Dubai Frame timings are 8am to 9pm, every day of the week. Tickets cost AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children aged 3 to 12; children under 3, and people of determination with up to two companions, go free. The entrance is at Zabeel Park Gate 4. For the best visit, arrive about an hour before sunset, so you see the city in daylight, at golden hour and lit up at night in one trip.
At a glance
- Hours
- 8am to 9pm daily, including weekends and public holidays
- Adults (13+)
- AED 50
- Children 3 to 12
- AED 20
- Free
- Under 3s; people of determination plus 2 companions
- Entrance
- Zabeel Park Gate 4
- Time needed
- 60 to 90 minutes
- Best time
- About an hour before sunset
Last verified: 12 October 2026 against the Dubai Frame website’s visitor information (hours in force since 20 April 2026).
On this page
Dubai Frame ticket prices
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 13 and over | AED 50 | Some booking sites show AED 52.50 with VAT |
| Child, 3 to 12 | AED 20 | Must be with an adult |
| Infant, under 3 | Free | |
| People of determination | Free, plus up to 2 companions | Collect companion tickets at the counter |
| VIP ticket | Priced separately | Booked through the official ticketing site |
Your ticket covers the whole experience, the Past Gallery, the lift, the Sky Deck and the Future Gallery, with no extra charges inside, plus entry to Zabeel Park. Buy online through the official Dubai Frame website to choose a time slot and skip the queue at the Gate 4 counter, which can be long at sunset and on weekends. Resellers often sell the same ticket for a few dirhams less, but check whether it is dated and what the validity is.
Opening hours and the sunset slot
The Frame is open from 8am to 9pm every day of the year. Hours change during Ramadan, usually to a shorter afternoon and evening window, and the operator announces them when the month starts. Some guides still list 9am as the opening time; the earlier 8am start has applied since 20 April 2026.
The best time is the hour before sunset. The gold cladding glows, the Sky Deck catches the low light, and if you stay on after dark, the Sheikh Zayed Road towers light up to the south. Time slots around sunset sell out first on weekends.
| Month | Sunset, roughly | Book a slot for about |
|---|---|---|
| October | 6pm | 5pm |
| November and December | 5:30pm to 5:40pm | 4:30pm |
| January and February | 5:50pm to 6:15pm | 5pm |
| March and April | 6:20pm to 6:40pm | 5:30pm |
| May to August | 6:55pm to 7:10pm | 6pm |
| September | 6:30pm | 5:30pm |
For thin crowds rather than golden light, go at 8am or 9am on a weekday. Morning visits also give the clearest views north to the Creek before the haze builds.
What is inside the Dubai Frame
| Stop | Where | What you see | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past Gallery (Old Dubai) | Mezzanine level | An audio, visual and sensory show of Dubai’s growth from a fishing and pearl-diving village | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Panoramic lift | Inside one of the towers | 48 floors in about 75 seconds, with views on the way up | 2 minutes |
| Sky Deck and glass bridge | 150 metres up | A 93-metre bridge with Old Dubai to the north and new Dubai to the south; part of the floor is smart glass that turns from frosted to clear under your feet | 20 to 40 minutes |
| Future Gallery (the Vortex) | Ground level, after you come down | Interactive screens and a tunnel of light and sound imagining Dubai around 2050 | 10 minutes |
The north windows look over Karama, Bur Dubai, Umm Hurair, Deira and the Dubai Creek. The south windows frame Zabeel Park, Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa. There is a small café counter on the Sky Deck and a souvenir shop at the base, and the website also lists breakfast on the bridge as a special experience.
Nervous about the glass floor? Only part of the Sky Deck floor turns clear, and you can walk the whole bridge on the solid side. Children love stepping on the glass; adults who dislike heights can stay by the windows and still get every view.
Which Zabeel Park gate to use
Use Gate 4, on the eastern side of Zabeel Park. That is where the ticket counter, security and the Frame entrance are, and where large bags and strollers must be left before you go up. Dubai Garden Glow, now beside the Frame, uses Gate 3, so if you are visiting both, it is a short walk between the two. A taxi will drop you at Gate 4 if you ask for “Dubai Frame, Zabeel Park Gate 4”, and there is car parking around the park.
Rules worth knowing
- No food or drink, pets, smoking, toys or sharp objects inside.
- Large bags and strollers stay at the Gate 4 counter.
- Children under 12 must be with an adult at all times, and must never sit or be placed on the railings.
- Respectful clothing; beachwear is not allowed.
- Do not touch or remove exhibition items.
- Everyone passes a security check at the entrance.
The Frame is wheelchair accessible, with lifts to every level, and it limits numbers to about 200 visitors an hour, which keeps the Sky Deck from feeling packed even when the queue outside is long.
Dubai Frame facts and the design story
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1 January 2018 |
| Height and width | 150.24 metres by 95.53 metres |
| Sky Deck bridge | 93 metres long, about 150 metres up |
| Developer and owner | Dubai Municipality |
| Shape | A golden rectangle, with sides in the ratio 1 to 1.618 |
| Facade | Gold-coloured stainless steel with the Expo 2020 logo pattern cut into it |
| Record | Billed as the largest picture frame in the world |
The idea came from a 2009 architecture competition run by ThyssenKrupp Elevator and Dubai Municipality, which drew 926 entries for a new emblem for the city. The winner, Mexican architect Fernando Donis, proposed a giant empty frame to “frame the city” rather than add another tower. The built version was completed by Hyder Consulting, part of Arcadis, and Donis later disputed the credit for the design, which became a well-known copyright row. Before opening, the project was known as Al Berwaz Tower, “berwaz” being Arabic for frame.
Dubai Frame or Burj Khalifa?
| Dubai Frame | Burj Khalifa decks | |
|---|---|---|
| Height of the view | 150 metres | Levels 124 to 148, more than three times higher |
| What you see | Old Dubai and the Creek to the north, the modern skyline to the south | Downtown, the coast and the desert from above |
| Adult price | AED 50 | Several times more, especially at sunset |
| Crowds | Capped at about 200 visitors an hour | Busy, with timed slots |
| Best for | A cheap, quick view and the story of the city | The headline height experience |
If you only do one, the Frame is the better value and the only place that shows old and new Dubai side by side; the Burj Khalifa is the one for sheer height. Resellers also sell Frame combos with Dubai Miracle Garden, Global Village or a desert safari, which can save a little if you were going anyway.
Combine it with
- Dubai Garden Glow: next door at Gate 3, with combo tickets sold by several sites. Go up the Frame for sunset, then walk to Garden Glow for the lights.
- Zabeel Park: included with your Frame ticket, with lawns, a lake and playgrounds for an hour with children.
- Old Dubai and the souks: the views north point straight at them, 10 minutes away by taxi.
- Burj Khalifa views: the decks and restaurants compared.
- Ain Dubai: the observation wheel on Bluewaters.
- Dubai Fountain: free shows every 30 minutes in the evening.
- Dubai landmarks: tickets, timings and the best time for each.
Dubai Frame FAQs
What are the Dubai Frame timings?
Dubai Frame is open every day from 8am to 9pm, including weekends and public holidays. Hours change during Ramadan.
How much is the Dubai Frame ticket?
Tickets cost AED 50 for adults and AED 20 for children aged 3 to 12. Children under 3, and people of determination with up to two companions, enter free.
What is the best time to visit Dubai Frame?
About an hour before sunset, so you see the views in daylight, at golden hour and after dark. For smaller crowds, go at opening time on a weekday.
Which gate is Dubai Frame at?
Dubai Frame is at Zabeel Park Gate 4, where the ticket counter and entrance are. Dubai Garden Glow is next door at Gate 3.
How long does a Dubai Frame visit take?
Allow 60 to 90 minutes for the Past Gallery, the lift, the Sky Deck and the Future Gallery, and longer at sunset if you want to stay for the city lights.
Is the Dubai Frame glass floor scary?
Only part of the Sky Deck floor turns transparent when you step on it, so you can avoid it and still enjoy every view from the windows.
How tall is the Dubai Frame?
Dubai Frame is 150.24 metres tall and 95.53 metres wide, with a 93-metre bridge across the top.