See Dubai from above: 5 attractions and 30 rooftops

Last updated: 06/05/2023

See the city of Dubai from above with our tips on 5 incredible attractions, as well as tips on 30 bars and restaurants on the rooftop of tall buildings.

PLACES TO SEE DUBAI FROM ABOVE

Dubai is an incredible city, with futuristic characteristics, built in the middle of the desert. One of the most interesting ways to admire the largest city in the United Arab Emirates is to visit places that allow you to enjoy panoramic views from its tall, modern buildings and also views of the Arabian Gulf.

Below is an interactive map with tips for 5 attractions to admire Dubai from above, in addition to tips on 30 bars and restaurants located on the rooftop (terrace) of tall buildings.

> ATTRACTIONS

1. DUBAI FRAME

Opened in 2018, Dubai Frame is a gigantic frame (or picture frame) 150 meters high by 95 meters wide. The Dubai Frame is constructed from glass, steel, aluminum and reinforced concrete with designs of the world expo logo. Expo 2020 on the outer facade. It is located in Zabeel Park in a position that the representative landmarks of modern Dubai can be seen on one side, while on the other side, one can see the older parts of the city, known as Old Dubai. An observation deck spans the top of the structure, with glass-bottomed floors overlooking nearly 150 meters into the lower span of the building. The lower span contains a museum that showcases the city's history and a video display predicting the city's future. It is a very interesting option to see Dubai from above.

• Address: Gate 4, Zabeel Park, Za'abeel, Al Kifaf, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Schedules: daily from 9 am to 9 pm | visits can be scheduled every half hour
• Entrance: AED 50 adults | AED 20 from 3 to 12 years old | free for children under 3 years old | skip lines at the box office and buy tickets online in this link

Read more: Dubai Frame: Visiting the biggest frame in the world

2. BURJ KHALIFA

Speaking of seeing Dubai from above, how about the tallest building in the world? Built between 2004 and 2010, the Burj Khalifa has 160 floors and a total height of 829.8 meters! The Burj Khalifa was designed to be the main attraction of a complex that includes 30,000 homes, nine hotels, 3 hectares of parkland, at least 19 skyscrapers, the Dubai Mall and the 12-hectare Burj Khalifa artificial lake.

Read more: Dubai: How to visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world

• Address: 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Schedules:At the Top, Burj Khalifa (floors 124+125)from sunday to thursday
  • • • non-prime hours: 10:00 to 15:30 and 19:00 to midnight (last entry at 23:00)
      • Prime hours: 4pm to 6:30pm
    • Friday and Saturday
      • non-prime hours: 8:00 to 15:30 and 19:00 to midnight (last entry at 23:00)
      • Prime hours: 4pm to 6:30pm
  • At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY (floors 124 + 125 + 148)non-prime hours: 7pm to 10pm
    • Prime hours: noon to 6pm
  • World's highest lounge (floors 152 + 153 + 154): daily from 12pm to 10pm
• Entrance:At the Top, Burj Khalifa (floors 124+125) – buy herenon-prime timetables: AED 149 (+12 years) | AED 114 (4 to 12 years)
  • • prime timetable: AED 224 (+12 years) | AED 132 (4 to 12 years)
  • At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY (floors 124 + 125 + 148) – buy herenon-prime hours: AED 379 (+4 years)
    • prime hours: AED 533 (+4 years)
  • World's highest lounge (floors 152 + 153 + 154): AED 754

We thank the JES Media for tickets to visit At the Top, Burj Khalifa.

3. SKY VIEWS OBSERVATORY

Close to the Burj Khalifa complex is the Address Sky View, a 5-star hotel that has an observatory and offers different experiences for visitors. Four experiences are available:

• Sky Views Observatory: It's the standard experience offered with an observation deck with 360° views of the city from 219.5 meters above the ground. Opening hours: from 9 am to 9 pm (last entry) | Tickets: AED 80 – buy here
• Sky Views Edge Walk: This is one of Dubai's most exciting adventures. It is the highest walk from the city on a ledge that encircles the top of the tower's main capsule, more than 219.5 meters above the ground. This walk takes visitors along the outside of the building with no windows or other protective barriers. Opening hours: from 11 am to 6:30 pm (last tour) | Tickets: AED 704

• At The Top + SkyViews: Double experience at At the Top Burj Khalifa and Sky Views Observatory. Incredible views of Dubai await from the world's highest observation deck, Top Burj Khalifa (124th and 125th floors) and Sky Views, thrilling experiences to enjoy city views from the Edge Walk. Opening hours: 10 am to 9 pm (last entry) | Tickets: AED 215
• At The Top Sky + SkyViews: Double experience at At the Top Burj Khalifa and Sky Views Observatory. Incredible views of Dubai await from the world's highest observation deck, Top Burj Khalifa (124th, 125th and 148th floors) and Sky Views, thrilling experiences to enjoy city views from the Edge Walk. Opening hours: 12:00 to 21:00 (last entry) | Tickets: AED 598

4. THE VIEW AT THE PALM

Opened in April 2021, The View At The Palm is a 240-meter high viewing platform located on the 52nd floor of the building. The Palm Tower, in the commercial complex of the shopping center Nakheel Mall. The observation deck provides 360º panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf and the iconic artificial island Palm Jumeirah, built in the shape of a stylized palm tree and where the famous hotel is located. Atlantis, The Palm. In addition to The View At the Palm, The Palm Tower is home to the luxury 5-star hotel The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm and the Aura Skypool Dubai, the world's highest 360-degree infinity pool that also offers beautiful views.

Read more: The View At The Palm: Beautiful Views of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai

• Address: The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Schedules: Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 10 pm | Friday to Sunday from 9 am to midnight
• Entrance: Standard ticket (52nd floor access): AED 100 adult | AED 69 child
  • Standard Fast Track ticket (skip the lines and access to floor 52): AED 175 adult | AED 120 child
  • Coffee at The View (52nd floor access): AED 125 adult | AED 95 child
  • Cheers at The View (VIP Lounge + floor 52): AED 220
  • Fast Track + Next Level (access to floors 52 and 54): AED 275 adult | AED 195 child
  • The View Next Level (VIP Lounge + floors 52 and 54): AED 325 adult | AED 145 child
  • Sunrise Special: AED 70 adult with breakfast, AED 125 with breakfast | AED 40 child without breakfast, AED 105 with breakfast

We thank the The View at The Palm and Nakheel Malls for tickets to visit the attraction. All opinions in this post were based on our own experiences.

5. AIN DUBAI

Opened in late 2021 on Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai has become the largest and tallest Ferris wheel on the planet (250 meters), almost twice the size of the iconic London Eye, In London. With capacity for up to 1750 passengers and comprising 48 luxurious, climate-controlled cabins, some with a Skybar, it offers majestic views and a totally different perspective on the city.

• Address: Bluewaters, Bluewaters Island, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Schedules: Thursday to Sunday from 12pm to 9pm | Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 am to 9 pm | closed on mondays
• Entrance: from AED 130

Read more: Ain Dubai: The biggest and tallest Ferris wheel in the world

We thank the Ain Dubai and IPN Dubai for tickets to visit the attraction.

> ROOFTOP: BARS & RESTAURANTS

A good choice for a drink or even a meal to see Dubai from above, enjoying the views of the city, is to visit one of its many rooftops, establishments that are located on top of the city's tall buildings. We made a list of 30 of them, which are separated into two areas (see location on the map at the beginning of the post):

>> BETWEEN DUBAI FRAME AND BURJ KHALIFA

>> BETWEEN PALM JUMEIRAH AND DUBAI MARINA

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Read more about the United Arab Emirates:

SCRIPT AND TIPS

• United Arab Emirates: What to do in Dubai – Itinerary 2, 3, 4+ days
• United Arab Emirates: How to get from Dubai Airport to the center
• What you need to know before traveling to Dubai

ATTRACTIONS

• Dubai: How to visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world
• Ain Dubai: The biggest and tallest Ferris wheel in the world
• Dubai Frame: Visiting the biggest frame in the world
• The View At The Palm: Beautiful Views of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai
• Dubai Miracle Garden: Largest natural flower garden in the world
• Palm Jumeirah: Attractions on the artificial island of Dubai
• Old Dubai: A tour of the traditional areas of the city
• Dubai Desert Safari with Dinner and Typical Dancing
• Madinat Jumeirah: Amazing Arab Village in Dubai
• United Arab Emirates: 8 souks in Dubai for shopping
• See Dubai from above: 5 attractions and 30 rooftops

ACCOMMODATION

• Rove Downtown: Amazing hotel near the Burj Khalifa in Dubai
• TIME Asma: Hotel near Mall of Emirates in Dubai
• Why we DO NOT recommend the ibis Styles Dubai Airport Hotel
• 30 hotels in Dubai overlooking the Burj Khalifa

RESTAURANTS

• Soul Santé Café: Vegan Restaurant in Dubai
• Bebabel: Restaurant overlooking Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa
• Common Grounds: Restaurant chain in Dubai
• Carluccio's Dubai Mall: Italian Food and Dancing Fountains
• Dubai: XVA Café in the historic district of Al Fahidi
• Dubai: Ronda Locatelli – Italian Food at Atlantis, The Palm