Infinity pools are often perceived as a modern extravagance, yet they are far older and more deliberate than their contemporary conception might suggest. One of the earliest precedents of the vanishing-edge concept can be traced to France in the 17th century, where water features such as the Stag Fountain at the Palace of Versailles were designed to dissolve their boundaries into the surrounding landscape. These pools were not conceived for leisure, but as architectural strategies, using water to extend space visually beyond its physical limits.
The Arrival of Modern Infinity Pools
That said, the modern infinity pool took clear architectural form in the mid-20th century at the hands of architect John Lautner, who was educated within the studio of Frank Lloyd Wright. Lautner’s approach, which would go on to influence infinity pool design worldwide, was driven by a desire to create continuity between water, architecture, and site. In contemporary cities such as Dubai, infinity pools have since become markers of high-end residential and hospitality architecture. Their appeal is heightened by sustained demand among leisure users. As this trend gathered pace, Dubai’s hotels and residential developments sought to refine infinity pools as a defining element of the hotel residents’ experience.
Armani Residences Infinity Pool, Burj Khalifa (76th Floor)
At approximately 400 metres above ground, the infinity pool within the Armani Residences is positioned on the 76th floor of the Burj Khalifa, available exclusively to residents and their guests.
Armani infinity pool is positioned on a high residential level, and it is engineered to operate under demanding conditions, including wind exposure, structural movement, and highly controlled load tolerances at extreme altitude.
The pool’s primary appeal lies in its sheer height. It places swimmers significantly above the surrounding urban landscape, with Downtown Dubai compressed into a vertical field below. Within the district, it remains the highest infinity pool by a considerable difference, and a prominent embodiment of the vanishing-edge principle used as a vertical architectural element.
Paramount Hotel Midtown Infinity Pool (64th Floor)
The infinity pool at the Paramount Hotel Midtown is located on the 64th floor and constitutes the highest rooftop infinity pool within Downtown Dubai that is accessible to the public. Positioned at the uppermost levels of the tower, the pool is fully open-air and designed to engage with the surrounding skyline on all sides.
Officially named the Malibu Sky Pool, it reinforces the hotel’s Hollywood-inspired identity. The infinity edge frames the Burj Khalifa directly, while also opening out towards Sheikh Zayed Road, the wider Downtown skyline, and, on clear days, the distant coastline. The pool’s configuration allows for a full 360-degree outlook, and from a technical perspective, it uses state-of-the-art hydraulic systems to maintain a constant vanishing edge under challenging high-altitude conditions.
Access to the pool is available to hotel guests and, subject to operational policy, to external visitors through day passes or dining arrangements at the adjoining Malibu Sky Lounge & Bar, which occupies the same level. The pool typically operates daily from morning through early evening hours. As with many high-level amenities in the district, access for non-residents may be prioritised for members of the GHA DISCOVERY programme through dedicated dining or wellness packages.
Address Sky View Infinity Pool (54th Floor)
The infinity pool at Address Sky View sits on the 54th floor within the Sky Deck that spans the void between the property’s twin towers. The pool forms part of an 85-metre sky bridge structure at an altitude of approximately 220 metres above ground level.
With around 70 metres long, the pool is conceived as an architectural element with an infinity edge that is deliberately oriented towards the Burj Khalifa. Structurally, the pool is supported by the sky bridge, engineered to manage load distribution across the two towers. The design was developed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, whose involvement also extends to the Burj Khalifa, ensuring harmony in structural design logic within the district. Advanced waterproofing systems and a concealed overflow basin are integrated to maintain the clarity of the vanishing edge while accommodating wind exposure and movement at height.
The pool operates as an adults-only facility and is primarily reserved for in-house guests. Limited public access is available through controlled day-pass arrangements associated with Alto 54, the adjoining dining venue on the same level. Operating hours typically run from morning through sunset, reflecting the pool’s role as a high-altitude urban viewing platform rather than an all-day leisure facility.
Shangri-La Dubai Infinity Pool (42nd Floor)
Located along Sheikh Zayed Road at the edge of the Downtown district, the infinity pool at the Shangri-La Dubai is part of the hotel’s Horizon Club facilities on the 42nd floor. this is an indoor infinity pool, a distinction that allows for year-round operation independent of external weather conditions.
Defying the norm for infinity pools in Downtown, this is positioned behind floor-to-ceiling window panels, overlooking expansive panoramic views across the city skyline and a clear, frontal outlook towards the Burj Khalifa. While it is lower than several rooftop pools in the immediate area, its visual clarity is still accomplished through orientation and enclosure. Access to the 42nd-floor pool is generally restricted to guests staying in Horizon Club rooms and suites. The surrounding area incorporates a hot whirlpool bath, gym facilities, and changing rooms, all integrated within the Horizon Club level. The adjacent Horizon 42 Lounge and Bar operates primarily in the evenings, occupying the same elevation and sharing the skyline outlook and operating daily from early morning until late evening.
Final Thought
The highest infinity pools in Downtown Dubai form an integral part of its high-end experiences that shape one of the most vertical districts in the city. From the private altitude of the Armani Residences to the carefully calibrated sky bridge of Address Sky View, each pool reflects an experience that differs not only in height but also in access model, structural configuration, and panoramic outlook. Together, they span a vertical range of more than 150 metres and showcase how infinity pools have been adapted across residential, hospitality, open-air, and enclosed environments to form unique experiences.
