can use to zoom into specific parts of the city. There is also a cafe on this floor and a souvenir shop. The outdoor terrace gives you open-air views with no glass between you and the skyline.
Floor 125: Dubai Falcon’s Eye View (456 m / 1,496 ft)
Floor 125 is just above floor 124 and is included in the standard At The Top ticket. You reach it by a short staircase from floor 124. This floor is known as the Dubai Falcon’s Eye View exhibit and focuses on the growth and development of Dubai over time.
There is a virtual reality game on this floor where the glass beneath you appears to crack. You can also get an official photo taken here with a green screen backdrop showing the Dubai skyline. The exhibit is interactive and works well for both adults and kids.
Floor 148: At The Top SKY (555 m / 1,821 ft)
Floor 148 is a different experience entirely. It sits at 555 metres, making it the highest outdoor observation deck anywhere in the world. Access to floor 148 requires a separate SKY ticket, and the number of visitors allowed at any one time is capped.
When you arrive on floor 148, a guest ambassador meets you and guides you through the experience. You get complimentary refreshments including Arabic coffee, dates and light snacks at the SKY lounge. The outdoor terrace on this floor is open-air at 555 metres, and the view is noticeably wider and higher than floors 124 and 125.
At The Top SKY vs Standard Deck — Which Should You Pick?
| Feature | 🏢 At The Top (124 & 125) | 🌤️ At The Top SKY (148) |
|---|---|---|
| 📏 Height | 452 to 456 m 1,483 to 1,496 ft |
555 m 1,821 ft |
| 🎟️ Ticket Price | From AED 179 (non-prime) | From AED 399 |
| 👥 Crowd Level | Moderate to busy | Low — capped capacity |
| ⏱️ Time Limit | No fixed limit | Around 30 minutes on floor 148 |
| ☕ Refreshments | Not included | Included — coffee, dates, snacks |
| 🧑✈️ Guest Guide | No | Yes — personal guest ambassador |
| 🌬️ Outdoor Terrace | Yes — floor 124 | Yes — floor 148 |
| 🎯 Best For | First-time visitors, families | Special occasions, low crowds |
The standard At The Top ticket is the right choice for most people visiting Dubai for the first time. It gives you all the key views, plenty of time to look around, and a good photography experience at a reasonable price. The SKY ticket makes sense if you want a quieter, more personal visit or are celebrating something special like an anniversary or birthday.
At The Top Burj Khalifa Ticket Prices
Standard At The Top Ticket (Floors 124 and 125)
Tickets for floors 124 and 125 start from AED 179 during non-prime hours. Prime hour tickets, which cover the sunset window, are priced higher and sell out faster. Children under 3 years old get in for free, and children between 4 and 12 years old get a discounted rate.
At The Top SKY Ticket (Floor 148)
The SKY ticket for floor 148 starts from AED 399. This includes access to floors 124 and 125 as well as the premium floor 148 experience. It also includes refreshments and a personal guide during your time on floor 148.
Burj Khalifa Ticket Offer at 65 AED: What Is It?
The 65 AED ticket offer you see on some travel websites is a promotional rate that comes up on certain third-party platforms and online deal sites. It typically applies to non-prime morning hours and comes as part of limited-time promotional packages. Always check the platform carefully before buying since the offer applies to specific time slots and may not include all floors.
Burj Khalifa Birthday Offer
The Burj Khalifa runs a birthday offer that lets you celebrate your special day with a discounted or exclusive experience at the observation deck. The offer usually applies when you visit on or close to your birthday and includes complimentary elements depending on the package. Check the official At The Top website or trusted ticket platforms for the latest birthday offer details since these promotions change seasonally.
For the full list of current ticket options and combo deals, visit our Burj Khalifa Tickets page.
At The Top Burj Khalifa Timings
The At The Top observation decks are open daily from 8:30 am to 11:00 pm. The last entry is at 11:00 pm. The building itself does not close during this window, so you can visit in the morning, afternoon, evening or at night.
Prime Hours vs Non-Prime Hours
Prime hours for floors 124 and 125 run from around 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm. This is the sunset window, and tickets during these hours are more expensive and sell out the fastest. Non-prime hours are everything outside this window, including early mornings, mid-morning to early afternoon, and post-sunset evenings.
For floor 148 SKY, prime hours run from approximately 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Non-prime hours for SKY are the early morning slots and the later evening slots. If you want to save money and still get great views, a non-prime morning slot on a clear day gives you some of the best visibility of the whole trip.
How Long Does a Visit Take?
A standard visit to floors 124 and 125 takes between one and one and a half hours for most people. The floor 148 SKY experience is more structured and takes around 45 minutes to one hour, with about 30 minutes of that on floor 148 itself. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your booked time slot for security and bag check.
What Can You See from Inside the Burj Khalifa?
From Floors 124 and 125
From floors 124 and 125, you look out over the full Downtown Dubai skyline directly below you. You see Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain, the Burj Lake, and the surrounding towers in every direction. Looking further out, you can spot the Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf coastline, and the desert stretching inland.
On a clear day, visibility from floor 124 reaches about 95 kilometres. You can pick out landmarks like Burj Al Arab, Dubai Creek, and the older parts of the city using the telescopes on the floor. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls on the indoor section mean you always have a clear view even if you cannot go outside.
From Floor 148
The view from floor 148 is noticeably more expansive than the floors below. At 555 metres, the city looks smaller and the horizon stretches further in every direction. On very clear days, visitors have reported being able to see the coast of Iran across the Gulf.
The outdoor terrace on floor 148 gives you open air at this height with nothing between you and the view. The crowd is smaller because of the capped capacity, which means you can stand at the railing and take your time without being jostled.
The Fog Experience
Here is something most guides do not mention. On mornings when there is low cloud or fog over Dubai, the upper floors of the Burj Khalifa sit above the cloud line. You stand on floor 148 and look down at a carpet of cloud with just the tops of other towers poking through. It is one of the most unusual views you can get from any building anywhere in the world.
Photography Tips for At The Top Burj Khalifa
Best Time of Day for Photos
Sunrise and sunset give you the best light. The golden hour just before sunset from floor 124 or 125 is the most popular photography slot, and the warm light over the city looks spectacular. Night visits give you a completely different look, with the full city lit up below you.
Early morning non-prime slots are underrated for photography. The light is soft, the crowds are thin, and if there is any morning haze, you often get a dramatic shot with mist sitting at a lower level than your position.
Floor-by-Floor Photography Guide
On floor 124, use the outdoor terrace for wide-angle shots over the city without any glass reflection. The telescopes on this floor also let you capture zoomed-in shots of specific landmarks like Palm Jumeirah or Burj Al Arab. Position yourself on the side of the terrace facing west for the best sunset shots.
On floor 125, the green screen official photo area is worth using if you want a sharp, professional quality image with the skyline behind you. The VR experience is also photogenic and worth capturing. On floor 148, the glass walls are cleaner and less scratched than the lower floors, so photos through the glass come out sharper.
What to Bring and What to Leave Behind
Bring your phone or camera. There are no restrictions on personal photography equipment for standard tourists. Leave large bags at the baggage counter at the entrance since they are not allowed inside. Strollers also need to be left at the counter.
How to Get There and What to Expect on Arrival
The entrance to At The Top is through the lower ground floor of Dubai Mall. You do not enter from the outside of the building directly. Follow the signs inside the mall for Burj Khalifa and look for the At The Top entrance near the fountain side of the building.
At the entrance, you exchange your e-ticket or booking confirmation for your physical wristband or timed ticket. Security screening follows, where bags are checked and large items are stored. After security, you walk through a brief orientation area before boarding the double-deck elevators.
The elevator ride to floor 124 takes under 60 seconds at 10 metres per second. To go from floor 124 up to floor 148, you take a separate elevator from within the building. The whole process from mall entrance to the observation deck takes around 15 to 20 minutes if you have pre-booked.
To understand how the floors and lift system work across the full building, check out our complete guide on Burj Khalifa floors.
Practical Tips Before You Visit
Book your tickets at least 2 to 3 days in advance during peak season, which runs from October to April. Sunset prime-time slots are always the first to sell out and sometimes go within hours of being released. If you want a specific time, do not leave the booking until the morning of your visit.
Arrive 30 minutes before your booking. The queue for security and bag check can slow things down even if you have a pre-booked ticket. Outside food and drinks are not allowed inside, but floor 148 includes refreshments with the SKY ticket and there is a cafe on floor 124.
Dress in smart casual clothes and wear comfortable shoes. High heels are not recommended. The temperature outside on the terraces is noticeably cooler than ground level, especially in winter months, so bring a light layer if you are visiting in the evening between November and February.
For a full breakdown of heights at each level, see our Burj Khalifa height guide.
The Bottom Line
At The Top Burj Khalifa is worth doing, full stop. Most first-time visitors are well served by the standard ticket for floors 124 and 125. The views are outstanding, the experience is smooth, and the price is fair for what you get.
If you are celebrating something or simply want a quieter, more personal visit without the crowds, the SKY ticket for floor 148 delivers that. The view from 555 metres is a step above what you get on the floors below, and the hosted experience makes it feel genuinely special.
Book early, pick your time slot based on what you want to see (golden hour sunset, daytime clarity or a glittering night view), and arrive 30 minutes before your slot. That is all you need to have a visit you will not forget.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is At The Top Burj Khalifa?
At The Top is the observation deck experience at the Burj Khalifa covering floors 124, 125 and 148. Floor 124 sits at 452 metres, floor 125 at 456 metres, and floor 148 at 555 metres. It opened on January 5, 2010, and holds the record for the world’s highest outdoor observation deck on floor 148.
2. What happens at the top of the Burj Khalifa?
On floors 124 and 125 you get a 360-degree view of Dubai from the indoor gallery and outdoor terrace, use high-powered telescopes, visit the Falcon’s Eye View exhibit and try a VR experience. On floor 148 you get a personal guided tour, complimentary refreshments at the SKY lounge and access to the highest outdoor terrace in the world. The whole visit takes between one and one and a half hours for the standard experience.
3. What is the Burj Khalifa ticket offer at 65 AED?
The 65 AED offer is a promotional rate that appears on some third-party booking platforms for non-prime morning time slots. It is a real offer but applies to specific hours and limited availability. Always book through a trusted platform and read the terms carefully to confirm which floors and time slots are included.
4. What is the Burj Khalifa birthday offer?
The Burj Khalifa birthday offer lets visitors celebrate their birthday at the observation deck with complimentary extras and a special package experience. The exact inclusions and pricing change depending on the time of year. Check the official At The Top website or a trusted booking platform for the current birthday offer details before your visit.
5. What is the difference between At The Top and At The Top SKY?
At The Top covers floors 124 and 125 at 452 to 456 metres and costs from AED 179 for non-prime hours. At The Top SKY adds floor 148 at 555 metres, includes a personal guest ambassador, complimentary refreshments and costs from AED 399. SKY has a lower crowd cap and a more personal experience, while the standard ticket gives you more time to explore without a strict limit.
6. What are the At The Top Burj Khalifa timings?
At The Top is open daily from 8:30 am to 11:00 pm with last entry at 11:00 pm. Prime hours for floors 124 and 125 run from around 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Non-prime hours cover the rest of the day including mornings, early afternoons and post-sunset evenings.
7. What is the Burj Khalifa 148 floor ticket price?
The At The Top SKY ticket for floor 148 starts from AED 399. This includes access to all three observation levels (124, 125 and 148), a personal guest ambassador on floor 148, refreshments at the SKY lounge and access to the outdoor terrace at 555 metres.
