Scaling Dubai's Burj Khalifa is now a virtual reality

At the Top, Burj Khalifa, the region’s most-visited attraction by Emaar Properties, has unveiled a new virtual reality (VR) experience that simulates the real-feel of scaling all Burj Khalifa’s 160 habitable floors as well as take a hard-knuckle climb to the top of the spire – the highest point of the global icon.

Mission 828, the new VR attraction, gives visitors the unprecedented opportunity to have the virtual experience of scaling to the pinnacle of the tower before taking a parachute-jump right down to The Dubai Fountain. It has been carefully simulated to take users on a nerve-wracking four-minute journey that will give them a feel of what it is like to ascend and descend the tower in the most adventurous fashion.

Highlighting the innovations that are introduced regularly by Emaar, Mission 828 can be experienced through six VR pods at Level 125 and another at Level 124. A ‘mission commander’ reaches out to the users as they first take the elevator ride on VR mode to the 160th level of Burj Khalifa. They can feel the gravity-defying ride up, and proceed to collect suction gloves to ascent the spire, all of 200 metres high, pinnacling at 828 metres. The next step in the adventure is grabbing the parachute for the free-fall VR ride into the dancing fountains.

The VR experience uses ‘room scale’ tracking technology that enables users to move in three-dimensional space and interact with the environment with motion-tracked handheld controllers. The pods even have a wind-effect, whereby the VR ride is as close to real as possible.

Mission 828 has been developed by an expert team that has worked for the Philharmonic Orchestra, UNICEF, British Fashion Council and Rotary International as well as supported film and TV productions such as Harry Potter 6 and 7. Apart from the regular ticket charge, Mission 828 can be experienced with an additional ticket of just AED 35 per person.

Regular ticket prices are currently at an average of AED 125 for At the Top, Burj Khalifa, and AED 500 for At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY