Dubai is famous for its stunning skyline filled with tall skyscrapers. The most iconic of them all is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Standing at 829 metres with 163 floors, it has been a symbol of the city since it opened in 2010.
During the holy month of Ramadan, life inside the Burj Khalifa comes with a unique difference. Because of the building’s extreme height, fasting times are not the same for everyone inside the tower.
People living or visiting above the 80th floor must follow slightly adjusted prayer and iftar timings. This includes residents, guests at At.Mosphere restaurant on the 122nd floor, and visitors at the “At The Top” observation deck.
Those staying between the 80th and 150th floors break their fast two minutes after the Maghrib prayer call is heard in the rest of the city. Meanwhile, people above the 150th floor must wait three minutes longer before ending their fast.
The same rule applies in the morning. Fasting begins two minutes earlier for those between the 80th and 150th floors. For people above the 150th floor, fasting starts three minutes earlier than ground level.
The reason for this time difference is simple science. From higher floors, the sun can be seen for a longer time at sunset. This means the sun sets slightly later for those at the top. In the same way, sunrise is visible earlier from greater heights.
The 80th floor is already around 300 metres above the ground. Because of this, similar timing adjustments may also apply to upper floors of other very tall buildings in Dubai.
This small but interesting detail makes Ramadan in the Burj Khalifa truly unique.