Burj Khalifa was only one of the many things I had for Dubai in 2.5 days, and I didn't plan for it well enough (the whole trip was actually quite a bit of work, despite it being just 5.5 days (but very packed ones). I naively planned that I could just buy sunset tickets online for the top floor while going there, I mean they were expensive (over $100), so that'd be fine, right?
Reality is otherwise, they were all sold out, and I would only have gotten up after sunset, so I had to go elsewhere (made a dash for the Dubai Frame to get sunset there).
I tried again the next day with more planning, and had to go twice since I couldn't get sunset that day either. I paid way too much to get VIP to the top at noon when it opened. We got a quick tour of the build:
impressive build
We then got directly to the last floor, over 800 meters up:
we got snacks and drinks in the VIP room
dubai frame
main freeway with all the buildings
Dubai Mall with fountains
After a while, I went down to a main floor where everyone else, goes:
And the way out, I went to see the fountain show outside:
I then had to come back later to get the night view, and started by the fountain show too (it was actually hard to get there from the street where I parked):
I then went up with a normal ticket I had to buy (by then, it was over than $150), but unfortunately got lost in the VIP gropup that happened to go by, and went to the top again. It was inconvenient time-wise to have to go twice, never mind having to pay twice, but the night view was worth it even if I didn't get sunset too at the same time:
Dubai Frame was on my list, I had originally planned to go up Burj Khalifa that day, but was not able to get tickets, in time, so hurried back to my car, drove to Dubai Frame, hurried and got there in time for sunset:
pretty but the lights reflected against the windows and messed up many pictures
I had enough time to take plenty of daylight pictures:
Burj Khalifa, where I was hoping to be :)
And had nice sunset pictures:
Dubai Glow Park where I went the next day
They had a movie about future tech on the way out:
Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque was on my way out of Abu Dhabi, on my drive back to Dubai. I got there late, but thankfully it's open until 22:00, so I got to see it on my way out when all the crowds were gone. I had a nice chat aobut Islam with a guide who was still there. Ultimately, while Islam is being misused in many terrible ways around the world, it is true that UAE is a shining example of how the religion can be peaceful and tolerant, not just in words, but in action. UAE allows people to drink alcohol or eat pork if they choose to, even though it is ultimately a country with Shariah law. they are trying to be an example of leaving religion as a choice in a region of the world where it usually is not.
The mosque was of course beautiful, especially at night:
while tolerance and Islam don't mix in many countries, UAE does its best to make it a reality
prayer times, 5 plus the optional 6th I didn't know about
And because UAE is not shy with business, they had a mall on the way out :)
The Abu Dhabi Royal Palace, oh my god it was nice, I mean insanely nice. Dare I say it was the best palace I've seen in the world?
I got there a bit late because of a long day, and more time at the Abu Dhabi Louvre than I had planned, I thankfully got there just in time for the last entrance into the Palace (made it in the last bus to the palace and through the doors by just one minute before they closed the front doors):
After the visit was over, I went out to see a palace from the outside for the light projection show:
Saying that I was impressed was an understatement.
