Dubai Observation Decks Compared: Burj Khalifa, Sky Views, Frame
Updated October 27, 2026
Verdict
For the highest view of Dubai, book the Burj Khalifa: levels 124 and 125 from $51, or level 148 from $109 to skip the lines. To photograph the Burj Khalifa rather than stand in it, add Sky Views: the combo with levels 124 and 125 is $76, only $25 more. The View at The Palm (from AED 115, about $31) is the pick if you are staying on or near Palm Jumeirah, and the Dubai Frame is the low-height option for a short visit near old Dubai.
Dubai has several paid viewpoints, and they answer different questions. The Burj Khalifa's decks are the highest, from 452 m to 585 m, and show the city from above. Sky Views Dubai, at 219.5 m, sits in a tower next door, so it shows the Burj Khalifa itself. The View at The Palm, at 240 m, looks down on Palm Jumeirah. The Dubai Frame, 150 m tall in Zabeel Park, is a giant picture frame with a glass-floored bridge across the top. This page compares them by height, price and what you see, then gives a verdict by budget and time. Burj Khalifa and Sky Views prices are GetYourGuide "from" prices read on 27 October 2026, converted at 1 USD = 3.6725 AED; other prices come from the attraction's own site. For every Burj ticket, see Burj Khalifa tickets.
| Criterion | Burj Khalifa decks (124/125, 148, 152) | Sky Views, Dubai Frame, The View at The Palm |
|---|---|---|
| Height of the deck | 452 m (124), 555 m (148), 585 m (The Lounge, 152 to 154) | The View 240 m; Sky Views 219.5 m; Dubai Frame 150 m tall |
| Price from (per person) | $51 (124/125); $109 (148); $209 (152 Lounge) | The View from AED 115 (about $31); Sky Views in a combo with 124/125 for $76 |
| What you see | All of Dubai from above: Downtown, the coast, the desert | The Burj Khalifa close up (Sky Views); Palm Jumeirah (The View) |
| Extras | Skip-the-line and lounge on 148; drinks and canapés on 152 | Glass slide at Sky Views (AED 25 extra on site); Edge Walk sold separately |
| Opened | 2010 (124), 2014 (148), 2019 (152) | Dubai Frame 2018; The View 2021 |
| Rating on GetYourGuide | 4.3 (124/125, 92,917 reviews); 4.6 (148, 24,553) | 4.3 for the 124/125 + Sky Views combo (3,642 reviews) |
Burj Khalifa At the Top
The Burj Khalifa has three decks, all reached by double-deck elevators that travel at up to 10 m/s (Wikipedia). Levels 124 and 125, at 452 m, opened on 5 January 2010; tickets started at $51 (AED 189) on 27 October 2026. Level 148, At the Top SKY, at 555 m, opened on 15 October 2014 and started at $109 (AED 399) with skip-the-line access, a guest ambassador and a lounge with snacks and hot drinks. The Lounge on levels 152 to 154, at 585 m, opened on 18 February 2019 and started at $209 (AED 769), with a drink, canapés and a terrace tour. Sunset slots cost more. Compare the first two in Burj Khalifa 124 vs 148.
Sky Views Dubai
Sky Views Dubai is an Emaar observatory on levels 52 and 53 of the Address Sky View towers in Downtown Dubai, at 219.5 m (720 ft). Its main draw is the view of the Burj Khalifa: one reviewer of the combo ticket wrote that it "put it all into perspective, before actually going to the top". The visit includes a glass walkway; the glass slide between levels 53 and 52 costs AED 25 extra on site, according to the level 148 combo listing, and the Edge Walk, an outdoor harnessed walk on the building's edge, is a separate ticket. The Burj Khalifa and Sky Views combo started at $76 (AED 278) for non-prime Burj slots; the level 148 version started at $133.
Dubai Frame
The Dubai Frame, in Zabeel Park, is 150 m tall and 95.5 m wide and opened on 1 January 2018 (Wikipedia). Dubai Municipality developed it. An elevator takes you up 48 floors in 75 seconds to a bridge across the top, where glass-floored panels look straight down about 150 m. It is the lowest of the viewpoints here, but Wikipedia notes its deck looks over old Dubai (Deira, Umm Hurair, Karama) to the north and the newer city to the south. None of the sold Burj Khalifa listings include it, and the one city tour in our data that passes it lists Frame entry as an extra; the official ticket site shows the current price.
The View at The Palm
The View at The Palm is on level 52 of The Palm Tower on Palm Jumeirah, 240 m up, and opened on 7 April 2021 (Dubai Media Office). You reach it from Nakheel Mall. It looks down on the fronds of the Palm and out over the Arabian Gulf. On 27 October 2026 its official site listed standard admission from AED 115 (about $31) and The Next Level, on level 54 with fast-track access, from AED 190 (about $52). It is on Palm Jumeirah rather than in Downtown Dubai, so it fits best on a day you are already on the Palm.
Which fits your budget and time
One deck only, any budget: levels 124 and 125 from $51. It is the highest view you can buy for the price. Short of time, or going at sunset: level 148 from $109, for the skip-the-line lane and a deck capped at 50 people. A photo of the Burj Khalifa as well as the view from it: the Sky Views combo, $25 more than 124 and 125 alone. A special occasion: the Lounge on level 152 from $209. Staying on the Palm: The View. All the Burj tickets above offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. More help: is the Burj Khalifa worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest observation deck in Dubai?
The Lounge in the Burj Khalifa, on levels 152 to 154 at 585 m. The highest standard deck is level 148 at 555 m.
Which is better, Burj Khalifa or Sky Views?
For height, the Burj Khalifa: 452 m on its standard deck against 219.5 m at Sky Views. Sky Views is better for photos of the Burj itself. A combo ticket for both started at $76.
Is Sky Views worth it if I am already going up the Burj Khalifa?
If you want photos of the Burj Khalifa, yes: the combo costs $25 more than the 124 and 125 ticket alone. For the view of the city only, the Burj decks are higher.
How tall is the Dubai Frame?
150 m, with a glass-floored bridge across the top, according to Wikipedia. It opened on 1 January 2018 in Zabeel Park.
How high is The View at The Palm?
240 m, on level 52 of The Palm Tower. The Next Level, on level 54, is higher.
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