Burj Khalifa Photos: Best Photo Spots Inside and Outside

TL;DR: The best Burj Khalifa photos are taken from across Burj Lake, where the whole 829.8 m tower fits in the frame: the Souk Al Bahar walkway and bridge, the lakefront towards Dubai Opera, and Burj Park. From the top, use the outdoor terraces on 124, 148 or 152 to avoid glass reflections. Shoot the half hour around sunset, and keep tripods and pro shoots for after you have asked: Downtown is private Emaar property.

Where are the best spots to photograph Burj Khalifa from outside?

Shoot from across the lake, at least a few hundred metres back, so the tower, its reflection and the fountain fit in one frame. These spots work, all free to stand in:

• Souk Al Bahar walkway and bridge. Souk Al Bahar sits right across the lake from the tower, with a bridge to The Dubai Mall. Gulf News describes the walkway as often less crowded than the mall side, and the bridge spots fill early before a fountain show. This is the classic front-on shot over the water.
• The lakefront towards Dubai Opera. Away from the densest crowd, with a side-on view of the tower over the lake.
• Burj Park. A park on a man-made island in Burj Lake around the tower’s base, designed by SWA Group. Close up, it is good for a low angle looking straight up the spire.
• The Apple Store balcony in The Dubai Mall. Gulf News lists it as a raised viewpoint over the lake and the fountain.

Close to the base the tower is too tall for a normal lens. Use your phone’s ultra-wide mode, shoot a vertical panorama, or step back. The Downtown Dubai area guide maps the district.

How do you shoot from the deck without glare and reflections?

Shoot from the outdoor terraces when you can, and press your lens to the glass when you cannot. The listings put an open-air terrace on level 124, an outdoor terrace on SKY level 148 and an outdoor terrace at The Lounge on 152.

Behind glass, reflections come from lights and people on your side of the window. Three habits help:

• Lens on the glass. Put the phone or lens hood flat against the window to cut reflections.
• Dark clothing. A light shirt reflects in the glass at dusk and at night.
• Screens off. Turn off your flash and dim your screen.

The cladding uses reflective glass panels, which Wikipedia says are built to cut glare from the desert sun, so some colour shift is normal. Level 148 helps here because its listing caps the deck at 50 people, so getting a clear spot at the glass takes less waiting. Some listings also mention deck photographers who take your picture and let you decide whether to buy it at the exit. The view from Burj Khalifa shows what you will be pointing at.

When is the light best for sunset and night photos?

The best light is the half hour before and after sunset, when the sky still holds colour and the city lights come on. On the 15th of the month, sunset is at about:

Month	Sunset
January	5:49 pm
March	6:27 pm
June	7:10 pm
September	6:24 pm
November	5:31 pm

These are computed for the tower’s location. From the deck, the sun stays visible for a few minutes after it has set at ground level, as Wikipedia notes. Prime-time slots around sunset cost more, and the listing shows the price for your slot.

At night, the fountain adds a lit foreground. Evening shows run every 30 minutes from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm, as listed by the booking listing, and the Dubai Fountain show times guide has the details. The facade also runs LED light shows on some evenings; the Burj Khalifa at night guide covers when. For a long exposure without a tripod, brace the camera on a railing or the ground.

What are the rules for a photoshoot?

Casual photos are fine everywhere; professional shoots and tripods need care. Downtown Dubai is developed and owned by Emaar, and PetaPixel reported in 2020 that a security guard stopped a photographer there because professional photography was not allowed in that privately owned area. We found no current official rule on tripods at the deck that we could confirm, so ask the operator before you bring one.

If you want a professional shoot, book one with a photographer who works there. One private photoshoot listing on the booking partner offers a session around Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain from $89 (AED 328), with 20, 50 or 75 edited photos delivered within 48 hours depending on the package; it shows 4.5 on 13 reviews of that listing. Prices use 1 USD = 3.6725 AED.

For your own shots from the top, the levels 124 and 125 ticket from $51 (AED 189) includes the open-air terrace and shows 4.3 on 92,917 reviews of that ticket. Plan your timing with the best time to visit Burj Khalifa.