At 828 metres, Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building, and going up is on almost every first-time Dubai list. The confusing part is the tickets. The same lift takes you to two very different experiences, and the price changes with the time of day.
Here’s what each ticket actually gets you, what it costs this season, and which one we’d book for different kinds of trip.
The three tickets at a glance
| Levels 124 & 125 | Sunset (124 & 125) | Level 148 (+ 124 & 125) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 452 m and 456 m | 452 m and 456 m | 555 m, then 124 and 125 |
| Adult (8+) | AED 189 | AED 219 | AED 399 |
| Child (3–7) | AED 149 | AED 165 | AED 399 |
| When | Every 30 minutes from 10am | 4pm to 7pm, until 20 Dec | On the hour, up to 6pm |
| Extras | Telescopes, outdoor terrace on 124 | Golden-hour light | Fast track, guide, lounge with refreshments, terrace at 555 m |
| Best for | Most first visits | Sunset photos | Special occasions, shorter queues |
These are Bloomtopia’s prices, checked on 5 November 2026, with VAT included. Under-3s go free on every ticket. Over the festive weeks, from 21 December to 5 January, the adult price for levels 124 and 125 is AED 199. The booking card always shows the live price for your date.
Levels 124 and 125: the classic visit
This is the ticket most visitors book, and for a first visit it’s the right call.
You check in on the Lower Ground level of The Dubai Mall. One of the world’s fastest lifts then climbs at 10 metres a second, reaching level 124 in under a minute. Level 124, 452 metres up, has floor-to-ceiling windows, telescopes and an outdoor terrace. Level 125 is one floor higher at 456 metres, with 360-degree views over Downtown, Sheikh Zayed Road and the coast. There’s no time limit at the top.
Pick your time well. For city lights and the Dubai Fountain, book a slot after dark. The fountain plays every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm, and from the top you watch the whole show from above. Until 20 December, the 4pm to 7pm slots move to the Sunset ticket, so on this ticket pick a slot after that. Weekday mornings are the quietest time of day.
Is the sunset ticket worth the extra?
From 26 October to 20 December, the slots from 4pm to 7pm are sold as a separate Sunset ticket. It costs AED 219 for adults and AED 165 for children, which is AED 30 more per adult than the standard ticket.
If photos matter to you, it’s worth it. You go up in daylight, watch the sun drop behind the coast, then see the city switch on below you. Book a slot 1.5 to 2 hours before sunset, which means around 3:30 to 4:30pm from November to January. These slots sell out first, so book a few days ahead, especially at weekends.
If you just want to see the view, save the money and go after dark instead.
Level 148: who should pay for it
The level 148 ticket, sometimes sold as At the Top SKY, costs AED 399 per person at any time of day, sunset included. You get:
- Fast-track entry and a guide from check-in.
- About 30 minutes on level 148, 555 metres up, with an outdoor terrace.
- A lounge with Arabic coffee, sweets and soft drinks.
- Then levels 124 and 125, where you can stay as long as you like.
Level 148 slots run on the hour, up to 6pm, so it’s a daytime and sunset ticket rather than a night one.
It’s worth the money for a special occasion, for travellers who hate queues, or if you want to stand on the highest terrace in the building. For families it adds up fast, because children aged 3 and over pay the full AED 399. Two adults and two children aged 3 to 7 pay AED 676 on levels 124 and 125, AED 768 at sunset, and AED 1,596 on level 148.
Which ticket should you book?
- First visit, normal budget: levels 124 and 125, in an evening slot for the lights and the fountain.
- You want the sunset photo: the Sunset ticket until 20 December. After that, book levels 124 and 125 about two hours before sunset.
- Birthday, honeymoon or proposal: level 148, timed for late afternoon.
- Family with young children: levels 124 and 125. Kids aged 3 to 7 pay AED 149 there, against AED 399 on level 148.
Before you go
- Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early with photo ID. If you’re late, Burj Khalifa decides whether you can still go up, and the ticket isn’t refundable if you can’t.
- Getting there: take the Metro Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station and walk the air-conditioned link bridge into the mall. Allow 20 to 30 minutes from the station to the check-in desk. By car, the closest car park is Fashion Avenue.
- What to wear: smart casual. Clothes shouldn’t be see-through.
- Access: the whole visit is wheelchair accessible.
- New Year’s Eve: on 31 December the hours are shorter and the outdoor terraces close.
Is Burj Khalifa worth it?
For a first visit to Dubai, yes. More than 20 million people have been up since it opened in 2010. Nothing else gives you the whole city, the coast and the desert edge from one spot. Go at sunset or after dark, book a few days ahead, and save level 148 for when the occasion calls for it.
Questions people ask
What's the difference between levels 124/125 and level 148?
Levels 124 and 125, at 452 and 456 metres, are the main viewing decks, with floor-to-ceiling windows, telescopes and an outdoor terrace on 124. The level 148 ticket adds about 30 minutes at 555 metres first, with fast-track entry, a guide, Arabic coffee, sweets and soft drinks in the lounge, and an outdoor terrace. Then you continue to 124 and 125.
How much are Burj Khalifa tickets in 2026?
On Bloomtopia, levels 124 and 125 cost AED 189 for adults (8 and over) and AED 149 for children aged 3 to 7. From 26 October to 20 December, the 4pm to 7pm slots are on the Sunset ticket: AED 219 for adults and AED 165 for children. The level 148 ticket costs AED 399 for everyone aged 3 and over. Under-3s go free. Prices include VAT.
What is the best time to go up Burj Khalifa?
For sunset, book a slot 1.5 to 2 hours before the sun sets, which is around 3:30 to 4:30pm from November to January. Evenings are best for the city lights and the Dubai Fountain, and weekday mornings are the quietest.
Do children need a Burj Khalifa ticket?
Children under 3 go free. Children aged 3 to 7 need a child ticket for levels 124 and 125, and everyone aged 8 and over needs an adult ticket. For level 148, everyone aged 3 and over pays the same price. Children under 16 must be with an adult.
Where is the entrance to At the Top, Burj Khalifa?
On the Lower Ground level of The Dubai Mall. Follow the signs for At the Top to the check-in desk. The closest car park is Fashion Avenue.
Can you see the Dubai Fountain from the top of Burj Khalifa?
Yes. From levels 124 and 125 you look straight down on it. Evening shows run every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm, with lunchtime shows at 1pm and 1:30pm (2pm and 2:30pm on Fridays).
Bloomtopia is an independent ticket seller and isn't affiliated with the attractions we write about. Opening hours, rides and prices can change, so check the attraction's own website before you go. Our prices include VAT and were correct on the date shown at the top of this guide.
