Burj Khalifa at Night

It’s impossible not to notice the Burj Khalifa when you visit Dubai, as it stands an impressive 828 meters tall. According to Guinness World Records, it’s the tallest building in the world—one of the reasons so many people visit it. Many choose to go up the Burj Khalifa at night. Would you like to do the same?

The Burj Khalifa is a testament to how far structural engineering and architecture have come. Don’t settle for just 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 hours at the Burj Khalifa observation decks are purchased 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 want

Evening hours are available from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM (until midnight on Thursdays through Saturdays). As for the ticket counters, they are open from 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM.

Night tickets are more expensive than daytime tickets. You’ll need to pay between €15 and €35 more than during the day (depending on which observation deck you want to visit).

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

Children under 4 years of age have free access to both observation decks. Keep in mind that there are certain times of the year (when there are more tourists in the city) when ticket prices go up. Likewise, if you purchase your tickets as part of a package that includes other services, the prices also increase.

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

The only difference in the schedule for the 148th floor is the opening time, which is 12:00 PM. Thanks to this schedule, visitors have the opportunity to visit as the sun sets and even after night has fallen over Dubai.

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

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

The Dubai Fountain’s Nighttime Shows

The Dubai Fountain is located at the foot of the imposing Burj Khalifa, and shows are held every day from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. These take place every 30 minutes and last approximately 3 minutes. They feature lights, water jets that can reach over 100 meters, and music.

The shows can be seen from a distance of 1,000 meters 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 nightly 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 observation decks more, especially the outdoor ones. Many visitors to the world’s tallest building don’t spend much time outside the observation decks because of the heat.

Since 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

In addition to going in the early morning hours, visiting the observation decks after sunset is highly recommended. The reason is that as the sun sets, many people enter At the Top and At the Top SKY.

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

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

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

During the day, you can see Dubai’s most beautiful mosques on the horizon, but the buildings listed here are some of the ones whose lighting makes them particularly striking at night.

Although a few years ago Dubai wasn’t known for its nighttime lighting, that has changed. All the buildings surrounding 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 illuminated in a different color 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 includes 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 color.
• The Dubai Fountain is the closest point to the Burj Khalifa, and at night it is illuminated by the thousands of lights within it. Sometimes the colors change, but they are usually yellow, and the intensity of the light shifts to match the rhythm of the music for each water show.

The Burj Khalifa’s Lighting

I can’t talk about Dubai’s nighttime lighting without focusing on the Burj Khalifa. Obviously, when you’re inside, you can’t enjoy the exterior lights, but when you step outside, you’d be wise to take a good look at them. The building isn’t just lit up with different colors, but also with 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 an amazing experience visiting the Burj Khalifa at night offers, here are some tips for your visit:

• It’s best to buy your ticket online in advance so you won’t have to wait in line 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.
• The elevators go up very fast, so you’ll reach your destination in less than 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 late into the night, and the fares are reasonable.

As for the city’s bus network, it runs from 10:00 AM until midnight. Therefore, when you leave the Burj Khalifa, you can easily head back to your accommodation by bus. Another option is to take the metro, which operates 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 located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa. If you’d like to dine here, it’s best to reserve a table a few hours in advance. At. Mosphere closes at 1:30 a.m.
• Slice and Mix Restaurant: This is perfect for those who prefer a casual dining experience. The service is fast, and it’s a family-friendly restaurant. Slice and Mix is on Jumeirah Street and closes at 1:00 a.m.
• Johnny Rockets: This restaurant specializes in burgers, milkshakes, and french fries. There are several locations throughout Dubai; you can find the addresses on their website.
• 800 Pizza: This restaurant opened in 2007 and offers thin, light, and crispy pizzas. There are several 800 Pizza locations in Dubai.

In addition to everything you can do inside the Burj Khalifa, keep in mind that the building has two observation decks. First, there’s “At the Top,” located on the 124th and 125th floors. You can stay on these floors for as long as you like—though that doesn’t mean you can stay from morning until night. However, some people have spent up to three hours at the observation deck.

The At the Top Observation Deck

At the At the Top observation deck, there’s an outdoor area where you can view the city through large windows. Inside the 124th floor, there’s a café, and you can take a photo against a green screen. Additionally, small screens display how the city has evolved in recent years and the view under different weather conditions.

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

The 148th-floor observation deck

At the Top SKY is located at a height of 555 meters, so it offers unique views of the city. Just like on the 124th floor, the 148th floor features an outdoor observation deck, and there is also a premium lounge where visitors can relax and enjoy themselves.

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 30 minutes to enjoy the views.

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

• Metro: Take the red line; the stop where you need to get off is called “Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall.” Operating hours are Saturday through Wednesday from 5:30 a.m. to midnight, and Thursday and Friday until 1:00 a.m., so you’ll have plenty of time to return to your hotel.
• Taxi: Just tell the driver your destination; the fare is around €20 or less, depending on where you’re coming from.
• Bus: Take the F13 line and get off at the “Dubai Mall” stop. You have until midnight to return to your hotel after seeing the night 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 an option since many don’t run 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 find the building, as it stands out among the others 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. Enjoy it to the fullest!