Visiting Dubai Frame at Sunset

My legs stopped working the moment I tried to step onto the glass floor.

Below my feet, through clear glass, was the ground, about 150 metres down. My friend Umair walked out first, and then I found the courage to follow. Two or three minutes later, the fear was gone, and we were both sitting on the glass taking photos.

For me, that glass floor was the most fun part of the visit. We went in 2023, and for the price, it was a great deal. Here's what the visit is like, what it costs, how to get there by metro, and why the timing makes all the difference.

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Why We Went in the Evening

We'd been to the Burj Khalifa at 2pm, and the sun had been shining straight into our eyes the whole time. So for Dubai Frame, we planned it differently on purpose.

We arrived at around 4:30pm, so we could see the view in daylight and then stay for the sunset. It was the right call.

Tickets

We bought our tickets at the counter. In 2023, they cost AED 50 per person. The line was short, and we had our tickets in about 10 minutes.

Today, an adult ticket costs AED 52.50. Children under 3 go free. Dubai Frame is open daily from 9am to 9pm, but check the official Dubai Frame website before you go, since timings can change on holidays.

One thing I only found out when I got there: our Dubai Frame ticket also covered entry to Zabeel Park, the park the Frame stands in. After coming down, we sat in the park for a while. There was a nice breeze, and it was a relaxing way to finish.

Getting There by Metro

From my side of Deira, I took the Red Line from Al Rigga and got off at Max station. If you see older guides saying Al Jafiliya, it's the same station. It was renamed in 2021.

From Max, it's about a 20-minute walk to Gate 4 of Zabeel Park, where the Frame is. We went in October, so the weather was fine for walking.

In summer, I wouldn't do that walk. Take a short taxi from the station instead, because 20 minutes in Dubai's summer heat is a lot.

Old Dubai Gallery: Don't Skip It

Before you go up, there's the Old Dubai Gallery on the lower level.

It recreates old Dubai with old photographs and a souk-style setting, and it uses sound, lighting and even smells to bring the past to life.

My favourite part was the section on old boats and pearl diving. When you look at today's Dubai, it's hard to believe the city started there.

The Lift Ride

The lift takes you up 48 floors in about 75 seconds.

After the Burj Khalifa, it felt calm. The Burj Khalifa lift is much faster, and my ears blocked on the way up there. The Frame's lift is a smooth, easy ride with no special feeling.

If you're looking for a thrill, it isn't in the lift. It's waiting for you at the top.

The Glass Floor

At the top is the Sky Deck, a bridge linking the two sides of the Frame, about 150 metres above the ground. In the middle of the bridge is a section of glass floor where you can see straight down.

I'll be honest, I was scared. My legs froze on the first step. Umair went first, and then I found the courage.

Two or three minutes later, the fear disappeared completely. We ended up sitting on the glass and taking photos. If you're nervous like I was, give it a couple of minutes. It's the most fun part of the whole visit.

The View: Old Dubai and New Dubai Together

This is what makes Dubai Frame special.

To the north, you see old Dubai: areas like Deira and Karama, low buildings and the line of the Creek. To the south, you see new Dubai: Downtown, the tall towers and the Burj Khalifa.

I spent a while trying to spot my own area in Deira. I could roughly work it out from the direction of the Creek.

The best moment came after sunset, when the lights along Sheikh Zayed Road started switching on, one by one. Standing in one place and seeing old and new Dubai side by side, that's really what this place is about.

Crowds and Waiting Time

The crowd starts building in the evening. We waited in line for the lift for about 15 to 20 minutes.

That's nothing compared to the Burj Khalifa, where security was sending people up in batches. At Dubai Frame, the wait felt much more manageable.

How Long the Visit Takes

We spent about 45 minutes on the Sky Deck.

There's a small Godiva kiosk up there selling chocolate and ice cream. It felt expensive to me, so we didn't buy anything.

After coming down, you pass through the Future Dubai Gallery, which uses projections to show what Dubai might look like in 50 years.

In total, our visit took about an hour and a half, plus the time we spent in Zabeel Park afterwards.

Is Dubai Frame Worth It?

Absolutely. For AED 50, it was a much better deal than the AED 148 I'd paid for the Burj Khalifa.

So which one should you choose?

If it's your first time in Dubai and you can only do one, go for the Burj Khalifa. It has its own magic.

If your budget is tight, choose Dubai Frame. You get old and new Dubai in one view, which you don't get from the Burj Khalifa.

If you can, do both. They're very different experiences.

Tips for Your Visit

• Go between 5pm and 6pm. The best light on the Sky Deck is between 5:30pm and 6:30pm, so you get the daytime view and the city lights coming on.
• Take the Red Line to Max station. Walk to Gate 4 in cooler months, and take a short taxi in summer.
• Don't rush the Old Dubai Gallery, especially the old boats and pearl diving section.
• Keep your ticket for Zabeel Park. Spending a little time in the park afterwards is a nice way to end the visit.
• Don't be scared of the glass floor. Give yourself a couple of minutes, and you'll love it.
• Decide whether you want snacks before you go up. The kiosk at the top isn't cheap.

Before You Go

Pick an evening, take the metro to Max, walk through the Old Dubai Gallery, and let yourself be scared on the glass floor for a minute. Then stay long enough to watch Sheikh Zayed Road light up.