Burj Khalifa beaten to top spot in world's highest observation decks

A new list of the world’s tallest viewing platforms puts the Burj’s At the Top attraction in third place behind the decks on two towers in China.

The Burj Khalifa stands at 828m - the tallest building in the world. But its observation deck is ranked third tallest at 452m. Courtesy Axel Schmies

DUBAI // The Burj Khalifa is taller than any other building on Earth, but its observation deck does not make it as World Number One.

A list of the world's tallest viewing platforms puts the Burj's At the Top in third place behind the decks on two towers in China.

Topping the chart is Canton Tower in Guangzhou, which is a relatively modest 618 metres tall, well behind the Burj's 828m. But its 488m observation deck easily sees off At the Top, which is at 452m.

There is an extra treat for visitors at the Chinese tower – they can gaze across Guangzhou while circling in glass pods that travel around a track 460m above the ground.

The 492m Shanghai World Financial Centre is in second place – its Skywalk 100, a 55m-long glass bridge, is 474m high.

The list of the world's 10 highest publicly accessible observation decks has been compiled by an international building data company Emporis and is due to be published tomorrow.

At the Top, which is on the 124th floor of the Burj, is the only Middle East entry, but that will change when the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is completed.

Construction started last month and the building, which will be more than a kilometre high, is due to open in 2018.

"With an observation deck planned at a height of about 800m, it will bring the desert state not only the title of the world's tallest building, but also that of the world's highest observation deck," said an Emporis spokesman.

More details of the list will be available tomorrow at www.emporis.com