i was assigned by our company in a short-term project in united arab emirates, which meant i had an opportunity to visit dubai. i have seen a shadowy glimpse of this well-known masterpiece as the plane i took from dammam landed at dubai airport and was full of excitement the day that i had a chance to see personally the tallest structure ever built by man – the burj khalifa.
the khalifa tower is located in downtown dubai, with a staggering height of 2,717 feet. i was caught in wonder as i stared at this giant skyscraper. i have read that it took only six years to finish construction and 1.5 billion dollars to complete.
my khalifa experience included a visit of “at the top” , an open-air observation deck situated at the 124th floor of the building.
tickets are purchased near the entrance of “at the top”, on the lower ground of the dubai mall.
there are two ticket types to the observation deck, the general admission which is dated and timed which you can book at the ticket counter or online like i did. you just have to choose your preferred time and date of your visit. this will cost you 100 aed. the other ticket type is the immediate entry where you buy the tickets at the counter and proceed directly for your at the top experience. this costs 400 aed – 75% more than booking in advance. i have seen a number of tourists paying this much, most likely they were short of time.
i got mine scheduled at 8:00 in the evening. there is a shop beside the ticket counter were an assortment of “at the top” souvenir items are being sold, from shirts to burj khalifa figurines. i bought some postcards to snail mail to my friends.
there was one item that caught my attention among the souvenirs – a metal bolt.
an authentic piece of high grade bolt that was used in the construction of the world’s tallest tower, and you wouldn’t believe how much this thing costs.
4900 aed. the same price of a 13.3″ new edition macbook pro! i see some bolts that looks almost identical as these in the rig warehouse at my work place, anyone interested to buy them from me so i can replace my old laptop to fulfill my “threatened” gadget wishlist for the year? lol! i can give you a special price or a buy one take one deal!
there is a part in the entrance wall with a quote from his highness sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum which reads: ” the word impossible is not in the leader’s dictionaries. no matter how big the challenges, strong faith, determination and resolve will overcome them“.
people were about to line up going to the high-speed elevators that will bring us to the 124th floor.
welcome to burj khalifa, life at the top!
from the earth to the sky.
here’s a view of the burj from the observation deck.
i was having a hard time with my camera when i was shooting pictures at the deck for it cannot focus. blame the humidity or my ignorance to set it correctly! this was the best i got.
know more about burj khalifa at their website.
sensory replays 
i like the quote of his highness the sheik… but i could have liked the photo more if you smiled, then if you wore cropped pants and slippers. yung robert na kilala namin. haha! 🙂
124th floor? wow! tina would not have courage to go up, may vertigo iyon. ako na lang, let’s go!
ps : since you’re in dubai again, why not gave it a second try and take your captures again.
.. naku napakiusapan lang yung picture na yan! kaya ni tina yun kasi ambilis lang ng elevator!
.. di na ko siguro ako makakabalik ng dubai, andito na ko sa shipyard this time (goodbye long-stay hotel room living! lol.). ang mahal ng taxi!
bakit wala kayong company service? (parang kami lang haha!)
.. wala na. dito na kasi kami nakatira (hello bunk beds at common toilets!) so personal expense na ang transpo going out.
cool. 🙂
.. hi madryy. thanks for checking my blog! your country has fascinating structures!
an engineering feat. nakakalula siguro sa “at the top” ano?
.. it is! kung daylight visit siguro mas nakakalula sa taas!
inferness, ok ang strategy sa tickets. nagmamadali ka so you need to pay more ang drama. patok din yan sa petronas, i think. kesa pumila pa sa umaga.
.. di ako nakaakyat sa petronas chyng. it was a weekend when i was there kaya andami tourists. sa burj okay kasi there’s a certain number lang na umaakyat per hour.
dyos ko nakaka high blood ang taas ng tower na ire.
.. kung ganyan kataas ang drop tower ride malamang may aatakihin sa puso. 😀
wala bang potential turmoil sa area ninyo ng middle east? baka sakaling makabisita ako d’yan next year.
.. wala akong nababalitaan na ganyan bert, tahimik naman sa saudi pati dito sa uae. di naman sila maselan sa airport, same like before pa rin.
wow! you’re one such lucky guy! ang yomon yomon mu tlga. 🙂 i’m so envious.. pangarap ko mapuntahan ang dubai. i love the photos rob!
.. lucky nga gael, nalibre (kaya di “mayomon” ah!) sa pamasahe at accommodation e, hehe. well malay mo bigla ka magkachance to go there, thanks for liking the pics!
hi rob!
by just looking at your photos, parang i was taken into another world hehehe. ganda naman dyan. at sarap naman ng life mo, work na may kasamang pleasure. 🙂
.. nagkaroon lang ng chance miss n, kaya sinamantala ko na rin mamasyal.
just how tall is it ?
.. 2,717 feet, max!