Why Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is top of everyone’s bucket list

Words by Karen Pasquali Jones

Tom Cruise quite literally hung out there. Will Smith climbed the stairs of all 163 floors for his cardio workout and Emirates Airline took advertising to new heights by filming an air hostess in full uniform perched on its spire, 2,722ft high. 

Dubai’s Burj Khalifa has been named the world’s travel hot spot as travellers admit they can’t wait to get to the top of the tallest building on the planet. 

Inspired by a flower that grows in the parched deserts of Dubai known locally as the spider lily and home to the swanky Armani Hotel, with its minimalist chic décor, and the world’s highest restaurant, the list of the Burj Khalifa’s superlative achievements is just as impressive as the globe’s tallest freestanding structure.

Not only is the three-second, ear-popping ascent to At.mosphere on the 122^nd floor, in – of course – the world’s longest elevator, as thrilling as any Disney ride, but there are those panoramic views of the sky-piercing city, desert and Arabian Sea far below to savour. 

Step out on the highest outdoor observation deck on earth, At The Top, at 1820ft, wonder how they clean the 28,261 glass panels on the 211 floors (spoiler alert: it takes four months) and look down on the dancing Dubai Fountain. 

And just think – instead of reading a travel guide before heading to the Middle East’s most glamorous emirate, you can simply watch Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and marvel at Tom Cruise’s sky-high performance, which brought traffic to a standstill as he insisted on doing his own stunts clinging to the outside of the building.

While the ferocious sand storm in the movie is the stuff of Hollywood studios and CGI, hazy weather can sometimes spoil the view (though it’s always been amazingly clear every time we’ve been up there). 

For those with a head for heights, visit the three observation decks – on levels 124, and 125 before stepping out to the terrace on the 148^th floor, then indulge in a High Tea with the most incredible view back at the iconic At.mosphere.   

Tuck into delicate finger sandwiches, English scones, chicken ballotine or catch of the day washed down with a glass of fizz while admiring arguably the finest view anywhere on earth.

Online searches for tickets to visit the Burj Khalifa are among the top in the world, rivalling the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, and Empire State Building. 

Top 10 bucket list travel experiences include visiting Burj Khalifa, sailing around the Statue of Liberty, in New York, cruising down the Nile in Egypt, ascending the Eiffel Tower, experiencing the Las Vegas Strip, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, enjoying the views from the top of the Empire State Building, visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris and experiencing the wonder of Rome’s Colosseum.