Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower now serving high tea

Dubai dwellers admit they need to be constantly entertained by the new, and their latest diversion is the very high tea atop the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower.

Burj Khalifa is 828 metres tall, excluding its antenna, and is comprised of more than 160 storeys. Levels 152, 153 and 154 have merged to become The Lounge, which includes an outdoor terrace, at the 585-metre mark.

From 12.40pm until 4pm, high tea is on the menu, with a local touch of Arabian sweets and the traditional offering of dates.

At 5.30pm, the teapots and cups are switched for champagne glasses, as cocktail hour heralds a night among the stars, with live music until the clock strikes 12.

The opening of The Lounge snatches the title of world's highest restaurant from its sibling, At.mosphere. At 442 metres, the fine-dining restaurant is located on the 122nd floor in the same tower, and also serves (not-so) high tea daily.

Burj Khalifa has held the mantle of world's highest tower since its opening in 2010, but a taller rival is now under construction in the Dubai South area, accompanied by a brace of new hotels, as the city prepares for next year's Dubai World Expo, to open on October 20.

High tea costs AED550 a person, while the Sundowner and Evening menus cost AED600 a person, which includes all canapes and one drink. Book online and enter via the Armani Hotel Dubai lobby or via the Dubai Mall. See www.visitdubai.com, www.expo2020dubai.com, www.burjkhalifa.ae