Dubai is a city that shines like a gem, vibrantly contrasting to the monotone, desert landscape. Teeming with glistening modern towers and superlative architectural marvels, the emirate owns a city skyline that other cities envy. While each iconic landmark possesses its own charm, viewing the entire ensemble creates a picturesque and unforgettable moment. So, how should you experience Dubai to gain a complete bird’s eye view of the city’s beauty? Well, you have a couple of options. Among these, helicopter rides and skydiving are the most popular. If you are ready to experience this iconic city from the air, a question still lingers: will you glide above it all in a sleek helicopter, or will you dive headfirst for that ultimate adrenaline rush of a tandem skydive? To help you choose, we have compiled a few key points. Keep reading.
What’s The Experience About?
Helicopter Ride Dubai
Dubai offers an amazing bird’s-eye view, making it one of the most picturesque places to experience the best helicopter rides around the world. Simply put, you board a helicopter and fly around Dubai for 12 to 30 minutes to enjoy unperturbed aerial views over the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, and Dubai Marina. From 1,000 – 2,500 feet, this panoramic flight of Dubai’s architectural wonders feels like a guided city tour in the sky. Moreover, it feels like a VIP tour. You simply sit back and enjoy the views while an experienced pilot acts as your guide, offering insights into the landmark attractions below. This is a peaceful, stress-free, and comfortable way to enjoy various bird’s-eye views of Dubai city.
SkyDiving Dubai
Skydiving is an exhilarating adventure sport that begins with a flight in an aeroplane, followed by a jump from 13,000 feet. You will experience a thrilling freefall at 120 mph for 40 to 60 seconds before deploying your parachute and gliding back to earth. Throughout the experience, a professional instructor accompanies you and captures your emotions during the descent. This activity is far more about adrenaline and excitement than just casual sightseeing. In fact, the only views you will enjoy are as you glide down after deploying the parachute minutes after your jump.
Which One’s Better?
Helicopter tours offer more time to take in the fabulous panoramas across Dubai city. On the other hand, a skydiving experience provides one specific bird’s-eye view of the drop zone – either Palm Jumeirah or the Dubai Desert. Additionally, the panoramic viewing part lasts only for 5 to 8 minutes. That also depends on whether you keep your eyes open while plunging to the ground. So, if you want to enjoy the views of Dubai city, a helicopter ride gains a plus point over a skydiving experience.
What’s Your Adventure Style?
Helicopter Ride
The thrill factor on a helicopter tour in Dubai is quite mild, offering just enough excitement to get your heart racing. However, it’s a smooth and comfortable tour suited for everyone.
Skydiving in Dubai
Book Skydive Dubai tickets only if you are ready for maximum adrenaline kicks. Skydiving is suited only for adrenaline junkies who thrive on intense thrill or those seeking once-in-a-lifetime experiences and are bold enough to conquer fear with a heart-pounding freefall and jaw-dropping views.
Which One’s Better?
Choose helicopter rides in Dubai if you are seeking a unique way to view Dubai’s iconic landmarks. Skydiving is your calling if you want the ultimate adventure of your lifetime in Dubai, the kind you wouldn’t shy from bragging about.
How’s The View?
Helicopter Tours
On a helicopter tour, you get a broader choice of panoramas and close-up views of Dubai’s icons. It’s like a parade of sights as you fly along the modern and cultural landmarks of Dubai in quick succession. The pilot also flies lower so that you can admire the dominating Burj Khalifa, the sail-like Burj Al Arab, the palm-shaped Palm Jumeirah, and the neon-lit Dubai Marina and Dubai Canal. It offers perfect photo opportunities as the chopper’s huge windows make it easy to click unrivalled, clear shots of the city’s architectural gems. Since you hover in the air at a uniform pace, you have ample time to capture captivating sights with your camera.
Skydiving Dubai
When you book skydiving in Dubai, you can choose the panorama you would like to view while soaring above. Dubai has two jaw-dropping drop zones. One is the breathtaking Palm Drop Zone at The Palm Jumeirah. This offers a wide-angled view of sprawling Palm Jumeirah with Atlantis resorts and Dubai’s coastline stretching below. The second drop zone is the Dubai desert drop zone, set amid the endless golden dunes with the Dubai skyline twinkling along the edges. Both views are iconic and truly postcard-worthy, etching themselves in your mind forever. However, the duration of skydiving is quite short. You get the view of sweeping panoramas just before the jump. After that, the rush of adrenaline during your freefall might feel like a blur and you might not focus on fully soaking in the view. Your personal instructor, however, will capture clear photos and videos of you soaring over Dubai’s landscapes, perfect for your social media feed.
Which One’s Better?
Helicopter tours are the best way to take in the aerial views of Dubai. They offer plenty of time to click memorable photos at a leisurely pace. On the contrary, during a skydive Dubai thrilling experience from 13,000 feet, you will only soak in views during the parachute glide down to the ground due to the speed of the freefall.
If you have read up to this point, it gives a fair idea that if you call yourself a hardcore adventure, skydiving is what you should go for. If not, opt for a helicopter tour. Some other factors that come into play while deciding which experience to choose are:
Accessibility
You can book helicopter tours from several flight operators. However, skydiving can only be experienced through certified and experienced professional operators such as Skydive Dubai. Of course, you can get in touch and make your bookings via us for the best value for money and a hassle-free experience.
Safety
For helicopter tours, you don’t need to declare you are fit. There is no age restriction as well. Practically anyone can hop aboard for a stress-free ride. In fact, helicopter tours are one of the top Dubai air tours preferred by families and groups with seniors, kids and those with mobility needs. It is one of the safest ways to enjoy Dubai’s beauty. Skydiving in Dubai, however, is a thrilling activity but with limits. Not all can sign up for an adventure like this. It is not an activity for the faint-hearted. There are fitness needs to be met and initial training to be completed before you are ready to fly up in the sky. Kids are not allowed for this activity. Health safety is a critical component, and those not deemed fit cannot participate.
Cost
In this debate between Helicopter ride vs Skydive in Dubai, the helicopter ride is more wallet-friendly. It often costs around AED 700 to 1500, depending on the tour length and amenities like private tour options. On the other hand, a Skydive is costlier, ranging anywhere from AED 1800 to 2200.
Now, before you go ahead and book your tour, ask yourself this one final but very important question:
Is it Pragmatic?
Helicopter Tours
This air tour can be done by everyone – senior citizens, person with disability, kids and even those with mild vertigo or a slight fear of heights. That’s because a professional pilot operates the helicopter, and you will be safely strapped into your seats. The best part? You simply settle down in the comfy seats and let the pilot take you around the city. There isn’t anything else for you to do but sit, relax, and enjoy the views. The thrill of being in the air, with the wind whipping around you and the city looming underneath, gives you a mild rush of adrenaline. That’s all. Quite practical for all tourists. But that isn’t the case for a skydiving experience.
Sky Diving Experience
Before you go forth on a skydiving experience, you should really ask yourself if it is your cup of tea. A skydiving experience in Dubai requires initial training, signing a waiver form, and then suiting up for a flight that soars 13,000 feet above ground. This was the easy part. The next step is to willingly jump out of the plane with your instructor. Now, if you can’t imagine throwing yourself out of a plane, then this activity is not for you. On the other hand, some tourists would love the idea of jumping out of a plane and plunging to the earth just to feel the exhilaration and the adrenaline kick. If you view a freefall from a flight as soaring in the air and have no qualms, but are just pretty excited about this adventure, then you are perfect for this experience.
Conclusion
It’s no surprise to conclude that skydiving is for thrill seekers, while helicopter rides are more tourist-friendly. Dubai’s skyline is calling, and you’re ready to see it from the air. But do you want the luxurious glide of a helicopter ride or the heart-racing plunge of a tandem skydive? If you are seeking an extreme adrenaline rush and a unique personal challenge, you shouldn’t miss a skydiving experience in Dubai. However, if your goal is to see beautiful scenery with friends or family safely, then opt for a helicopter tour Dubai. So, what’s it gonna be for you?
FAQs
1. Is skydiving in Dubai a sole activity?
Not exactly. While only one participant leaps out during a skydiving experience, an experienced instructor accompanies a tandem skydive. Only certified, licensed divers can opt for solo jumps.
2. Which activity is best suited for family holidaymakers?
Hands down, helicopter tours in Dubai are best suited for family holidaymakers.
3. What is the best time to do these activities?
The cooler months in Dubai from November till March are ideal for both activities as they are outdoor experiences usually taking place during the day. If you opt for night helicopter tour experiences, any time of the year is a good time to enjoy the ride.
4. What is the duration of these adventures?
Helicopter rides last 12 – 40 minutes and has minimal prep time. Skydiving, however, takes around 4 hours in total which includes a safety briefing and preps, taking the flight to altitude, and the 6 to 7-minute jump and parachute gliding back to the ground.
