UAE 2016 Day 04: Burj Khalifa

As its website proclaims: “World's tallest building. A living wonder. Stunning work of art. Incomparable feat of engineering. Burj Khalifa is all that. In concept and execution, Burj Khalifa has no peer.”

we came early 

and could hardly contain ourselves

The Burj Khalifa is an awe-inspiring spired skyscraper with a viewing deck, restaurant, hotel and offices and 11-hectare park and has to be (in our minds) the most prominent landmark in all of Dubai and the entire UAE.

named after this great man

a long walkway

then seemed to stretch forever

The tower was known as Burj Dubai ("Dubai Tower") until its official opening in January 2010. It was renamed in honour of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. At over 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and more than 160 stories, Burj Khalifa holds the following records:

• Tallest building in the world
• Tallest free-standing structure in the world
• Highest number of stories in the world
• Highest occupied floor in the world
• Highest outdoor observation deck in the world
• Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
• Tallest service elevator in the world

We arrived at its base promptly at 8:30am and were one of the first in line to go up its high speed elevators, thanks to Ginny’s foresight of buying the tickets way beforehand.

we were among the first ones here

waiting to ride the high speed elevators

Barely two minutes of riding the elevator we reached the observatory deck and were immediately blown away by the sheer height of the structure and how the nearby buildings looked obscure and little. We were quite literally at the top of the world.

at the top!

From this point onwards we’ll let the photos of the view from the very summit of Burj Khalifa do the talking:

Such a feelin's comin' over me

There is wonder in most every thing I see

Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes

And I won't be surprised if it's a dream

Everything I want the world to be

Is now comin' true especially for me

And the reason is clear, it's because you are here

You're the nearest thing to Heaven that I've seen

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around

Your love's put me at the top of the world

Somethin' in the wind has learned my name

And it's tellin' me that things are not the same

In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze

There's a pleasin' sense of happiness for me

There is only one wish on my mind

When this day is through I hope that I will find

That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me

All I need will be mine if you are here

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around

Your love's put me at the top of the world

Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around

Your love's put me at the top of the world

 A one-in-a-lifetime experience, thanks once again to Ginny and Sern.