Background & Facts about Ain Dubai

Ain Dubai – or as it was referred to in the early stages of development, Dubai Eye – stands a staggering 250 metres high on the man-made development of Bluewaters Island – snuggly in between the Palm Jumeirah and popular tourist hotspot JBR.

Initially due to open in line with Expo 2020 in Dubai, unsurprisingly with COVID, the opening was pushed back a year in line with the revised Expo 2020 timings to October 2021.

It stayed open for just 6 months when bookings were abruptly halted in March 2022 for ‘enhancement’ works that were expected to last a month or two but took nearly 3 years.

Rolling the clock forward to late December 2024, here’s what you need to know about Ain Dubai, the largest observation wheel in the world!!

• The Ain Dubai project was announced in 2013, and construction commenced in 2015.
• Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Starneth Engineering are the primary design and construction contractors.
• The project for the wheel itself has an estimated cost of AED 1 billion ($270m).
• The wheel already stands at a staggering 250 metres tall.
• Upon its opening in October 2021, Ain Dubai became the tallest observation wheel in the world, surpassing the previous record holder, the 167.6m (550ft) High Roller in Las Vegas, by 42.5m (139ft).
• The wheel has 48 capsules and a total capacity of 1,900 passengers.
• One ride around the wheel will take 38 minutes.
• 9,000 tonnes of steel were used in the wheel’s construction.
• Each spoke cable that holds the wheel in place weighs 5 tonnes and is the length of one football pitch!
• 2,400 kilometres of cable wires are housed inside the spoke cables.
• A multi-purpose tourist attraction, one of the wheel legs will also host the highest climbing platform in the world.

What else is there to do in Bluewaters Island

Designed as a luxury urban retreat, you will find at the heart of Bluewaters a trendy dining and retail district marked by distinctive canopy structures that look particularly sensational when lit up at night.

With 132 leisure and retail units, many great restaurants have come and gone in the time it’s taken for Ain Dubai to reopen, but we expect the area to be flourishing again with the reopening of this key landmark attraction in Dubai.

The Ain Dubai Plaza has been launched, including evening DJs, hip-hop street battles and a ‘Light of Dubai’ Show at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM.

You will also find in the area other fun attractions such as Madame Tussauds Dubai and popular family entertainment centre Tr88house.

You can find our full guide to Bluewaters here

Hope you are as excited as we are about the reopening of Ain Dubai and the sensational new views it will bring of the city. You can check out our complete guide to the best views in Dubai here

Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai

• Pop into our essential planning information page, it includes everything you need to know about getting around Dubai, a handy guide on what to pack and top tips for first-timers on the do’s and don’ts, laws and customs to be aware of.

• Check out this incredible list of 150+ places you should visit when you’re in Dubai.

• Pick up a Dubai Pass to save up to 50% on top Dubai attractions

• Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!!!

• Discover the best areas to stay in Dubai.

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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our hotel or tour recommendation links. This post is in no way sponsored by Meraas or Ain Dubai; facts sources from Meeras and correct at the time of writing.

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There is far more to the UAE than just Dubai. In fact, Dubai might be the most populous, but it is only the second-largest Emirate, or “state” in the UAE – and even then, it only makes up 5% of the landmass of the UAE.

There are seven Emirates in the UAE. The 7 Emirates of UAE in order are (by total area):

• Abu Dhabi (67,340 km²)
• Dubai (3,885 km²)
• Sharjah (2,590 km²)
• Ras Al Khaimah – RAK (2,486 km²)
• Fujairah (1,165 km²)
• Umm al-Quwain – UAQ (777 km²)
• Ajman (259 km²)

So, as you can see, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is by far the largest in the United Arab Emirates but NOT the most populous. Dubai is firmly the largest city in the UAE in terms of population.

Map of the 7 Emirates of the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a Middle East country facing the Persian Gulf to the north and the Gulf of Oman to the east. The UE shares a land border with Oman and Saudi Arabia.

What else do I need to know about the United Arab Emirates?

Here are just a few facts that visitors to the UAE should know about the country’s political system and recent history.

When did the UAE become united as one country?

The UAE was formed in 1971 under a Federal Constitutional Monarchy with six of today’s seven Emirates.  (Ras al Khaimah later joined the UAE in February 1972, making the seven Emirates of the UAE that we know today).

Prior to this time, the Emirates were known as the Trucial States, Sheikdoms that were allied with the UK since the 1820s but not united. In 1968, the British announced the withdrawal of their protectorate, and discussions began to form a new country.

Every year, on 2 December, the country celebrates its birthday with extravagant National Day celebrations.

Each of the individual Emirates, or Sheikhdoms as they are also known, is ruled by a Sheikh (rather than an Emir, as you may expect). These seven Sheikhs are members of the ruling Federal Supreme Council.

Who is the ruler of the UAE?

The Federal Supreme Council elects the President of the United Arab Emirates.  Since the country’s unification, this has been the ruler of Abu Dhabi Emirate, while the ruler of Dubai has held the role of the country’s Vice President and Prime Minister.

At present, the country’s President is HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the third son of the founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan. He is often referred to colloquially as MBZ.

He took over from his older half-brother HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, upon his passing in May 2022 (although he has been the de facto leader of the country as Crown Prince since early 2014 after Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke).

Who is the ruler of Dubai then?

Since the 1830s, Dubai’s ruling family has been the Al Maktoums, and since January 2006, Emir HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been the ruler of Dubai, as well as elected Vice President & Prime Minister of UAE.

The Crown Prince of Dubai is Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Where is the capital of the UAE?

The capital city of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi. Qasr al Watan in Abu Dhabi is the Presidential Palace and where the Federal Supreme Council meets, as well as the Federal Cabinet. Federal government departments are found in Abu Dhabi.

Which Emirate has the largest population in the UAE?

The Emirate of Dubai is the hands-down winner when it comes to being the most populous city and Emirate. Despite the city of Abu Dhabi being the capital, and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi having by far the largest land area and oil production, Dubai has the greater number of residents.

The current estimate (as of mid-2023) is that the population of Dubai Emirate exceeds 4.1 million people – about 43% of the UAE’s total population.  Of those, only around 10% are native Emirati; the vast majority of the population is expatriate workers from all over the world. At least 3.6 million are thought to live in Dubai city.

Where is all the oil from in the UAE?

The vast majority of oil reserves are in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. Dubai only accounts for about 4 billion barrels of oil from proven reserves; oil is not a major part of Dubai’s economy.

Although the discovery of oil is undoubtedly what helped build the current mega-city of Dubai, it reportedly only makes up about 1% of the Emirates GDP as of 2022. Real estate, construction, trade, finance and tourism are much larger sectors.

Local Governments of the seven Emirates of the UAE

Like many countries around the world, the UAE’s Federal Constitution keeps many powers within each individual Emirate, rather than at a Federal level. You can learn more about local Governance here.

Do the Emirates have different flags?

Although united under the one flag of Red, Green, White and Black, each Emirate still retains its own flag, though you rarely see these displayed.

What is there to see and do in the other Emirates?

Great question! We are just finishing putting together guides for each of the other six Emirates of the UAE that you may want to incorporate into a trip to Dubai.

In the meantime, you can see our guide to the best Dubai day trips here

What do the other Emirates of the UAE look like?

While you wait for our complete guides, here is just a taster tour through the 7 Emirates of the United Arab Emirates in pictures.

Abu Dhabi

The largest Emirate, rich in coastal vistas, a modern city skyline, and deep desert sand dunes through to Saudi Arabia and Oman, known as “the Empty Quarter.” Most of the UAE’s oil is found in Abu Dhabi and in the adjacent Arabian Gulf.

Famous buildings in Abu Dhabi include the country’s largest mosque, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Presidential Palace Qasr al Watan, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Yas Marina Grand Prix Circuit on Yas Island, also home to four world-class theme parks. Learn more about visiting Abu Dhabi here.

Dubai

The largest city and Emirate of the UAE, famous for buildings like the Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, and Dubai Mall as well as tourist attractions such as the Palm Jumeirah, shopping malls, and an abundance of beautiful beaches. Dubai is also rich in desert landscapes and mountains – see all our Dubai attraction guides here.

Sharjah

Most of the city of Sharjah sits immediately next door to Dubai. The Emirate of Sharjah includes a coastal city, as well as rolling sand dunes and incredibly picturesque exclaves and enclaves on the country’s eastern coast including Khor Fakkan and Kalba.

Packed with heritage sites, many galleries, and museums, Sharjah is known as the cultural capital of the UAE.

Ajman

The smallest Emirate hugs a very short coastal stretch close proximity to Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. The Emirate of Ajman also includes two tiny enclaves in the Hajar Mountains, Masfout and Manama.

Umm Al Quwain

The Emirate of Umm Al-Quwain is made up of a small wetlands coastal strip as well as a fairly flat desert landscape. It is a sparsely populated part of the country.

Ras al Khaimah

A beautiful blend of coastline and beaches, desert sand dunes, and the rugged Hajar Mountains. The emirate of Ras al-Khamaih is known as an adventure playground and also home to peral diving and many heritage sites – learn more about visiting Ras al Khaimah here.

Fujairah

The Emirate of Fujairah is the only one to sit entirely on the east coast between the Gulf of Oman and the Hajar Mountains. This gives Fujairah some of the country’s most picturesque landscapes, sandy beaches and historic sites, including the countries oldest mosque.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about Dubai’s neighbours. Got any questions? Feel free to ask us in the comments below and we’ll do our best to help.

Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

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The world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, is an architectural and engineering feat you will find in the Middle Eastern city of Dubai. Dubai is the largest city (though not the capital city) of the United Arab Emirates, an oil-rich country in the Middle East facing the Persian (Arabian) Gulf.

As one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, it naturally brings a lot of curiosity for visitors and a lot of questions! So other than can you visit the Burj Khalifa? – (short answer is yes!) – we bet you have plenty of other burning queries. We are here to try and help you uncover more about the most incredible building of the early 21st-century

Burj Khalifa Facts

Building of the Burj Khalifa

The 160-story tall Burj Khalifa building in Dubai was completed in 2010.

Excavation began in January 2004, and the final opening ceremony took place six years later, on 4 January 2010.

The 828 metre tall Burj Khalifa is one serious record-breaker of a man-made building!

Burj Khalifa Guinness World Records

Not one but six Guinness World Records are currently held by the impressively tall Burj Khalifa.

• The tallest freestanding structure in the world
• The highest total number of stories in the world (163 floors)
• The highest occupied floor in the world (160th)
• The highest outdoor observation deck in the world
• The elevator with longest travel distance in the world
• The tallest service elevator in the world

The Burj Khalifa is also home to the world’s highest restaurant – At.mosphere, on Level 122 of the building. Guests can enjoy a menu full of luxury items like oysters and caviar as they stare out the city skyline from a height of 441 meters!

The Burj Khalifa houses the world’s second-highest swimming pool, located on the 76th floor. (The world’s highest swimming pool is located on the 118th floor (484 metres up) in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong).

Design and Construction of the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merill, (SOM) an American architectural, urban planning, and engineering firm. They also designed the Willis Toere (formerly Sears Tower) in Chicago and the One World Trade Centre in New York. Adrian Smith FAIA, RIBA, was the consulting design partner.

The building is made in “Y” shaped design to reduce wind force and assist in constructability.

It is designed to resemble the Hymenocallis flower – a Spider Lily native to the desert regions of the Middle East. The central core emerges at the top and culminates in a sculpted spire.

It took more than:

• 110,000 tons of concrete
• 55,000 tons of steel rebar
• Nearly 26,000 glass panels
• 22 million man-hours to complete the Burj Khalifa
• At the peak of the construction of the Burj Khalifa, 12,000 workers worked on the building per day

The foundation of the building is supported by a 3.7-metre thick mat, supported by 192 1.5-metre wide and 43-metre-long piles.

One of the most recognizable architectural features of the Burj Khalifa is the 200-metre tall “telescopic” spire on the top of it. It’s made from more than 4000 tons of steel, and on a clear day, the spire can be seen from up to 60-miles away!

The site where the Burj Khalifa tower is built was previously used as a military compound called “Central Military Command”.

Cost of the Burj Khalifa

The whole project cost of building the Burj Khalifa was $1.5 billion dollars, with the tower itself costing 1 billion dollars!

Materials used to build the Burj Khalifa

Here are some comparisons to try and get your mind around!

• The weight of the concrete is equivalent to 100,000 elephants.
• The total weight of aluminium used on the Burj Khalifa is equivalent to that of five A380 aircraft.
• Each glass panel weighs 362kg and has an energy-saving coating.

Elevators in the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa contains 57 elevators and 8 escalators.

The building is serviced by the longest single-running elevator, which is 140 floors.

It’s not the fastest elevator in the world – only currently ranked 3rd fastest! 10 meters per second will take you just a minute to get from the ground floor to the observation deck on Level 124.

163 floors of the Burj Khalifa are located above the ground, and only one floor is located below the ground.

The building has a specially designed elevator system for controlled evacuation during emergency situations.

The Burj Khalifa observatory floor elevators, taking passengers to “At the Top” are double-deck cabs with a capacity of 12 to 14 persons per cab.

Mechanical and safety features of Burj Khalifa

Since in an evacuation, it would be near impossible to get people out in one go, there are pressurized, air-conditioned refuges located approximately every 25 floors.

The building contains seven double-story mechanical floors which house electrical substations, water tanks and pumps, air handling units, and other essential components to keep the tallest tower in the world running.

The top four floors of the building are for communications and broadcasting.

The building capacity is 35,000 people, though the average occupancy of the Burj Khalifa is 10,000 people.

Is Burj Khalifa really the Tallest Building in the World?

Yes. Burj Khalifa sits at 828 meters (2716.5 feet) tall, making it the tallest building in the world by a long stretch.

The Burj Khalifa has been the tallest structure and building in the world since 2009 (it actually capped out at over 141 floors and broke the record in July 2007, but it needs to be complete to count!)

To put this in perspective, it’s 3x the height of the Eiffel Tower and nearly twice as tall as the Empire State Building (more on its closes competitors below!)

Its occupied height (height of the floors occupied by people) is 1918 feet (584.5 meters), that’s more than half a kilometre up in the air!

You may not be too keen to take the stairs though – 160 floors involve climbing 2909 stairs.

Is Burj Khalifa still the World’s Tallest Tower?

At the time of writing in early 2022, yes, no one has taken the title off of Burj Khalifa yet.

It is possible it won’t hold this title forever, in fact, a taller tower IS slated for Dubai though a confirmed height and start date for “the Tower” seem elusive just now…

You will see many other claims too though none has come to fruition yet. The recent major competitor was Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, with a height of 1,008 metres, but nothing much has been heard of this project since 2018.

Is “At the Top”Burj Khalifa the Tallest Observation Deck in the world?

Briefly, yes the 124th-floor Observation deck of Burj Khalifa “At The Top” held this title at 452 metres (1483 feet) as the tallest observation deck in the world when it opened in January 2010.

It only held this record until December 2011, when it was overtaken by Cloud top 444 (Canton Tower) in Guangzhou, China, coming in at 488 meters (1,601 feet).

What did Burj Khalifa do? Open another observation deck, of course! SKY Level opened in October 2014 on the 148th floor – 555 metres above ground level.

Burj Khalifa lost the title again when Shanghai Tower opened in June 2016 with an observation deck at 561 metres.

What Burj Khalifa can still claim is that it has the highest OUTDOOR terrace!

Oh, and to top things off, they opened The Lounge in February 2019. Levels 152 to 154 now bring the highest possible dining and drinks experiences in the world, with an open observation deck on Level 152.

Meaning of Burj Khalifa

What does Burj Stand for in Burj Khalifa?

A Burj in Arabic is simply a tower.

What does Khalifa stand for in Burj Khalifa?

Khalifa is in reference to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president of the United Arab Emirates. During the construction process, the tower was actually called Burj Dubai. However, during the financial crisis, the tower reemerged as the Burj Khalifa – we can only guess what was discussed behind closed doors!

What are all the floors in Burj Khalifa actually used for?

One of the more curious and perhaps pertinent questions to address; what is the Burj Khalifa actually used for?!

We can tell you most but some floors do still remain a mystery inside the world’s tallest tower! The tower is predominantly residential rather than commercial, though some floors are dedicated to hotels, restaurants, and observation decks open to the public:

An Observation Deck

There are observation decks on levels 124/125 and Level 148 of Burj Khalifa.

A standard “At The Top” ticket takes you to Level 124 with an internal staircase to Level 125 and an external observation deck, whilst an extended ticket including “SKY” will take you to 555 metres above the ground and the second tallest observation deck in the world.

Or, read on we have a detailed guide to exactly all the ticket options available and other ways you can get inside in our Ultimate Visitors Guide to the Burj Khalifa.

Hotels in the Burj Khalifa

The only hotel actually operating within the floors of the Burj Khalifa is the Armani which occupies the lower floors of the hotel. There are also 144 one and two-bedroom suites known as the Armani Residences.

Restaurants in the Burj Khalifa

Sky-high dining your thing?

The most iconic dining spot you’ll find almost anywhere in the world is At.Mosphere on Level 122. They offer breakfast, lunch, afternoon teas, and dinner.

Not to be outdone, there is also a VIP Lounge on Level 123, with your own exclusive VIP entrance – learn more about how to secure your VIP experience here.

Higher again, you’ll find The Lounge Burj Khalifa, occupying Levels 152 to 154. The Lounge offers “Tea in the Clouds”, “Bubby Sundowner” and “Cocktail Under the Stars” as one of the most unique experiences in Dubai – and now the highest dining in the world at 575 metres!

World’s Highest Mosque

The 158th floor of the Burj Khalifa is apparently home to the world’s highest mosque!

More Burj Khalifa Trivia

I know our trivia buffs will still have more questions, here are some of the most common we receive:

Burj Khalifa Tom Cruise

Let’s cover off some of your all-important Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol questions!!

Did he do his own stunt work? Rumour says yes! He did have a stunt double for some scenes but the shots a real. He is in a safety harness but this is digitally edited out.

Apparently, the crew broke 35 windows during filming, ouch!

Let’s relive that moment here!

Sustainability and the Burj Khalifa

Every year 57 million litres of water (about 20 Olympic pools) are collected sustainably from the building’s condensation collection system. The water is used for irrigation to water the landscaping and plants, for the cooling system, and to supply the Dubai Fountain.

Burj Fountain

The Burj Fountain is a nighty show at the foot of the Burj Khalifa held every lunchtime and night – you can learn more about the Burj Fountain here. The Fountain show was designed and choreographed by the same creators of the Bellagio Hotel Lake in La s Vegas

Burj Khalifa Art Collection

The Burj Khalifa houses a large art collection.  There are more than 1000-pieces of art from some of the world’s best-known artists hanging within the property. Many of them were commissioned specifically for the building.

External climbs of the Burj Khalifa

On March 28, 2011, Alain Robert, a French rock climber known as “Spiderman” scaled the outside of the Burj Khalifa. The climb to the top of the spire took him six hours! To comply with UAE safety laws, Robert, who usually climbs in free solo style, used a rope and harness.

Highest base jump from Burj Khalifa

As you’d expect, the highest base jump off a man-made building took place in April 2014 by French Jumpers Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet.

How do they clean the windows on Burj Khalifa?

There’s a lot of glass there, right? Close to 26,000 window panes are serviced by 18 permanently installed, cradle-equipped building maintenance units. They are stored inside the structure when not in use.

It takes 3 to 4 months to clean the entire building facade.

Advertising on Burj Khalifa

You will frequently see the Burj Khalifa lit up at night, in both celebration and solidarity for various causes, but did you know it can be “rented” for nighttime illumination too? No firm figures on exactly how much it costs to put your message on the Burj but it’s touted to be in the vicinity of AED 250,000 for a 3-minute prime time showing on a weekday 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, through to AED 1 million for a 5x an evening weekend slot, wow!!

That video! “Emirates” hostee on top of the world

OK, so we all know now she’s actually a stunt woman, not an airline hostess, but what a way to welcome the world back post-pandemic. The Emirates stunt took place in August 2021 with Nicole Smith-Ludvik the incredible start of the show (and she came back again for a repeat performance promoting Expo 2020!)

Other Tall Towers in Dubai

Burj Khalifa is certainly not all alone in the high rise stakes in Dubai, albeit it unarguably stands head and shoulders above its the nearest competition!

In fact, Dubai has the highest number of skyscrapers measuring over 300 meters tall in the world (even surpassing New York, Shanghai, and Hong Kong!)

Some other spectacular towers you won’t want to miss in Dubai (In order of height as of January 2022, fully completed):

Plenty more to come including Dubai Creek Tower, Le Maison by HDS and Ol Primo Tower 1 will all cap out over 300 metres tall

Where to find Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa is situated in an area of the city known as Downtown Dubai. It’s attached to the Dubai Mall, one of the world’s biggest shopping malls.

Even if you only have a short layover (4 hours+) at DXB airport, it’s possible to exit the airport and take the Metro to Downtown Dubai in order to see the Burj Khalifa. You will need a little longer layover if you want to go up the tower, and pre-purchasing a timed ticket is a must as on-the-spot tickets are ludicrously more expensive (and you may not get in if its a peak time).

From pretty much anywhere in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is an unmissable sight and a reminder of the possibilities you’ll find in the City of Gold.

More Articles on Burj Khalifa

If you love Burj Khalifa as much as we do, you may also want to check out these guides:

• Our complete guide to planning your trip up Burj Khalifa – all the different ticket categories and packages options to get yourself inside the incredible Burj Khalifa

• Burj Khalifa nightly light show – see when the Burj Khalifa lights up at night along with the Dubai fountain show

• Hotels with the best view of Burj Khalifa – where can you stay in Dubai to wake up with a spectacular view of the Burj Khalifa from your bedroom window?

• Dubai’s best views (other than the Burj Khalifa!) Where else can you get a spectacular view of the city of Dubai?

• Guinness World Records in Dubai – it’s not just tall towers Dubai is famous for; come and look at all the incredible records you’ll find in Dubai & the UAE

We hope you will one day get to enjoy a trip up the Burj Khalifa and discover even more fabulous facts about this iconic building once you’ve had the opportunity to journey inside.

It’s far from the only attraction in Dubai but, without a doubt, one of the most eye-catching and popular that visitors want to include in their must-see Top 10 attractions in Dubai.

Think we have any of our facts wrong? It can happen. Drop us a comment if you think anything needs updating!

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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

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Check out this astounding collection of Guinness World Records in Dubai & the UAE.

The world’s tallest tower

Let’s start with the most astounding and obvious in Dubai, you can’t look past the Burj Khalifa, the largest man-made structure in the world.

Standing at an incredible 828m (2,716.5 feet), it is the world’s tallest building as well as holding the record as:

• Tallest freestanding structure in the world (to its very tip, with spire, 829.8m)
• The building with the highest number of stories in the world (163 floors)
• The highest outdoor observation deck in the world (Level 124&125 + Level 148)
• The highest restaurant in the world (At.Mosphere on level 122 – 441.3m high)
• The highest lounge in the world (Levels 152-154 – 585m)
• Tallest service elevator in the world (504m – 1,654 feet)

You can see our complete guide on how to visit the World’s Tallest Tower here.

The World’s Highest Infinity Pool

The spectacular new twin-tower Address Beach Resort sits at the end of The Beach, JBR offers an infinity pool on the 77th floor! At a towering 294m/964 feet above ground level, it’s officially the highest infinity pool in the world, not quite the longest but at 94m you’ll still fit in some decent laps in this adults-only dreamy destination in Dubai.

Love your infinity pools? A complete guide on where to find the most spectacular infinity pool offering in Dubai here.

The largest dancing fountain show in the world

A record that used to be held by the nightly Dubai fountain show on Burj Khalifa Lake in Downtown Dubai, a new record was broken on 22 October 2020 with the opening of the Palm Fountains.

Situated in the waters between Atlantis the Palm and The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, the Palm Fountain super shooter reaches a staggering 105m into the sky, and the record-breaking fountain display covered 7,327 m².

Learn more about the new Palm Fountains including nightly timings here.

The world’s deepest swimming pool

Scuba diving at 60 metres deep, indoors? Only in Dubai, of course! Opened in July 2021, Deep Dive Dubai holds 14 million litres of water and includes a sunken city for exploring. Free dive, scuba dive, snorkel, dress like a mermaid? This new indoor sensation is bound to be a hit with thrill-seeking tourists in Dubai.

See all the best indoor activities in Dubai here.

The world’s largest hand-woven carpet

Found on the floor of the main prayer hall of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE, the largest hand-woven Persian carpet in the world is a staggering 5,630 m² (60,600.81 ft²).

It took 1,200 weavers a little over a year to complete. Manufactured by the Iran Carpet Company and brought to Abu Dhabi in 9 pieces for final installation – it includes 2.2 billion hand-tied knots and weighs over 12 tonnes.

You can see our complete guide on how to visit the Shiekh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, from Dubai here.

The world’s fastest roller coaster

We could only be talking about Formula Rossa, the 240 km/hr coaster can be found at Ferrari World on Yas Island.  There are plenty of other thrill-seeking rides here, including Flying Aces – the world’s steepest and fastest cable lift (51 degrees and 30km/hr) and the world’s tallest inverted loop at 52m – but it is still the record-breaking Formula Rossa that drives the crowds!

You can check out Ferrari World ticket pricing and free Dubai shuttle options here

The world’s largest indoor climbing wall

This is another record going to Abu Dhabi’s collection of incredible theme parks on Yas Island (but wait, there’s more!). 

The CLYMB indoor climbing centre includes SUMMYT, a 141-foot mega wall that indoor rock climbing experts can scale throughout the year.

The world’s largest indoor flight chamber

If that’s not enough, CLYMB is also home to the largest indoor flight chamber measuring 9.5m wide by 26m high.

The world’s largest indoor theme park

We’re on Yas Island Abu Dhabi again for this record at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.  The entirely indoor theme park is perfect for visiting year-round and has 29 different rides and attractions, including the heroes and villains of DC comics through to Cartoon Junction, Looney Toon Favourites and the Flinstones.

The record was previously held by the 1.5 million square foot (139,354 m²) Dubai theme park IMG World’s of Adventure; however, at 1.65 million square feet (153,290 m²) WB World Abu Dhabi now holds the crown – but just wait, we don’t think they’ll hold it for long!!)

Find out how to get to Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi from Dubai with free transfers

The largest Mall in the world

Now this one holds a little bit more conjecture as it depends on what exactly you’re measuring – square footage, shops, gross leasable area?

Although Dubai Mall still seems to be touted as the leader here at a size of 1.1 million square metres (nearly 12 million square foot) of retail space and over 1200 outlets, there are several Malls in Asia, including New South China Mall and Golden Resources Mall in China, as well as CentralWorld in Bangkok which claim to be larger in the leasable area and total shops.

Dubai can’t officially claim this one as a world record, but we assure you it is HUGE and surprise it’s one of the city’s top 10 highlights for new visitors.

The most leaning tower in the world

Why let the leaning tower of Pisa have all the fun?  Deliberately built on an angle, Capital Gate Tower in Abu Dhabi stands at 160m tall and is built to lean 18 degrees to the west, making it the farthest manmade leaning building. They also claim to have the highest suspended swimming pool at the Andaz Hotel, but we haven’t got this one recorded as a Guinness World Record yet.

Find out what it costs to stay at the Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

The world’s tallest hotel

The Gevora Hotel in Dubai holds the crown as the tallest hotel in the world – would you believe now superseding  JW Mariott Marquis by one meter! The Gevora stands at 356 meters (1,168 feet) with 528 rooms.

There are actually taller hotel rooms to be found from floors 102 to 118 at The Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong, but the 488m tall International Commerical Centre tower in which they sit is not a dedicated hotel, it has mixed residential and commercial floors.

You can find out how much it costs to spend a night in the Gevora here 

Most skyscrapers in the world

While we’re on the topic of exceptionally tall buildings… yep, you guessed it. Dubai has more buildings over 300m tall than anywhere else in the world. There are, as of 2019, 21 buildings in Dubai that stand at this lofty height, surpassing even Chinese megacities Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The world’s twistiest tower

Let’s keep going with the city’s towering facts. Dubai Marina is home to Cayan Tower. Each floor of the building sits at a 1.2-degree rotation to the next, resulting in the 307.3 m (1,008.2 foot) structure twisting a whopping 90 degrees from its base.

The world’s longest zipline

In the northern Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, you will find the country’s tallest peak (sadly, no world record breakers there at a mere 1,934 m in height!) but it is home to the worlds longest zipline. Opening on 31 January 2018 the largest unbroken span of the zipline is 2,831.88m (9,291 ft) in length, smashing its way into the record books.

Click here to see how you can book yourself on the world’s longest zipline

The world’s longest urban zipline

And not to be outdone, the city of Dubai also had the world’s longest urban zipline. Straddling Dubai Marina, the 1km long XDubai XLine experience takes you from a 170m high platform from Amwaj Towers to Dubai Marina Mall at an average speed of 80km/hr. [Temporarily closed]

See what it costs to take on the Dubai Marina urban zipline

The world’s highest tennis court

The Burj Al Arab helicopter pad is like something out of a James Bond movie. Federer and Agassi played a match atop the helicopter pad in 2005 to promote the ATP Dubai Duty-Free tennis (bags not playing ball boy for that one) and set the record for playing at 211 metres above ground level.

The world’s largest chandelier

Back down the road to Abu Dhabi continuing to break records here, the stunning Qasr Al Watan presidential palace opened to the Public in 2019.  You will find the chandelier in the Spirit of Collaboration Hall weighing in at 12 tonnes with 350,000 pieces of crystal and 30,000 separate lights.

You can visit Qasr al Watan as part of a day tour from Dubai including the Grand Mosque

The world’s largest flower garden

A flower garden in the desert? Seems hard to believe, Dubai Miracle Garden is very inconspicuously buried in the outer area of Dubai known as Dubailand.  It was once destined to be a grand theme park destination but has since crept into the suburbs. 

The master plan for a stunning garden lived on though.  The flower garden which is open seasonally to the public from November to May every year is said to be home to astounding 150,000 blooms. Whilst not the largest in total square metres, it’s the sheer number of flowers and impressive displays that have won it worldwide accolades.

Whilst the claim as the “largest flower garden” does not seem to be substantiated by a Guinness World Record, they DO hold the official record for:

• The largest floral arrangement – an Emirates A380 display measures in at 72.95 m x 78.34m x 21.98m
• The tallest topiary structure in the world – a giant Mickey Mouse measuring in at 18.006m was unveiled at Dubai Miracle Gardens in January 2018 in conjunction with Disney to celebrate Mickey’s 90th Birthday (over 100,000 flowers are reported to have been used!)
• The largest vertical garden in the world

You can check out ticket packages with Dubai hotel transfers here.

The longest driverless Metro system

Did you know that the Dubai Metro is actually entirely automated? Yep, that’s right, Dubai’s most popular public transport included the Dubai Metro Red Line, which runs the length of Sheikh Zayed Road through the heart of the city’s most popular attractions.  The 52.1km track, combined with Dubai Metro’s 22.5km long Green Line, makes for the longest driverless metro system in the world, surpassing Vancouver’s Skytrain.

Learn more about how to catch Dubai’s Metro here.

The world’s largest cup of hot tea

The biggest brew in the world measured in at 5,000 litres (1,320.86 gallons) at Dubai’s Global Village in January 2018.

The world’s largest incense burner

At 3m tall and weighing 1000kg (2,200 lbs), the incense burner (mabkhara) made of ashwood and brass by fragrance company Ajmal holds the Guinness World Record.  It was unveiled as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival in March 2001

The world’s largest lantern

Well we’re going through inanimate objects, right?  You will find this lantern at the entrance to the fresh food Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah. At 13.09m high and 5m wide, the lantern is made from wood and copper.

The world’s largest book

Measuring in at 5m x 8.06m, weighing 1500kg and containing 429 pages, the project to highlight the lifetime achievements of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the positive influences of Islam was unveiled in Dubai on February 27, 2012.

The world’s largest sword

Who doesn’t need a 14.93m sword right? Found in the middle of Al Saif roundabout in Fujairah, the record was set in December 2011.

The world’s largest gold ring

Najmat Taiba (Star of Taiba), is the world’s largest gold ring on display at Rossella Jewelry at Dubai Gold Souk in Deira.

Weighing in at 64 kilograms (141 lbs), the 21-carat ring boasts over 5kg of diamonds and 615 Swarovski crystals. It was created by 55 goldsmiths and is estimated to cost $3 million USD.

The world’s longest handmade gold chain

While we’re on the topic of jewellery, the “Dubai Celebration Chain” required over 100 craftsmen over 45 days to build the 22 karats 256-kilogram creation to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dubai Shopping Festival.  It was unveiled at the Deira Gold Souk in January 2015 – and later sold off in pieces.

The world’s largest vertical maze

Yep, that’s a thing. A permanent feature of Maze Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, your mind will boggle staring at the 3,974.22 square metre design on the side of this skyscraper tower.

The world’s largest picture frame

This architectural wonder in Zabeel Park, Dubai, might be best known as an observation deck that bridges between the old and new cities of Dubai.  It is in fact, still classified as a  frame due to its unique structure with a height of 150m (492 feet)  making it the biggest picture frame on earth!

Find out how to get tickets to the Dubai frame here

The most number of Nationalities on a plane

Celebrating the diversity of nationalities, Emirates set this record on National Day 2019 with more than 145 nationalities packing an A380 flight on 2 December 2019.

This was certainly a record-breaking fete – but at any given time, there are approximately 50 different nationalities on every Emirates flight!

The largest human image of the UAE National Flag

Yep, we said some of them are a little obscure!  The UAE takes immense pride in celebrating National Day and all the diversity that comes with it.  Students at GEMS Cambridge College in Abu Dhabi set the record at National Day 46 in 2017 with this effort!

The world’s largest Christmas ornament

Found in the Muslim country of Dubai, of course! The gigantic Christmas Ornament was displayed in the Dubai Mall in 2018 with a whopping 4.68m (15.35 foot) diameter and weighing an astounding 1,100 kgs (2425 lbs).

The world’s most expensive Christmas tree

Another Christmas record! Reportedly costing $11.4 million USD, it was constructed in the centre of Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in December 2010.  The bejewelled tree had 181 items and stood 13.1m tall (we believe Kempinski may have topped this record in Spain in 2019 with a $15 million tree).

Every year Emirates Palace still put up one of the most impressive and luxurious Christmas tree displays in the world.

The world’s largest jigsaw

Yep, this is in Dubai too.  The jigsaw inscribed with “the Year of Zayed” in honour of the country’s founding father was unveiled at Dubai Multi Commodities Centre on July 7, 2018.  The puzzle contained 12,320 pieces.

The world’s largest umbrella

You guessed it! In the city full of sunshine, of course, you’ll find this one in UAE with a 24.5m diameter and standing at 15.22m in height, it was erected as part of an Emirates Happiness Events in the UAE Capital Abu Dhabi on 24 March 2018.

The world’s largest flag flown

This one we head to the Emirate of Sharjah just northeast of Dubai.  On 2 November 2017, to mark national day Trident Support Flagpoles and Sharjah Investment and Development Authority flew the UAE national flag at a whopping 2,488.56 square meters.

The world’s largest suspended aquarium screen

The main tank at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, found in Dubai Mall, is 32.88 m wide, 8.3 m high, and 7.5m thick, the glass panel weighs in at a whopping 245,614kg!

If you want to head inside the Aquarium, here’s what it costs.

Still to come – the world’s largest observation wheel

Set to open later in 2021, Ain Dubai on the man-made Bluewaters Island stands proudly at 250m (820ft) tall. With 48 capsules and capable of carrying 1400 passengers at capacity, it will beat its nearest competitor, the High Roller in Las Vegas, by a good 42.5m (139ft).

You can learn more fascinating facts and opening details for Ain Dubai here

Wow, what a list! The more we dug, the more records we found. In a city full of superlatives, it’s hard to know what record they will find to impress next.

Any other Dubai & UAE record-breakers you think we’ve missed? We’re sure it’s not long until we’ll be updating this list again!

Information variously sourced from Guinness World Records, Visit Dubai, the National and other online resources.  Please notify us if you believe there are any inaccuracies in our review! Recorded as of December 2020, updated June 2021. 

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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

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The confusion can largely reign from the fact that Dubai is not only a city but an Emirate (or state) – and it’s surprisingly not a capital city!!!  So let’s take a more detailed look at exactly what is Dubai – then we’ll help you place it on a map!!

Dubai is the largest city in a country called the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a Gulf country in the Middle East which has coasts facing both the Arabain Gulf (Persian Gulf – but don’t call it that in front of an Emirati!) and the Gulf of Oman to the east.   The UAE neighbours Saudi Arabia to the south and west and Oman to the south-east (and a tiny bit in the north – we’ll get on to that!).

Is Dubai a country?

Nope! This is the biggest misconception.  Bid bold and brassy but a city and an Emirate, NOT an entire country, just like Abu Dhabi. The country is called the United Arab Emirates.

Is Dubai the capital of the UAE?

No, often mistaken as Dubai is the largest city in the UAE, Dubai is not the capital of the United Arab Emirates.  That crown goes to Abu Dhabi which sits approximately 130kms to the west, about an hour away by road.

You can see exactly how to get between Dubai and Abu Dhabi here.

What’s an Emirate?

Emirates are sort of like states, they are ruled over by a Sheikh, also called a Sheikdom.  In 1971, the United Arab Emirates was formed with the union of 6 of these Sheikdoms. A further Emirate joined in 1972 bringing us the 7 Emirates of the UAE we know today.  The countries birthday is celebrated in a massive event ever 2 December.

You can learn more about all 7 Emirates of the UAE here.

How big is Dubai?

The whole  Emirate of Dubai, including the city and desert areas is 3,885 km²

What is the population of Dubai?

There is no census carried out in Dubai, however, reports seem to vary between 2.4 million and 3.3 million!

The biggest surprise might be that only around 11% of the city’s population are considered native Emirati’s. The vast majority of Dubai’s population is expatriate workers from nearly 200 different nations!  It is one of the most diverse city populations in the world!

Why are there so many men in Dubai?!

The male to female ratio in Dubai is believed to be 75%:25%.

This is driven by the largely male Asian workforce in the construction and services sectors, predominantly Indian who are believed to make up as much as 50% of the city’s population.

This does not mean it is an unsafe place for female tourists to visit. Quite the opposite, we will share more soon on women’s safety in Dubai.

Who rules Dubai?

Dubai is ruled by the Al Maktoum family.  The current leader of Dubai and the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

What continent is Dubai on?

The Middle East and the Arabian Peninsular sit within the continent of Asia.

What is the Dubai Flag?

Whilst there is a flag for each of the Emirates that make up the UAE, the individual flags are very infrequently displayed. You are most likely to see only the unified flag of the United Arab Emirates. This flag is red on the left and has hortizonal black, white and green stripes.

Is Dubai Expensive to visit?

It can be in you don’t watch where you are spending your money; there is certainly an emphasis on luxury experiences, but there is plenty to see and do on a budget too, you can see our guide to Dubai on a Budget here.

Do I need a Visa to visit Dubai?

Yes, all visitors require a visa, but many nationalities are entitled to a Visa on Arrival when visiting as tourist – we talk much more about Dubai Visit Visas Here

What’s the time zone in Dubai?

Dubai’s time zone is called GST – Gulf Standard Time and it sits at UTC+4.  There are no daylight savings changes implemented in the summer months.

What is the currency in Dubai?

The United Arab Emirates uses the UAE Dirham – expressed as AED or dhs.

We have a complete guide to UAE currency and Dubai money matters here.

Is Dubai Muslim?

The majority of Dubai’s native population are Sunni Muslim. Sharia Law is followed in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

You can find out more about customs, culture and religion in Dubai here.

What language do they speak in Dubai?

Arabic is the country’s legal first language. However, English is widely spoken as a common language between all workers and locals. Signposts and any official documents will come in both Arabic and English.

As a tourist to Dubai, you would not have to learn any Arabic to enjoy visiting the city, however, a few small words such as “Shukran” (thank you) never go astray. You could well go an entire trip to the city and NOT speak to an actual Emirati.

There are literally dozens of languages spoken in Dubai at home and amongst workers, reflective of such a diverse population.

What do they wear in Dubai?

Traditional dress is worn in public by native Emiratis. Men wear white dishdashas while women wear a black Abaya and Shayla love their heads (NOT a full face Burqa).

Tourists and expatriate residents are not expected to dress in traditional clothing, but modesty in public places IS expected. The rules can get complicated though and many have differing opinions on what is acceptable or not in Dubai in the 21st Century.

We discuss what to wear in Dubai in much more detail here.

So are you thinking about visiting Dubai?

We are a Dubai-based Travel Blog dedicated to helping tourists self-plan a visit to Dubai.

As long term expatriates in the UAE, we have spent many years unearthing the city’s secrets and most incredibly spots – from those insta-perfect locations to cultural gems and family-fun attractions.

It is a constantly growing and evolving city that perfectly intertwines traditional and modern.

If this article has you interested in learning more about Dubai, we suggest you jump over to our Essential Travel Planning Information page next as your starting point to get more acquainted with the city, learn more about the best times to visit, the legal matters you’ll want to know and how exactly to plan your trip to the modern and exciting city of Dubai!

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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

Dubai Travel Planner

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The country is called the United Arab Emirates (UAE), of which there are 7 Emirates that form the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah & Umm Al Quwain)- we explain more about each of these 7 Emirates here.

Is Dubai the capital city?

No, Dubai is not the capital city of the UAE, but it is most certainly the biggest city. The capital city of the UAE is Abu Dhabi, which sits approximately 160km away to the west. You can learn more about Abu Dhabi here.

Does Dubai have a capital city?

No, it’s a little confusing but each of the Emirates (states if you like) does not have a capital per se. The largest city in each Emirate has the same name; so Dubai is the city and the Emirate, but there are smaller towns in Dubai Emirate outside of the main city, as well as areas within Dubai city with their traditional Arabic names and English translations.

So how big is the city of Dubai?

The Emirate of Dubai is 4,114 square kilometres and the city of Dubai although with no exact size as it’s continually expanding into the desert, was estimated to have a population of 3.3 million as at 2019.

The vast majority of the population live in the city of Dubai, rather than in the desert and mountainous areas (yes, despite being in the desert, there are mountains, much further south from the city!)

The population size of Dubai constantly fluctuates due to the huge expatriate workforce, predominantly from other parts of Asia. In fact, the local population of Dubai (Emirati’s) are thought to make up only around 11% of the population.

Learn more about the cultures and traditions of Emiratis here.

Where is Dubai?

Dubai is located on the Arabian Peninsula, facing the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf) to the north in the Middle East. It is considered part of Asia.

We share more fabulous facts about Dubai and its geographic location in this post here.

When was Dubai first settled?

The first settlements along the banks of Dubai Creek date back to 1833.

The modern city of Dubai came much later. The UAE federated in 1971, and much development occurred after this time.

You can learn more about the early settlement of Dubai in one of the many Dubai museums.

Can you visit Dubai?

Absolutely, in fact, Dubai is now home to the busiest passenger airport in the world – DXB – Dubai International Airport. In 2018, just over 89 million passengers transited through DXB, and 15.93 million visitors made a stop.

Being in such a central location in the world makes it a great transit city.

You can simply stop in Dubai for a few hours, a few days – or extend this to a few weeks if you love the warmth and sunshine!

If you are considering a stopover in Dubai or unsure what to expect as a visitor in Dubai, you’ve come to the right place. We are long-term UAE residents and have put together this Dubai Travel Blog to help you navigate your way across the city and plan the perfect trip to Dubai.

A few handy places you may want to start your planning

• How to do a stopover in Dubai – how long do you need, what can you squeeze in?
• Essential planning information for Dubai – laws to religion, language, what to wear and when it is hot, we answer all your burning questions about the city of Dubai!
• What is there to see and do in Dubai? 150+ ideas on how to fill your itinerary

Is Dubai a safe city to visit?

According to the latest Numbeo Safe Cities Index (which looks at over 400 cities worldwide), Dubai is ranked the 7th safest city in the world, with Abu Dhabi ranked number 1.

We will have our detailed guide to Dubai safety matter out soon

Take me back to the Dubai Travel Blog

Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

Dubai Travel Planner

The post Is Dubai a city or a country? appeared first on Dubai Travel Planner.