Inside a helicopter flying over Dubai: Cost, packages, rules; what you need to know

Inside a helicopter flying over Dubai: Cost, packages, rules; what you need to know

#DubaiDestinations: Why a chopper ride needs to be on your bucket list

Published: Fri 3 Feb 2023, 6:00 AM Last updated: Fri 3 Feb 2023, 6:25 AM

What does it take to truly appreciate Dubai’s manmade islands carved out of the Arabian Gulf, its incredible buildings and infrastructure and serene beaches that shape its coast? A 17-minute helicopter ride would be the best way to go.

Picture this: The Palm Island glistens. The Burj Khalifa serves as the world’s largest mirror for the setting sun. Water canals cut through the city, reflecting its incredible skyline. Even the traffic on the Sheikh Zayed Road and its intertwining network of flyovers looks pretty as we soar over the emirate.

Khaleej Times was recently invited onboard a chopper as part of the Dubai Destinations campaign — an initiative that highlights the emirate’s activities and experiences.

After a safety briefing, we boarded the Airbus H125 — the same used by Tom Cruise for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol — and we were off!

Our route

We were taken on the 17-minute The Palm tour operated by HeliDubai. It saw us cruising over 1,000 feet above and near iconic locations like the Burj Al Arab, The Palm, The World Islands and the