A helicopter pad is one of those cases where in 15 minutes you get the picture that other tourists spend a week chasing across observation decks. The palm island, the sail of Burj Al Arab, the comb of Marina skyscrapers and the endless sand beyond the city limits — all at once, from a single angle. This guide is part of a larger breakdown of excursions in Dubai: here we’ll cover the routes and their durations, the real prices of the two operators, weight and age limits, and separately — what happened to the gyrocopter in 2026, and how to book properly so you don’t overpay.
Routes and How Long the Flight Lasts
The logic is simple: the longer you’re in the air, the more landmarks fit into the frame and the higher the price per person. Short 12-minute flights give you a basic panorama of the coast, while routes from 22 minutes go deeper inland — toward Downtown with Burj Khalifa and back along the beaches.
| Duration | Price/person (approx.) | What you’ll see |
|---|---|---|
| 12 min | from ~710–715 AED | Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, Marina coastline |
| 15–17 min | ~899–979 AED | Full panorama of the palm, Burj Al Arab, the skyscraper line |
| 22–25 min | ~1299–1450 AED | All of the above + approach to Downtown and Business Bay |
| 30 min | ~1770 AED | Extended loop with the coastline and the old town |
| 40–45 min | private only / check with operator | Maximum coverage; the fare is often not published [⚠] |
The prices above are approximate and quoted per seat on a shared flight — be sure to check with the operator, because winter high-season rates are higher. The most popular option with both companies is 17 minutes over The Palm: for that money you get a complete panorama without rushing.
Two Operators and Where They Depart From
There are two main players on the market, and their differences are not only in price but also in the departure point — which affects the logistics of your day.
- HeliDubai — departs from Al Sufouh 1 by the Police Academy, across from Mall of the Emirates. They operate daily from 09:00 to 17:30 and ask you to arrive 45 minutes early. The voucher is valid for 6 months, with free cancellation up to 24 hours. Shared fares: 12 min ~710 AED, 17 min (The Palm Tour) ~899–945 AED, 22 min ~1299 AED, 30 min ~1770 AED. Private for up to 5 people — from ~3020 AED for 12 minutes.
- Falcon Helitours — departs from the Atlantis The Palm hotel on the crown of Palm Jumeirah. Check-in 45 minutes early, and the desk requires an original passport or photo ID. Shared fares: 12 min ~715 AED, 15 min ~921 AED, 17 min ~979 AED, 25 min ~1450 AED. The 45- and 60-minute routes are private only, price on request [⚠].
The departure point is also a matter of convenience. If you’re staying in the Marina or JBR area, the Falcon pad at Atlantis is closer; if your base is nearer the center and the malls, HeliDubai from Al Sufouh makes more sense. Transfer is usually not included in the flight price, so you’ll have to get there on your own.
Limits: Weight and Children
A helicopter is not a bus — it has strict weight distribution, so the limits here are no formality. HeliDubai’s maximum is 115 kg per passenger, and Falcon Helitours’ — 110 kg. Each person’s weight is confirmed in advance at booking: it determines the seating in the cabin and the overall balance of the aircraft. You’re usually weighed again at the pad, so understating the figure is pointless — at worst it means a surcharge or a refusal to fly.
As for children: HeliDubai accepts passengers from age 2, with a maximum of 5 people in the cabin. There’s usually no separate “lap seat” for an infant, so a family flight with a baby needs to be arranged directly with the operator before payment.
What About the Gyrocopter?
The gyrocopter — an open mini-aircraft often confused with a helicopter — used to be a budget alternative for those wanting the sensation of flying “in the wind.” An important point for 2026: gyrocopter flights are temporarily suspended. This is not a permanent ban but a pause — the status can change at any moment, so before planning be sure to check for updates directly with the operator and don’t build the gyrocopter into your itinerary ahead of time.
If you’re specifically after a thrill rather than a calm panorama, while the gyrocopter is on hold, a solid substitute is a skydive over Palm Jumeirah: tandem jumps are running as usual during this period. And a more relaxed alternative from the water is a yacht cruise, from which the same skyscraper line is visible from bay level.
How to Book
You can book a flight in two ways. The first is directly on the operators’ websites (helidubai.com and falconhelitours.com): that way you work with the primary source and see the exact current fare and aircraft status. The second is through aggregators like Platinumlist, GetYourGuide or Rayna Tours, where you can often find discounts of around 20% off winter prices. In both cases, payment is full prepayment, and there’s usually no separate seat deposit.
A couple of practical rules before booking. Report the real weight of all passengers in advance — it’s confirmed before the flight. Keep a document handy: at Falcon check-in you need an original passport or photo ID. And build in a time buffer — you need to arrive 45 minutes early, and the transfer to the pad is not included in the price. If you’re unsure about the date, HeliDubai offers free cancellation up to 24 hours, and the voucher lasts 6 months — handy when your trip plans aren’t final yet.
And one more thing tourists often overlook: check whether your travel insurance for Dubai covers active recreation — helicopter flights and jumps are frequently listed among the exclusions of basic policies. A flight is easy to combine with other air and water activities from the general list of excursions in Dubai: on one trip many people take a helicopter over the palm, and the next day a yacht or diving, to see the city from every angle.
