Burj Khalifa at Night

It’s impossible not to spot the Burj Khalifa when you visit Dubai, as it stands at an impressive 828 metres tall. According to the Guinness World Records, it is the tallest building in the world, which is one of the reasons why so many people visit it. Many choose to go up the Burj Khalifa at night – would you like to give it a go?

The Burj Khalifa is a testament to how far structural engineering and architecture have come. Don’t just settle for taking a photo of yourself in front of this skyscraper; I encourage you to take in the views from the top of the Burj Khalifa. Don’t worry if you can only do it at night. I guarantee that the experience of seeing the city after dark from such heights is incredible.

Tickets for the evening viewing times at the Burj Khalifa observation decks are purchased in the same way as daytime tickets. Therefore, one way to buy them is online. The advantage of this method is that you can buy tickets in advance and choose the evening time slot you prefer

Evening time slots are available from 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm (until midnight from Thursday to Saturday). As for the ticket offices, they are open from 8.30 am to 10.00 pm.

Evening tickets are more expensive than daytime tickets. You will need to pay between €15 and €35 more than for a daytime ticket (depending on which observation deck you wish to visit).

Something important to note if you want to go up this building at night is that ticket prices for the Burj Khalifa increase during these hours. Furthermore, access to the 148th-floor observation deck is more expensive than that of the 124th and 125th floors.

Children under the age of 4 have free access to both observation decks. Bear in mind that there are certain times of the year (when there are more tourists in the city) when ticket prices rise. Similarly, if you purchase your tickets as part of a package that includes other services, the prices will also be higher.

Floors 124 and 125 open at 10:00 and close at 22:00; the days on which the closing time changes are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Both floors remain open until midnight on these three days.

The only difference in the opening hours for the 148th floor is the opening time, which is 12:00. Thanks to these opening hours, visitors have the opportunity to visit as dusk falls and even after night has fallen over Dubai.

Perhaps the fact that it is one of the most visited attractions in Dubai hasn’t convinced you to go up the Burj Khalifa at night. That’s why I’d like to tell you about the reasons why you should add a night-time visit to this building to your travel plans for the city.

I encourage you to visit one of the Burj Khalifa’s observation decks for the following reasons:

The Dubai Fountain’s evening shows

The Dubai Fountain is located at the foot of the imposing Burj Khalifa, and shows are held every day from 6 pm to 11 pm. These take place every 30 minutes and last approximately 3 minutes. They feature lights, water jets that can reach over 100 metres, and music.

The shows can be seen from a distance of 1,000 metres or more, so you can enjoy them from the 124th, 125th or 148th floors of the Burj Khalifa. The best part is that the songs accompanying the lights and water jets change throughout the night, so the fountain’s evening shows are varied.

The Dubai Fountain was designed by the same team responsible for creating the Bellagio Hotel (Las Vegas).

The temperature is cooler than during the day

When the sun goes down, the temperature—and therefore the heat index— in Dubai drops. This allows you to enjoy the Burj Khalifa’s viewing platforms more, especially the outdoor ones. Many visitors to the world’s tallest building don’t spend much time outside the viewing platforms due to the heat.

As you can spend more time on the terraces, you can admire every detail of the incredible view from the Burj Khalifa.

Fewer people at the observation decks

As well as visiting in the early hours of the morning, visiting the observation decks after sunset is highly recommended. The reason is that as the sun sets, large numbers of people enter At the Top and At the Top SKY.

As the sun disappears from the sky and night falls over Dubai, visitors leave the observation decks. Therefore, during the evening you can enjoy the scenery in peace and have the opportunity to take as many photographs as you like.

Many of the buildings you can see when you go up the Burj Khalifa are characteristic of Dubai’s night-time skyline. From the heights , you can clearly see the following:

• Burj Al Arab: the luxurious hotel stands 321 metres tall.
• Dubai Frame: a building shaped like a picture frame, standing 150 metres tall.
• Dubai Mall: the shopping centre has around 1,200 shops.
• Emirates Towers: Emirates Tower One (355 metres) and Emirates Tower Two (309 metres).
• The Dubai Fountain: it is 275 metres long.

During the day, you can see Dubai’s finest mosques on the skyline, but the buildings listed above are some of those whose lighting makes them particularly striking at night.

Although a few years ago Dubai wasn’t known for its night-time lighting, that has changed. All the buildings around the Burj Khalifa are beautifully lit, so the city looks stunning at night.

Below, I’ll tell you about the lighting on some of the buildings I mentioned earlier:

• The exterior of the Burj Al Arab is lit up in a different colour every night; it often features blue lights. It’s easy to spot the building from above and admire its sail-like shape.
• The Dubai Frame is one of the newest structures gracing Dubai’s skyline, and its design naturally features lights that make it stand out at night. During your evening visit to the Burj Khalifa, you’re sure to see the city’s giant frame illuminated in blue, yellow, green, pink or any other colour.
• The Dubai Fountain is the closest point to the Burj Khalifa and at night it is illuminated by the thousands of lights it contains. On some occasions the colours change, but they are usually yellow, and the intensity of the light changes to match the rhythm of the music for each water show.

The Burj Khalifa’s lighting

I can’t talk about Dubai’s night-time lighting without focusing on the Burj Khalifa. Obviously, when you’re inside, you can’t enjoy the light from the outside, but when you step out, you’d do well to take a good look at it. The building isn’t just lit up in different colours, but also displays images – how is this achieved?

The Burj Khalifa has an LED system, so the building is capable of projecting images as if it were a giant screen. Everything is controlled by software that configures the pixels. Perhaps when you visit Dubai, you’ll have the chance to see the world’s largest LED screen on the Burj Khalifa.

Now that you know what a fantastic experience visiting the Burj Khalifa at night offers, it’s time for some tips for your visit:

• It’s best to buy your ticket online in advance, so you won’t have to queue at the building.
• Don’t forget to bring your ID or passport, as you’ll need to show them to enter the observation decks.
• Arrive about 30 minutes before the time you booked your ticket for.
• The lifts go up very quickly, so you’ll reach your destination in under 2 minutes. So don’t worry if your ears pop a little as you start going up.

How to get back to your accommodation after visiting the Burj Khalifa at night

If you decide to visit the Burj Khalifa at night, what options do you have for getting back to your accommodation? City taxis are available until late, and the fares are reasonable.

As for the city’s bus network, it runs from 10:00 am until midnight. So, when you leave the Burj Khalifa, you can easily head back to your accommodation by bus. Another option is to use the metro, which runs until midnight and until 1:00 am on Thursdays and Fridays.

If you don’t eat before going up the Burj Khalifa, there are places where you can have dinner after your visit. The restaurants I recommend are as follows:

• At. Mosphere: you don’t even have to leave the building, as this elegant restaurant is on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa. If you’d like to eat here, it’s best to book a table a few hours in advance. At. Mosphere closes at 1.30 am.
• Slice and Mix Restaurant: this is ideal for those who prefer to eat somewhere informal. The service is quick and it’s a family-friendly restaurant. Slice and Mix is on Jumeirah Street and closes at 1.00 am
• Johnny Rockets: this restaurant specialises in burgers, milkshakes and chips. There are several branches in different parts of Dubai; you can find the addresses of Johnny Rockets on their website.
• 800 Pizza: this restaurant opened in 2007 and serves thin, light and crispy pizzas. There are several 800 Pizza branches in Dubai.

As well as everything you can do inside the Burj Khalifa, bear in mind that the building has two viewing platforms. First, let me tell you about ‘At the Top’, which is located on the 124th and 125th floors. There is no time limit on how long you can stay on these floors, though of course that doesn’t mean you can stay from morning until night. However, some people have spent up to three hours at the viewing platform.

The ‘At the Top’ viewing platform

At the ‘At the Top’ observation deck, there is an outdoor area from which you can view the city through large windows. Inside the 124th floor, there is a café, and you can have your photograph taken against a green screen. Additionally, there are small screens showing how the city has developed in recent years and the view in different weather conditions.

From the 125th floor, you can also enjoy an unrivalled panoramic view, but this floor has a different look to the 124th floor. The ceiling has a unique design and there are games you can play, some of which are free.

The viewing platform on the 148th floor

At the Top SKY is 555 metres high, so it offers unique views of the city. Just like on the 124th floor, there is an open-air viewing platform on the 148th floor, and there is also a premium lounge where visitors can relax.

A visit to At the Top SKY is much more exclusive than on floors 124 and 125, but the time spent at the observation deck is limited. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy the views for 30 minutes.

There are several ways to get to the Burj Khalifa from central Dubai. Your options are:

• Metro: take the red line; the stop where you need to get off is called “Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall”. Opening hours are Saturday to Wednesday from 5.30 pm to midnight and Thursdays and Fridays until 1.00 am, so you’ll have plenty of time to get back to your hotel.
• Taxi: simply tell the driver your destination; the fare is around €20 or less, depending on where you are.
• Bus: Take the F13 route and get off at the “Dubai Mall” stop. You’ll have until midnight to return to your hotel after seeing the night-time views from the Burj Khalifa. Unlike if you buy tickets to see the Burj Khalifa during the day, the Dubai tourist bus won’t be of use, as many don’t operate at night.
• Walking: if you think the walk from where you are to the Burj Khalifa isn’t too far, you can walk. It’s easy to spot the building, as it stands out from the rest in the city.

The information I’ve provided in this article will be useful if you decide to go up the Burj Khalifa at night. Make the most of it!