The fanfare at the official inauguration of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, on Monday January 4 (after we went to press) was set to be suitably spectacular, despite the fact that only one floor was rumoured to be opening during the same week.

Though most of the information about the tower has been sworn to secrecy – no doubt as it was all to be published in the 15ft-high (yes, really) Burj Khalifa Opus book, also released last Monday – what we do know is that At The Top, the building’s 124th-floor observation deck, was set to be the first floor to open to the public.

What’s more, we went up there (and beyond, to the 139th, for your information) for a sneak preview three months ago. The glass-walled viewing room houses telescopes listing information (courtesy of Time Out Dubai) on 100 of the local attractions you can spy below, as well as past and future shots of the city. The experience begins from an elevator inside The Dubai Mall, and includes a multimedia exhibition along a 65-metre travellator on the way up, as well as inside the high-speed lift. And the view from more than 600m? Well, judge for yourselves from these sunny shots. Or, for a first-person account of what it feels like to be that high up.

More than 1,000 security and 6,000 visitors were predicted to attend the ceremony, accompanied by a firework display apparently featuring ‘a new type’ of firework. Nothing less for the world’s tallest building.

If the weather is hazy, At The Top’s fancy telescopes reveal clear images of the scene below, along with virtual time-travel shots of Dubai in the past and future.
At the Top will open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Call 800 288 43867 or email atthetopburjdubai@emaar.ae for prices and tickets.