One of the best things to do in Dubai is take a helicopter tour
Dubai is a city that looks like it was built for helicopter rides. With its splendid buildings, luxurious hotels, palm islands it has a lot to please the eye of a helicopter passenger.
There are a few licenced tour operators that offer helicopter flights over Dubai. Many upmarket hotels also offer their own helicopter flights. The Bursa Al Arab of course has its own helicopter landing pad as does Atlantis the palm. A very convenient way to avoid the traffic that plagues the streets of Dubai, but is an expensive form of transport to say the least.
You can book the flight per person or pay for the whole helicopter as a group. When you pay by person you will of course be flying with strangers as flight companions.
The best helicopter route will fly over Palm Island, Burj Al Arab, World islands, Dubai Creek and Burj Khalifa.
There are two basic operators. The many agents will all send you to one or other operator.
1. HELIDUBAI
They have two tours
a) A heritage tour
dubai creek golf course
the wind towers
burj Khalifa
the world islands
the Jumerira coast
and Old Jumeirah
b) Explorer tour
The world
Burj Al Arab
The Palm Jumeirah hotel
Wild Wadi
Atlantis hotel
Jumeria Beach hotel
Night lights tour is romantic
Burj Khalifa
The World Islands
Burj Al Arab
The Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Marina
Meydan
2. HELICOPTER TOUR DUBAI
The helipad is located at Nassimi Beach Parking, Atlantis Hotel, Palm Jumeirah
This company has 4 basic helicopter rides
a) Short helicopter fun ride
This 15 minute flight passes over:
Burj Al Arab, The World, Jumeirah Beach Park, ILadies Beach, Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah Mosque, Port Rashid, Jumeirah Beach Park, Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina and returns back to the Atlantis Hotel, Palm Jumeirah.
b) Aerial filming helicopter ride
This is done on request and all necessary permission are requested by the company
c) City tour helicopter ride
This 25 minute tour passes over:
The World with Villas, Jumeirah Beach Park, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Financial District, Jumeirah Mosque, Ras Al Khor (Flamingos), Dubai Intl. Airport, Dubai Creek Golf Course, Dubai Creek with Dhow Harbour, Bastakiya, Original Residency of Rulers Family, Port Rashid, Jumeirah Beach Park, Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Ski Dubai, Burj Al Arab, Beach Palaces, Ski Dubai and Mall of the Emirates, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Marina and returns to Atlantis Hotel, Palm Jumeirah
d) Longer tour helicopter ride
There are two options here the long ride at 45 minutes long and the Maxi ride at 60 mins.
The long tour passes over:
Burj Al Arab, Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, JLT, Dubai Marina, Palm Jebel Ali, Jebel Ali Beach Resort, Port Jebel Ali,Discovery Gardens, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Sports City, Motor City, Arabian Ranches, The Villa, Academic City, Silicon Oasis, Al Meydan Stables and Horse Race Track, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Ras Al Khor Nature Reserve (Flamingos), WAFI, Festival City, Dubai lntl. Airport, Dubai Creek Golf Course, Dubai Creek with Dhow Harbour, Bastakiya, Original Residency of Rulers Family (Museum), Port Rashid, Jumeirah Mosque, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Jumeirah Beach Park, The World Islands Villas, Burj Al Arab, Beach Palaces.
Then the flight returns to Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis Hotel.