Discovering the Burj Khalifa: A Traveler’s Guide to the Iconic Landmark
  • cldJan 07, 2025

 

Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, symbolizes human innovation and intelligence and attracts millions of travelers annually from all over the globe. The building offers breathtaking views of the city at sunset and sunrise. The panoramic view from the top of Burj Khalifa leaves tourists awe-struck. The maximum height of Burj Khalifa is around 828 meters, approximately three times the peak point of the Eiffel Tower. The Burj Khalifa is a stunning landmark that has a variety of residential units, bedroom suites, and studios. The building is filled with lavish facilities, giving the feel of royalties to a person who visits Burj Khalifa or owns an apartment.  

Burj Khalifa is the prestige of Dubai, offering guests luxurious accommodations and impeccable service. If you do not own an apartment in Burj Khalifa, do not worry; the authority of Burj Khalifa allows tourists to admire its astonishing beauty by paying a small charge. If you are willing to visit Dubai and Burj Khalifa is on your bucket list, then you must understand its history, architecture, commendable features, and more. If you are tired of crawling on the internet, then this post will give you insights into Burj Khalifa; let’s embark on this mesmerizing journey. 

 

History of Burj Khalifa 

The construction of Burj Khalifa was completed in 2009, but it started in 2004. Under Downtown Dubai, in 2010, the building started to welcome the public. To pay respect to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president of the United Arab Emirates, the building was named after him. Initially, the building was called Burj Dubai, but at the time of the inauguration of the building, the name Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa was changed by Mohammad Bin Rashid to support the UAE’s president at that time. 

 

Burj Khalifa's Architecture     

The building is an excellent blend of modernity and ancient architecture. Burj Khalifa is a marvelous building that showcases traditional Islamic architecture. Reputed companies Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill designed the astonishing landmark Burj Khalifa. The building has a total of 163 floors with 2,717 feet of height. The architects opted for the Y-shaped tripartite floor geometry to accomplish the residential and hotel space. To support this tallest building, the architects decide to utilize a buttressed central core and wings. More than 4,000 tonnes of steel are used in the spire of Burj Khalifa. The pinnacle that is located at the center of Burj Khalifa weighs around 350 tonnes with a total height of 660 ft. Adrian Smith put his vision and design behind Burj Khalifa. The unique Burj Khalifa is the epitome of the development of the United Arab Emirates. 

 

Features of Burj  Khalifa  

Burj Khalifa is a global icon that provides cutting-edge facilities to its visitors. The tower has a plethora of features that attract travelers throughout the year. The building has the tallest service elevator. On level 122, the floor of Burj Khalifa, one can get gourmet food from the highest restaurant in the world. Some of the major features of Burj Khalifa have been discussed in depth; please carry on with the reading: 

  • Observation Deck 
  • Fountain 
  • Park  

 

Observation Deck  

After arriving at the 124th floor of Burj Khalifa, you can witness the pristine view of the city from the observation deck called At the Top. It was accessible to the public in 2010. At this point, you can also see the electronic telescope. After the opening of other building the title of highest observation deck was no longer with Burj Khalifa. Later on, in 2014, the 148 floor was opened to the public, presenting a serene view from the observation deck. The authority of the Burj Khalifa suggested booking online tickets in advance, ensuring a pleasant and hassle-free trip to the observation deck to avoid the rush. During the reservation, tourists also get the advantage of the reduced fees. 

 

Fountain  

Outside the Burj Khalifa, a fountain can be seen. The fountain, designed by WET Enterprises, offers mesmerizing sights to tourists. The fountain involved around 6,600 lights and 50 colored projectors. The water can reach a distance of 150 meters into the air and is 270 m long. The total cost of this fountain is around US$217 million. As the water shoots in the air, you can hear a variety of music, especially classic and contemporary Arabic music, and others. If you are visiting this Dubai Fountain then do not forget to record this musical show. 

 

Park   

Burj Kalifa leaves people speechless. Its park is spread across 27 acres of land. The design of the park is based on a flower named Hymenocallis, which is generally found in the desert. The water coming from the building's cooling system is wisely used to water the plants of the park. Around 68,000,000 L of water is collected by the cooling system each year. The credit for designing the park goes to the landscape architects SWA Group. In the park, benches and signs can be seen that depict the pictures of the Hymenocallis flower along with the Burj Khalifa.

 

How to reach Burj Khalifa?   

Burj Khalifa is a living example of human development and architecture. Being a popular site, it is within the reach of any tourist who wants to take a tour. Tourists can opt for plenty of modes of transportation to come to Burj Khalifa. If you are a tourist who wants to see Burj Khalifa, then here are some of the popular transportation channels that will lead you to Burj Khalifa easily: 

  • Bus: The cheapest way to travel to Burj Khalifa is by bus. The city has an extensive network of bus routes, making it convenient for tourists to roam around. The nearest bus routes accessible for travelers are 27, 28, 29, 50, and 81. The drop-off of these mentioned bus routes is Dubai Mall. You can take a walk to Burj Khalifa once you reach Dubai Mall. 
  • Metro: An alternative channel to arrive at Burj Khalifa is hopping on the Metro. The metro of Dubai is considered one of the metros with robust features. Dubai Metro has two lines: Red and Green. For the Burj Khalifa, you have to choose the Red Line metro and arrive at the Burj Khalifa metro station.  After reaching the Burj Khalifa or Dubai Mall stop, you can proceed towards Burj Khalifa without a hitch. 
  • Car: If you have a car and are driving to Burj Khalifa, put the location in your GPS, and you will reach Burj Khalifa effortlessly. To park the vehicle, you should make headway to Dubai Mall. You can park through Financial Center Rd or utilize Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd. 
  • Taxi: There are various user-friendly taxi booking options. Reserve any taxi to Burj Khalifa that suits your preference. The taxi driver will leave you at the nearest spot to Burj Khalifa. Check out the prices first; book the taxi if it is within your budget. 

 

What are the ticket prices to Burj Khalifa?   

To enter Burj Khalifa, any visitor needs to make a reservation for the entry ticket. The price of visiting Burj Khalifa depends on the age of the person. If you are with a child between three and eight years old, the ticket charges are around AED (UAE Dirham) 145. For an adult, the ticket price to Burj Khalifa is AED 179. To get engaged with the facilities of Burj Khalifa like Fountain tours- the fees are AED 20, and AED 259  to access the Burj Club with a rooftop. 

 

How to book the ticket for Burj Khalifa?  

Burj Khalifa tickets are available online by arriving at the official page of Burj Khalifa https://www.burjkhalifa.ae/. Explore the page and pick the tickets that interest you most. If you are willing to have a top view of the city, then you should book the tickets to the observation deck. You can book the ticket to the observation deck after reaching Burj Khalifa or through Burj Khalifa's website. 

 

Nearby Sightseeing to Burj Khalifa

Along with the Burj Khalifa, there are tremendous options for a tourist to explore. Some of the places near Burj Khalifa where you can spend time with your loved ones are listed in the following lines; please have a look: 

  • Dubai Opera: If you admire creative minds, then Dubai Opera is heaven for you. In the backyard of Burj Khalifa, you can witness the Dubai Opera. The venue operates shows like ballets, stand-up comedy, classical operas, and others. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Gustavo Santaolalla, Matilda-The Musical The Phantom of The Opera, and more artists perform at the prestigious stage of Dubai Opera. The opening time of Dubai Opera is from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM; for ticket booking, you can go to www.dubaiopera.com.  
  • Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo: Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo have a majestic effect on the brain, whether you are an adult or a child. The place has around 140 marine species, including giant groupers, crabs, sharks, seahorses, etc. There is a 48-meter-long tunnel through which visitors can see the marine species without any hindrance. To learn about the timings and charges, you can check the site https://www.thedubaiaquarium.com/tickets/
  • Abra Ride at Dubai Creek: Abra rides are a must when roaming near Burj Khalifa. The spot is popular among tourists as it is significant for the pearl industry. The Abra departs with a gap of every few minutes. The Abra operates its ferry between different water stations, and Dubai Creek is one of them. You can get a glimpse of the iconic architecture of Dubai while sitting on the Abra Ride. Be ready with your cameras, as the sight is worth capturing. The fees for Abra Ride begin from AED 1. 
  • The Green Planet Dubai: To get a serene view of the wildlife, you can visit the Green Planet Dubai. Green Planet Dubai has created an artificial bio-dome where over 3000 varieties of plants and animals can be seen. Besides these, travelers can identify the world's largest man-made and life-sustaining indoor tree. http://thegreenplanetdubai.com is the functional website from where you can book tickets.