Dubai’s Burj Khalifa one of top selfie hot spots in the world

One of the most common sights in the world – tourists taking a selfie in front of the Burj Khalifa. Antonie Robertson / The National

DUBAI // As a jewel in the crown of UAE attractions, it is no surprise that a quick selfie at the Burj Khalifa tops a must-do list for tourists on a trip to Dubai.

But the world’s tallest building has been ranked as one of the top three global tourist attractions for taking selfies.

Just five years after it opened, one of Dubai’s most visited attractions has sailed past other more established world landmarks to break on to the podium for the best spot for a holiday snap, according to UK-based attraction booking site Attractiontix.

The firm analysed 219 million Instagram posts between October 2010 and January 2015 to come up with the list, with only the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Disneyland Florida recording more photos from visitors posted on social media.

Although the Burj Khalifa may be lacking a Mickey Mouse mascot or European history, it would appear size is everything when appealing to selfie fans.

At 830 metres, the Burj Khalifa has nudged past the 381 metre Empire State building in New York and London’s comparatively tiny 96 metre Big Ben to make the top three.

Described as a “Vertical City”, the building has more than 883,000 Facebook followers, 24,000 on Twitter and more than 120,000 Instagram followers as well as 66,600 plus Instagram (#MyBurjKhalifa) followers for At the Top, the world’s tallest observation deck.

Its high ranking could be a result of it being the venue for the Downtown Dubai New Year’s Eve celebration, where fireworks are among the most photographed and shared images on social media networks.