In the month of October I was lucky enough to attend the Dubai Mega Famil hosted by Emirates. Over the course of five days, myself and many other travel professionals visited a number of amazing attractions in the city and surrounding areas. Here is one of them:
Burj Khalifa
Dominating Dubai's skyline, standing at 829.8 m is the world's tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa. A marvel of engineering, the Burj is really an impressive sight. As you approach the downtown area your eyes are naturally drawn to the shimmering grey structure that pierces the clear blue sky.
To get 'At the Top' of the Burj you must enter through the Dubai Mall and the average cost for entry is roughly 115 dirhams. Before you come through the entrance there is a neon-blue model replica of the Burj and an interactive display which details some interesting facts about the building.
Ascending to the 124th level in the elevator is an experience in itself. The lights dim to darkness, then suddenly lights on all sides brighten up and move in all directions while progressive Arabian music plays through the speakers. The time taken till the elevator doors swing open at the 124th level is less than sixty seconds so it moves very fast although it doesn't feel like your moving at all. The view from the top is pretty awe-inspiring, you can see just about everything. You get a real sense of the scale of development within the city that is surrounded by seemingly endless desert terrain.
It's a great opportunity to take some photos and feel like on your on top of the world.
If you after a novelty keepsake, there is a gift shop offering everything from bottle openers to paper clips so you can have a memento of your experience. You can even have your photo taken in front of a green-screen that will then depict yourself in absurd situations like hanging on the side of the building.
Down on ground level, once the sun has set and night-time arrives the building lights up in a multi-coloured display reminiscent of the Vivid Light Festival in Sydney.
Every hour from 6pm till 11pm there is a fountain show that takes place, which is also the biggest in the world!
If you're heading to Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is must-see attraction during your stay.
