On 18 August 2023, Armin van Buuren played a set near the top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. ChopperShoot filmed it with 11 drone teams and one helicopter, so one performance could be seen from every side at once. This is how the aerial operation was planned.
Armin van Buuren on the Burj Khalifa, filmed by ChopperShoot.
The event at a glance
- Performance
- Armin van Buuren, live from near the top of the Burj Khalifa.
- Date
- 18 August 2023, about 40 minutes.
- Purpose
- The launch show for UNTOLD Dubai, held at Expo City Dubai in February 2024.
- Records
- Reported as two world records: the highest DJ performance and the largest LED screen used in a show, per DJ Mag.
- Aerial unit
- 11 drone teams and 1 helicopter.
The challenge: one performer, one tower, many angles
The Burj Khalifa is not a stage you can film from the ground. The building itself, the lit facade and the city around it are as much part of the picture as the DJ. To show all of that, we needed aircraft at different distances, heights and angles, all working in the same airspace without getting in each other's way.
Eleven drone teams, one helicopter
We flew eleven drone teams at around 2,800 ft, and a camera helicopter at around 8,000 ft. The drone teams gave the close and mid-range angles, and the helicopter gave the widest view of the tower and the city. Each aircraft had its own job and its own space, so the footage could be cut together as a single performance.
- Separate roles. Each team had a defined angle or move, rather than all flying the same shot.
- Separate altitudes. The helicopter stayed at its own level, well above the drones.
- Constant communication. The teams were in contact throughout, so every move was known to the others.
Permits for flying at the Burj Khalifa
Flights near Dubai landmarks usually sit inside restricted airspace, so approvals and a NOTAM are part of the plan before anyone takes off. Dubai permits typically take 14 to 16 working days. We are licensed and registered with the Dubai Film and TV Commission and apply for permits on behalf of clients. See our filming permit service and the Dubai drone permit steps.
What this shows about filming large live events
- Plan the sky as carefully as the stage. The more aircraft, the more important the airspace plan.
- Give each team one job. Variety of angle comes from design, not from more of the same shot.
- Use a helicopter when you need height. It reaches views a drone cannot.
We have filmed other large operations too: David Guetta on the Burj Al Arab helipad and Dubai Run 2024. See our helicopter filming, drone filming and Dubai pages.
Common questions
- When did Armin van Buuren play on the Burj Khalifa?
- On 18 August 2023, a set of about 40 minutes near the top of the tower to launch UNTOLD Dubai, the festival held in February 2024.
- What records did the performance set?
- It was reported as two world records: the highest DJ performance, and the largest LED screen used in a show, according to DJ Mag and MusicTech.
- How many drones and aircraft did ChopperShoot use?
- Eleven drone teams and one helicopter, so the set could be filmed from many angles at once.
- How do you fly eleven drone teams around the world's tallest building?
- By planning the airspace in advance: separate roles and altitudes for each team, a separate level for the camera helicopter, and constant communication between the teams.
- Can ChopperShoot film large live events with multiple drone teams?
- Yes. We plan the operation, arrange the permits and fly the teams. See also our work on David Guetta's Burj Al Arab helipad set and Dubai Run 2024.