Before You Book the Burj Khalifa: Every Cost, and What's Worth It
By the BeatTheCrowd team · Prices last checked 2 November · 8 min read
There's no shortage of ways to go up the Burj Khalifa: levels 124 and 125, the SKY deck on 148, The Lounge right at the top, and a premium for sunset on all of them. Most of them sound worth paying for. You don't need the most expensive one to have a great visit. In this guide we walk through what each option costs, what you really get, and how to choose the right one, whether that's a quiet morning or the busiest sunset slot.
At a glance
Levels 124/125
About AED 173 non-prime, AED 250 prime (sunset)
Child (3-12), 124/125
About AED 129 non-prime, AED 175 prime. Under 3 free
SKY, level 148
About AED 343 non-prime, AED 401 prime
The Lounge, levels 152-154
About AED 769
Prime hours
Roughly 3-7 pm, the sunset window. Shifts with the season
Free alternative
The Dubai Fountain show at the tower's base
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The real total: cheapest tier vs what most visitors pay
The cheapest way up is a non-prime ticket to levels 124 and 125, at about AED 173. But most visitors want sunset, and that's the prime slot, which costs about AED 250 for the same floors. Many then wonder whether to go higher, to level 148 or The Lounge, and that's where the price can jump to two, three or four times the cheapest ticket.
What you book
One adult
One child (3-12)
Levels 124/125, non-prime (morning or late evening)
About AED 173
About AED 129
Levels 124/125, prime (sunset)
About AED 250
About AED 175
SKY, level 148, non-prime
About AED 343
Full price (no child rate)
SKY, level 148, prime (sunset)
About AED 401
Full price (no child rate)
The Lounge, levels 152-154
About AED 769
About AED 769
Getting there by Metro and watching the Dubai Fountain are cheap or free, so the ticket tier and the time slot are almost the whole cost. The real decision is when you go and how high, and the next sections help you choose.
Ticket tiers: what each level gets you
Cost
Price (AED)
Type
How to cut it
At the Top, levels 124/125, non-prime
About AED 173
≈ US$47
Unavoidable
Go in the morning or after sunset. Same view, about AED 77 cheaper than prime.
At the Top, levels 124/125, prime
About AED 250
≈ US$68
Optional
Skip sunset and book the first non-prime slot after dark instead: city lights and the Fountain below, for less.
Fast-track entry, levels 124/125
From about US$69 (about AED 253)
Optional
Only worth it at sunset or on busy weekends.
At the Top SKY, level 148
About AED 343 non-prime, AED 401 prime
≈ US$93-109
The crowd tax: why sunset costs more
The Burj Khalifa charges a premium for the busiest hours. Prime-hour tickets cover the sunset window (roughly 3-7 pm, shifting with the season), which is exactly when the decks are most crowded. So at sunset you pay more and get less space: queues for security and the lifts, and people packed three deep at the west-facing windows.
That's the crowd tax: about AED 77 extra per adult to stand in the busiest hour. Avoiding it costs nothing except choosing a different time.
When
Ticket price
Crowds (our data)
Verdict
Morning (8-10 am)
Non-prime, cheapest
Moderate, and quieter on Sundays
Best value. Clearest air before the afternoon haze
Midday to late afternoon
Non-prime until prime hours start
Busy
OK, but hazy in summer
Sunset (prime hours)
Prime, about AED 77 more
Busy, the peak of the day
Pay the crowd tax, or go SKY for a calm sunset
Which tier is worth it?
You are...
Our pick
Why
A first-time visitor on a budget
124/125, non-prime
The same city view for the lowest price. Go in the morning or after dark
Set on sunset
124/125 prime, or SKY 148 if the crowds would spoil it
SKY is the only way to enjoy sunset without the crush
A family with children
124/125
Child rates and no time limit. SKY has no child price
A photographer
SKY 148 at sunset, or 124/125 after dark
Space at the glass and the outdoor deck matter more than height
Celebrating an occasion
The Lounge
Drinks, food and the highest floors. Pricey, but it feels like an event
Short on time? What you'd regret missing
Whichever ticket you buy, these are the moments visitors rate as unmissable, in the order you'll reach them:
The open-air terrace on level 124. Many visitors stay behind the glass and never find it. It's the only way to feel the height on the standard ticket.
A west-facing spot before sunset. The sun sets over the Gulf side of the city, and the best places at the glass fill up first, so be up early.
The Dubai Fountain from above. Time your visit to be at the windows for an evening show: the dancing water looks tiny from up here.
The outdoor deck on level 148, if you're on SKY. It's the highest open-air view on a standard tier.
The city laid out below: Sheikh Zayed Road's towers, the Palm Jumeirah and the coast on a clear day, and the desert edge inland.
The Fountain again from the ground afterwards. It's free, and a different show from below.
If you only have an hour, book a non-prime slot just after dark: shorter queues, the city lights, and a Fountain show from above.
Getting there
The entrance to At the Top is on the lower ground floor of The Dubai Mall, not at the foot of the tower itself.
Cost
Price (AED)
Type
How to cut it
Dubai Metro to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station (Red Line)
Regular Metro fare
Unavoidable
The cheapest way. A covered walkway links the station to the mall, about 10-15 minutes on foot.
Taxi or ride-hailing
Varies
Optional
Ask to be dropped at The Dubai Mall. Expect traffic around the mall in the evening.
Leaving after sunset is when it's slowest: the mall, the Metro walkway and the taxi ranks all fill up with Fountain crowds. Stay for dinner and a later Fountain show, then leave.
Extras on site
Professional photos are offered on the way up and at the top. They're optional, so view them before you decide.
At.mosphere on level 122, one of the world's highest restaurants: afternoon tea is listed from about AED 350 on booking sites, and dining has a minimum spend. It's separate from At the Top tickets.
The gift shop is on the way out.
The Dubai Fountain at the base is free, with shows every evening. You don't need a ticket to enjoy the tower from below.
Weather and visibility
Dust, haze and the occasional fog can turn a clear view into a white wall, and summer afternoons are often hazy. Refunds aren't given for weather, and the outdoor terraces can close in bad conditions.
Check the forecast and the sky on the day. If it's hazy, consider a morning or after-dark slot instead.
Book a ticket with free cancellation. Some resellers let you cancel up to 24 hours ahead. Premium tickets such as SKY are often non-refundable, so check before paying.
Winter (November-March) has the clearest air, but it's also peak season, so book ahead.
Paying
Pay in dirhams, not your home currency, when a card terminal offers to convert. The conversion rate is usually worse.
Compare final prices between the official site and resellers. Some charge in US dollars or your home currency, which hides a worse rate.
What can go wrong
You paid for sunset and it was hazy: there's no refund, so check the sky before booking a prime slot.
The outdoor terrace is closed for wind: it happens. The indoor decks stay open.
You arrive late for your slot: allow time to walk through The Dubai Mall and clear security.
The lift queue eats your sunset: book a slot well before sunset, or choose SKY or fast-track.
You booked SKY for a child: there's no child rate on 148.
You bought a non-refundable premium ticket: check the cancellation terms before you pay.
What one person really spends
Level
What's included
One adult
Budget
Levels 124/125, morning or after dark, Metro, free Fountain show
About AED 173
Typical
Levels 124/125 at sunset (prime), Metro
About AED 250
Splurge
SKY level 148 at sunset
About AED 401
Occasion
The Lounge, levels 152-154
About AED 769
Before photos, souvenirs and dinner. For a child (3-12), levels 124/125 cost about AED 129 (non-prime) or AED 175 (prime).
Levels 124/125 cost about AED 173 for adults in non-prime hours and about AED 250 in prime hours (the sunset window). Children 3-12 pay about AED 129 or AED 175, and under-3s are free.
Is Burj Khalifa level 148 worth it?
+
For a calm sunset, yes: numbers are capped, entry is fast-tracked and there's a lounge and an outdoor deck. In the morning or after dark, levels 124/125 give a very similar view for about half the price.
What are prime hours at the Burj Khalifa?
+
Roughly 3-7 pm, the sunset window, though the exact times shift with the season. The booking page shows which slots are prime.
What's the cheapest time to visit the Burj Khalifa?
+
Any non-prime slot: the morning or after dark. In our crowd data, Sunday mornings and weekday evenings are also the calmest.
How much is The Lounge at the Burj Khalifa?
+
Heading to Burj Khalifa?
See how busy it is right now and the quietest hours for your date, then walk in when the line is short.
How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other. Crowd figures come from our own crowd data. Prices last checked 2 November. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
Optional
Choose it for a calm sunset. Off-peak, levels 124/125 do most of the job.
The Lounge, levels 152-154
About AED 769
≈ US$209
Optional
A special-occasion splurge. Compare it with SKY plus dinner.
At the Top, levels 124 and 125
The standard ticket covers two indoor decks with floor-to-ceiling windows, plus a small open-air terrace on level 124. There's no time limit once you're up. It's the busiest tier: the decks hold up to about 800 people, and at sunset and on weekends the best windows are crowded and the lifts have queues. Children 3-12 pay about AED 129 (non-prime) or AED 175 (prime), and under-3s are free. Resellers such as Pelago list it from about US$45 (non-prime) to US$76 (prime).
What visitors say
Most visitors say levels 124/125 give them the view they came for. Some reviewers even prefer them to higher floors, because you're closer to the city and can see more detail. The common complaint is the crowd at the windows and the lift queues at sunset.
At the Top SKY, level 148
SKY adds level 148, at about 555 m, on top of 124 and 125. It includes hosted fast-track entry (no standard lift queue), a guest ambassador, the SKY lounge with seating, a drink and Arabic dates, and an outdoor deck. Numbers are capped, so it stays calm even at sunset. You get about 30 minutes on 148, then unlimited time on 124 and 125. There's no child rate. Resellers such as Pelago list it from about US$117 (non-prime) to US$163 (prime).
What visitors say
Reviewers say 148 is far quieter, with a shorter wait and room to breathe, especially at sunset. They're split on whether the higher view is worth the extra: some found it clearly more impressive, others felt the 124/125 view was just as good. A few say lift coordination can be slow, and that getting up for sunset can take close to an hour.
The Lounge, levels 152-154
The highest public floors. The Lounge ticket includes fast-track access to levels 124, 125, 148 and 152-154, a welcome drink, soft drinks, and canapés or high tea (catered by the Armani Hotel, according to resellers). It costs about AED 769 per person, child or adult, and resellers such as Tiqets list it from about US$209. It's built for an occasion more than for the view, which is similar to 148.
🎟️ Book skip-the-line tickets
Check the crowds, find the best time slot, and book through our authorised partner.
Prices last checked: 2 November. Prices vary with the season, peak and off-peak dates and promotions, and we recheck them every month. Visitor-reported costs are marked as estimates, and US$ figures are rough conversions.
After dark
Non-prime
Easing from about 8-10 pm (later on Fridays and Saturdays)
Great value. City lights and the Fountain below
Our crowd data for the Burj Khalifa shows it busy from about 10 am to 7 pm Monday to Thursday, and until about 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday is the calmest day, busy only around the evening. For the best value, go on a Sunday morning or a weekday evening after dark.
Crowds by day and time
From the typical weekly visitor pattern for Burj Khalifa, based on Google’s popular-times data.
Quietest time
Sunday, 6-11 am
Busiest time
Thursday, 11 am-9 pm
When
What to expect
Verdict
Weekdays, 6-11 am
Light crowds, easy to move around and take photos. Most visitors haven't arrived yet.
Best
Weekdays, 11 am-3 pm
Peak crowds, queues at the entrance and main sights. Peak sightseeing hours, when most visitors are on site.
Worst
Weekdays, 3-6 pm
Peak crowds, queues at the entrance and main sights. Stays busy into the afternoon.
Worst
Weekdays, 6 pm-midnight
Peak crowds, queues at the entrance and main sights. Evenings are a busy time here.
Worst
Saturday
Peak crowds, queues at the entrance and main sights. Similar to weekdays.
Worst
Sunday
A steady flow of visitors, short waits at the main spots. Quieter than weekdays.
OK
📍 Live crowd check
See how busy Burj Khalifa is right now, plus today’s hourly forecast.
