The Burj Khalifa, tallest building in the world, opened in Dubai in January of 2010. I was working in news at The National, back then, and I edited the “grand opening” story the night of January 4.

Almost four-and-a-half years later … I finally went inside the Burj. And rode the elevator up to the 124th floor.

The Burj’s misnamed “At the Top” observation deck, on the 124th floor, is 1,483 feet high (452 meters) and is one of the highest in the world.

Certainly, most of Dubai looks small and distant, when you look out the windows. Even more so when you step outside to the smaller area that is in the open air.

The “misnamed” bit comes in when you turn and look up at the tower, which has another 39 occupied floors above the “At the Top” deck.

Some people are not particularly fond of heights, but only serious sufferers of acrophobia would be rattled by the Burj or the 124th floor.

The twin elevators to the observation floor go straight up for about 70 seconds, and there you are. No rattling, no shaking, no jamming people into the elevators. And down is another 70 seconds.

Count on your ears popping at least twice, in each direction.

The notion of 39 floors above where you are … somehow diminishes the terror of the height. (Sure, I’m high in the air, but I’m not as high as those other 39 floors.)

To be sure, visitors can go even higher. The world’s actual highest observation deck is up on the 148th floor, at a height of 1,821 feet (555 meters). That will cost you extra, apparently 300 dirhams (about $81) per person. It is called At the Top SKY, and is reached by elevator from the 125th floor.

For our visit to the 124th floor, we paid 125 dirhams (about $35) each.

It is a well-organized, well-run attraction. On your way in, you can watch video clips of Tom Cruise’s acrobatics outside the Burj in Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol. And going in and coming out you can read up on Burj trivia and history.

It is worth going. Just to say you have been there, if nothing else.