At The Top, Burj Khalifa — Attraction in Dubai

We visited Dubai in 2019 via package from one of the Travel agency in Chandigarh. At The Top, Burj Khalifa was included in that package. Burj Khalifa is just adjacent to Dubai Mall. Dubai mall is one of the largest mall of UAE. Waterfall within this mall is very eye catching. Thousands of Brands under one roof which is one of the best shopping option for the tourists.There are many more attractions within the mall like Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo which is one of the best option for kids.To reach here, you can easily hire a taxi which can board you to the mall. You can also witness a musical fountain show here which I guess held everyday and it was missed by us due to shortage of time. To be at At The Top, Burj Khalifa you need to borrow a ticket from the ticket counter. There is a huge walkway which can lead you to the Lift. Staff members to assist you for any help. The lift which lead us At The Top, was just wonderful. As we stepped in, whole Lift is like a starry sky. We felt like twinkling stars are just our hands away. This lift was so fast that we reached at 127th floor in just 60 seconds.This was really amazing which can't be expressed in words. This wasn't experienced by me before.Though there's around 148 or more floors at Burj Khalifa but we were at the 127th Floor. As we reached at the 127th Floor, the scrorching sun made us completely sweaty because there is a small outdoor area and we went crazy to take pictures there and luckily they came out nice.☺ Once we stepped in, it felt like WOW! The beautiful view from the top was just amazing. What can be more beautiful to be at the world's tallest building. It felt like you have touched the sky. Huge skyscrapers, shopping malls almost everything seemed like an ant. There is shops, eating joints, office hub and many more things are located inside Burj Khalifa. Option for Photo Portrait is also available. You can get your pictures clicked from their photo counter and get it in few minutes. When we visited At The Top, Burj Khalifa, it was a bright sunny day but I suggest to visit here in the evening or night. Wonderful to be here at night to have the Best view from the top. Though evening hours were not in our package, but still we enjoyed every moment. At the end, I would just say it was one of the most memorable and unforgettable experience for us and if anyone plans to visit Dubai, please do not miss the opportunity to be at Burj Khalifa. Highly...

A Five-Star Ode to Queueing at At The Top, Burj Khalifa.

If you’ve ever dreamed of mastering the art of waiting, At The Top at the Burj Khalifa is your Mecca. Forget the view from the 124th floor—this isn’t about the glittering Dubai skyline or the vertigo-inducing panorama. No, the real star here is the queue, a labyrinthine masterpiece of human endurance that deserves its own TripAdvisor category.

From the moment you step into the Dubai Mall’s ticketing area, the queue welcomes you like an old friend who’s secretly testing your patience. It’s a multi-stage epic, starting with “fast track” versus “regular” passes. Spoiler: both lead to more queues, but with different vibes. The regular line offers a gritty, communal spirit, while fast track whispers promises of exclusivity it can’t quite keep.

Next, you’re herded toward the elevator queue, a serpentine marvel that could double as a modern art installation. Here, the Burj’s genius shines: just when you think you’re close, a new section unfolds, like a plot twist in a Kafka novel. Families clutch overpriced souvenirs, influencers rehearse their poses, and you? You’re perfecting the art of standing still while questioning your life choices. It’s meditative, really.

The pièce de résistance is the pre-observation deck queue, where you’re tantalizingly close to the view but still practicing for the World Procrastination Championships. Digital screens flash fun facts about the Burj’s height (829.8 meters, in case you forgot), but the real trivia is how many selfies you’ll witness before losing count. By now, you’re not just waiting—you’re a queue connoisseur, savoring the subtle chaos of a crying toddler or an impromptu group photo blocking the path.

When you finally reach At The Top, the view is… fine. Sure, the desert sprawls like a golden ocean, and the city’s skyscrapers look like toys, but it’s the queue that lingers in your heart. The descent offers one last queue for the elevator down, a bittersweet farewell to your newfound craft.

Verdict: At The Top isn’t about the top—it’s about the journey through the queues. A must-do for anyone who believes patience isn’t just a virtue but a lifestyle. Bring comfy shoes and a zen mindset. 5/5 stars for queue choreography alone.

In all seriousness, 1 hour at the top with 1 hour of queuing each side of that. Painful feet from standing, no aircon, hundreds of people being herded like cattle and it ruined...

Ok I am going to be as clear as possible. Detailed description below the overall 👇

OVERALL: Either go for the premium option or do not go at all. Not worth the money or the wait. Suitable for all ages, but best if kids are old enough to remember such an amazing experience. The staff were quite friendly but depends who you're dealing with. Honestly this attraction was just made to bring in lots of money. Would have been 10x better if they just removed the premium option and added more elevators.

DETAILED: I was fortunate enough to be able to pay the extra money for the sky lounge. We arrived 10 mins early and were sat in a small waiting room until our allotted 1.5hr session. We then were given premium stickers to put on and were walked shortly to the security checkpoint where all large luggage, food and drink (water allowed) must be left behind, including prams. We were then taken past the 'not premium' queues but still had to wait abt 15 mins for all of the premium visitors to get to the top (148th floor).

The view was absolutely stunning, I went at mid-day. The sky lounge was amazing, though there was a slight lack of seating. Coffee, juice, and small snacks were served to all sky-lounge guests. There is an open-air area but it's still covered in glass and bars. You can stay in the sky lounge until the end of your session, then you must go down to the 125th floor.

From what I observed: 'non-premium' guests had the same process as premium but had to wait in a queue of between 30mins to 3hrs. There is no seating and little entertainment for children. You then get taken up to the 125th floor...

The 125th floor was crowded and had a slightly lesser veiw than the 148th floor. It was good and there were a few small activities scattered around the floor. You could then proceed down to the 124th floor which was very similar to the above floor, but with a small cafe and an open-air viewing area. Also very busy. There were queues for up to an hour to get back down to ground floor but premium guests could skip this queue and catch the first elevator to the ground floor and out.

Sorry for the long read but I hope this helped you decide if you were going to go!

PS there are toilets on...