Extracts from this chapter:
Update on Records Held by Burj Khalifa
While writing this book I discovered that At the Top SKY has lost its title as the world’s highest outdoor observation deck in the world. As of 5 January 2026, the Clock Tower in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, now holds that record at a height of 560.875 metres.
The Burj Khalifa, however, retains another distinction: the world’s highest lounge, located at 584.5 metres. The Lounge spans levels 152, 153, and 154. An outdoor balcony forms part of the 152nd floor and is protected only by a chest-high glass barrier.
According to Guiness World Records, although this balcony exceeds the height of the Clock Tower’s observation deck, it is not classified as an observation deck. As a social and dining venue serving food and beverages, it does not meet the criteria for a “pure” observation deck and is therefore excluded from the record.
When I visited the Burj Khalifa in 2015, a security officer mentioned that the chairman of Emaar Properties had his suite on that floor.
Following Laura’s death, I raised concerns about security on the deck, and I did so again after my visit to Dubai. Since then, it appears that further changes have been made. Yet just four levels above the At the Top SKY deck, there remains an outdoor balcony protected only by a chest-high glass barrier, substantially lower than those on the 124th and 125th floor, where they extend well above head height.
A security officer is stationed by the door leading to the terrace, and a buzzer sounds each time someone enters or exits. If there are adverse weather conditions such as high winds, heavy rain, or storms, access can be suspended.
At peak wind speeds, the tower can sway between 1.5 and 2 metres. This slow controlled movement is an intentional design feature, allowing the building to move with the wind rather than resist it rigidly, much like a bird’s nest swaying in a tree.
I watched several YouTube videos uploaded by visitors to this terrace, mainly unaccompanied by security officers, and some looked visibly shaken upon returning indoors, clearly relieved to be back inside.
After Laura’s death, I raised specific concerns about the open gaps in the glass barriers on the 148th floor. While those gaps were reduced and further modifications appear to have been made, it remains troubling that just four floors higher, an outside balcony with only a chest-high barrier is now accessible.
Laura Vanessa Nunes 