The iconic Burj Khalifa has added another global title to its long list of records, this time as the world’s most Instagrammable landmark.

According to the latest Instagram Attraction Index, Dubai’s famous skyscraper secured the top spot globally with more than 10 million tagged Instagram posts and approximately 1.1 million monthly searches, reinforcing its status as one of the most photographed destinations in the world.

Developed by Emaar Properties and officially completed in 2010, the Burj Khalifa rises 828 metres into the Dubai skyline with more than 160 floors, making it the tallest building on the planet.

Designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the tower has become one of the UAE’s most recognisable landmarks, attracting millions of visitors every year for its observation decks, fountain shows and skyline views.

Among the countless images shared online, some of the most visually striking photographs of the Burj Khalifa have come from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose social media posts frequently capture Dubai from dramatic perspectives.

From lightning storms illuminating the tower to sunrise scenes above the clouds, Sheikh Hamdan’s photography has played a major role in showcasing the landmark’s cinematic appeal to audiences worldwide.

The Burj Khalifa’s popularity on Instagram reflects Dubai’s broader rise as a global tourism and lifestyle destination, where architecture, luxury experiences and futuristic cityscapes continue to attract international attention.

For many visitors, photographing the tower has become almost a mandatory Dubai experience, whether from the Dubai Fountain promenade, a rooftop overlooking Downtown Dubai or even from inside the clouds during winter fog season.

The UAE has introduced a major digital upgrade for parents and students, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sharjah Private Education Authority launching a new system that allows academic certificates to be issued and attested online in just minutes.

Activated through the Dalil platform, the service combines certificate issuance and attestation into one streamlined digital process, removing the need for families to navigate multiple platforms or complete separate applications.

Officials said the move is part of the UAE’s wider Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, designed to simplify services, reduce paperwork and create a better, more user-friendly digital experience.

Previously, parents often needed to complete up to three separate procedures involving schools, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE missions abroad. Under the new integrated system, the entire process can now reportedly be completed in around three minutes instead of taking up to six working days.

The platform allows users to issue academic certificates through SPEA while simultaneously obtaining attestations from MoA and the relevant UAE mission in the destination country through one unified digital window.

Officials described the initiative as another step towards building a fully connected digital government ecosystem focused on convenience, efficiency, and smarter public services.

The new service is expected to particularly benefit families applying for university admissions, overseas transfers, and official educational documentation both inside and outside the UAE.

Why is certificate attestation needed?

School certificate attestation is the official process of verifying and certifying the authenticity of a student’s educational documents. This ensures that academic records and other important certificates are legally recognised by authorities in the UAE.

The process is often required for several key purposes, including school admissions, university applications, student visa procedures and confirming the validity of educational qualifications for use inside the country.

Drivers across the UAE no longer need to carry printed driving licences or vehicle registration cards while on the road, after the Federal Traffic Council confirmed that officially issued digital versions are now recognised as complete legal alternatives.

According to the Ministry of Interior’s Federal Traffic Council, motorists can use electronic driving licences and vehicle registration cards through official smart applications, including the MOIUAE app and local authority platforms such as TAMM in Abu Dhabi.

The move is part of the UAE’s wider push towards digital transformation and paperless government services, allowing residents to access official traffic documents instantly through their smartphones.

Authorities said traffic officers can easily verify licence validity and vehicle ownership details electronically through integrated smart systems, reducing the need for physical document checks.

The UAE already allows residents to access a wide range of official documents digitally through platforms such as UAE PASS, while many drivers now choose electronic-only delivery for renewed licences and vehicle registrations.

However, authorities stressed that drivers must still ensure the digital documents are accessible through official government-approved applications when requested during inspections.

Under current traffic laws, failing to carry a driving licence or vehicle registration card can result in fines of Dh400 for each violation.