Burj Khalifa vs Burj Al Arab: Which to Visit in 2026
Updated October 27, 2026
Verdict
Visit the Burj Khalifa first: it is open, its decks start at $51, and it is the only one of the two you can go inside as a day visitor right now. The Burj Al Arab hotel has been closed for restoration since April 2026, with Jumeirah pointing to about 18 months and no confirmed date, so for now you see it from outside: from the beach, or from the water on a jet-ski tour from about $38 per jet ski.
The Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab are Dubai's two most photographed buildings, and their names are easy to mix up. They are very different places to visit. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, 828 m, with public observation decks you can book by the half hour. The Burj Al Arab is a 321 m hotel shaped like a sail, on its own island off Jumeirah Beach. In April 2026 its operator, Jumeirah, closed it for a restoration of about 18 months, and no reopening date has been confirmed. This page explains what each building is, what you can visit in each today, what a visit costs, and which to put first. Prices are read on 27 October 2026 and converted at 1 USD = 3.6725 AED. For all Burj Khalifa ticket types, see Burj Khalifa tickets.
| Criterion | Burj Khalifa (Downtown Dubai) | Burj Al Arab (Jumeirah) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Mixed-use tower: offices, homes, Armani Hotel Dubai, observation decks | Luxury hotel on an artificial island |
| Height | 828 m, 163 floors | 321 m, 56 floors (3 below ground) |
| Opened | 4 January 2010 | 1 December 1999 |
| Status in October 2026 | Open; decks run from morning to late evening | Closed for restoration since April 2026, about 18 months |
| What a visitor can do | Observation decks on levels 124/125, 148 and 152 | See it from the beach or the water |
| Cheapest way to see it | Levels 124 and 125 from $51 | Jet-ski tour past it from about $38 |
| Operator | Emaar Properties | Jumeirah |
What each is
The Burj Khalifa, in Downtown Dubai, is a 163-floor tower built by Emaar Properties and opened on 4 January 2010. It holds offices, homes, the Armani Hotel Dubai on its lower floors, a restaurant on level 122 and the At the Top observation decks. The Burj Al Arab, on the Jumeirah coast, is a hotel. It opened on 1 December 1999 on an artificial island about 280 m offshore, linked to the mainland by a private curving bridge (Wikipedia). It is 321 m tall to its architectural top, designed by Tom Wright of WKA with the consultancy Atkins, and run by Jumeirah. The two share the Arabic word burj, which means tower. See what Burj Khalifa means.
What you can visit in each
At the Burj Khalifa you buy a timed ticket and ride up to the decks: levels 124 and 125 at 452 m, level 148 at 555 m, or The Lounge on levels 152 to 154 at 585 m. Slots run from morning to late evening, and the booking calendar shows those for your date. The Burj Al Arab is different. Jumeirah confirmed on 15 April 2026 that the hotel had closed for its first full restoration, expected to take about 18 months. Tristan Auer, the designer leading the restoration, has said it "will open when it is ready", so there is no confirmed reopening date. Until then you see it from outside. See what to do at the top of the Burj Khalifa.
Price of a visit
On 27 October 2026 the Burj Khalifa's levels 124 and 125 ticket started at $51 (AED 189), and level 148 at $109 (AED 399), with skip-the-line access and a lounge. Sunset slots cost more. For the Burj Al Arab, the ways to see it are from the water. A jet-ski tour past the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis started at AED 139 (about $38) per jet ski, which two people can share, rated 4.9 on 26,719 reviews of that listing on GetYourGuide; parasailing with the Burj Al Arab in view started at AED 208 (about $57). These are water activities with their own rules (the parasailing listing sets a minimum weight of 45 kg), not hotel visits.
Which first
Put the Burj Khalifa first. It is open, a standard deck ticket starts at $51, and from levels 124 and 148 you look out over the city towards the coast. The Burj Al Arab is worth a stop for photos from Jumeirah Beach or the water, and you can add it on a day by the sea. If you want both in one day, the private Dubai tour with Burj Khalifa entry lists a photo stop at the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach, and lets you choose an exterior photo stop or At the Top tickets at the Burj Khalifa; the listing starts from $80, and the option you pick sets the price. Check that any tour you book after April 2026 does not promise time inside the Burj Al Arab while it is closed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Burj Al Arab open in 2026?
No. Jumeirah closed the hotel for restoration in April 2026, for about 18 months. No reopening date has been confirmed.
Which is taller, Burj Khalifa or Burj Al Arab?
The Burj Khalifa, at 828 m, is about 2.6 times the height of the Burj Al Arab, at 321 m.
Should I visit the Burj Khalifa or the Burj Al Arab?
The Burj Khalifa. Its decks are open to visitors from $51; the Burj Al Arab is a hotel and closed for restoration, so you can only see it from outside.
Can you go inside the Burj Al Arab without staying there?
Not while it is closed for restoration, which began in April 2026. Until it reopens, the way to see it is from Jumeirah Beach or from the water.
Who owns the Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab?
Emaar Properties owns and developed the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Al Arab is developed and operated by Jumeirah.
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