Five spots in Dubai have earned a place in the top 10 locations with the best views in the Middle East, with attractions in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain also named in a new analysis of reviews on TripAdvisor.
In a study compiled by US remittance company Remitly, Burj Khalifa takes the crown for its breathtaking views in the region, followed by the Dubai Fountain, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Frame and Dubai Creek.
The Observation Deck at 300 in Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain round off the spots in the UAE to make it into the top 10.
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Fireworks are shot from Burj Khalifa during its opening ceremony on January 4, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National -
Tom Cruise climbs Burj Khalifa in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’. Photo: Paramount Pictures -
Downtown Dubai as taken in 2012 by the Pleiades satellite. Photo: European Space Agency -
A web of lightning forms over Burj Khalifa on January 14, 2009. Paulo Vecina / The National -
A shot of Burj Khalifa from the City Walk shopping district on April 2, 2016. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National -
The Moon, in its first quarter phase, starts to set on August 16, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National -
A misty morning in Dubai. Getty -
Window cleaners lower themselves from the 111th floor to the 73rd. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Since its completion, Burj Khalifa has held the record as the world’s tallest building. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Rawda Al Abrar Mosque in the foreground at sunset. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Burj Khalifa lights up to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars on February 9. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The skyscraper is barely visible on a rare overcast day. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Burj Khalifa as seen across the creek, from the InterContinental hotel in Dubai Festival City in 2011. Pawan Singh / The National -
A view of the tower from Downtown Dubai in 2020. Pawan Singh / The National -
Lasers light up the sky in Dubai. Christopher Pike / The National -
Fireworks are released from the building’s surface to mark the new year. EPA
Burj Khalifa also makes it to No 4 in a global ranking, led by New York City skyscraper attraction Top of the Rock.
Remitly says it analysed more than 1.4 million TripAdvisor reviews to come to the conclusion. The study covered 253 cities around the world as well as all 50 states in the US.
Using the ‘Things to Do’ section of the TripAdvisor website, the attractions in each location with the highest number of mentions of "view" in their reviews were ranked as providing the best view for the specific location.
Results where the term "view" was used negatively or for another context, such as a sports stadium offering a good view of the pitch, were omitted from the final results, the company said. The data used was based on reviews as of May 2022.
The view from Burj Khalifa's observation deck was mentioned more than 28,000 times while the view at the Dubai Fountain had 9,285 mentions. Two spots from Doha, Qatar, also made it to the top 10, with both the Museum of Islamic Art and the Doha Corniche featuring on the list.
Top 10 best viewpoints in the Middle East:
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai — 28,518 mentions
- The Dubai Fountain, Dubai — 9,285
- Burj Al Arab, Dubai — 2,516
- Museum of Islamic Art, Doha — 1,437
- The Doha Corniche, Doha — 1,251
- Dubai Frame, Dubai — 1,121
- Observation Deck at 300, Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi — 1,090
- Dubai Creek, Dubai — 1,059
- Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain — 1,041
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi — 936
Globally, the spot with the best views went to Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Centre in New York City, with more than 42,000 reviewers praising its great views. The London Eye, the Eiffel Tower and Australia's Victoria Peak also make it to the top 10.
Top 10 best viewpoints in the world:
- Top of the Rock, New York City — 42,552 mentions
- London Eye, London — 34,975
- Eiffel Tower, Paris — 32,875
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai — 28,518
- Victoria Peak (The Peak), Hong Kong — 21,524
- Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh — 16,896
- Guinness Storehouse, Dublin — 15,590
- High Roller, Las Vegas — 15,535
- Diamond Head State Monument, Hawaii — 15,191
- Charles Bridge, Prague — 13,685
Remitly said it conducted the research to help people identify some of the best spots in their new neighbourhood when moving.
“Whether you’ve moved somewhere new or are just visiting somewhere for the first time, getting a good view of a place can be a great way to get a feel for the location, and give that satisfying feeling that you’ve truly ‘arrived’," said Jago McKenzie, principal business manager at Remitly.
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