A shared helicopter seat in Dubai costs from about AED 700 for a 12-minute flight past the Burj Al Arab, the Palm and Burj Khalifa, and about AED 950 for the 17-minute Palm route. Longer flights of 22 to 40 minutes add Old Dubai, the World Islands and the Creek. It is the best way to see the shape of the Palm, but it is short and dear per minute. Compare it with a Burj Khalifa ticket, from $55, and the sunrise balloon, from $275.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Burj Khalifa Observation Deck — From $55 per person, 1.5-2 hours.
How much is a helicopter ride in Dubai?
A shared seat starts at about AED 700 for a 12-minute flight (roughly $190), about AED 945 for 17 minutes and about AED 1,770 for 30 minutes. A private helicopter for up to five passengers costs five times the shared price. Photos and video are extra, and prices change, so check the operator's site.
This guide also answers:
- How long is a helicopter tour of Dubai?
- Is a helicopter tour better than Burj Khalifa?
- Helicopter or hot air balloon in Dubai?
Five ways to see Dubai from above
#1
The 12-minute Iconic flight
The cheapest way into the air: the Jumeirah coast, the sail of the Burj Al Arab, the outline of the Palm and then Downtown with Burj Khalifa and Business Bay. It is the shortest flight on the menu, so it is quick and busy rather than leisurely, and a window seat matters more than the price difference to the next route.
#2
The 17-minute Palm flight
Five more minutes than the Iconic, and the extra time goes where it matters: the fronds, the crescent, Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal, with the World Islands offshore. If the island is the reason you want to fly, this is the better buy than the 12-minute loop, and the price rise is modest.
#3
The 22-40 minute routes
The longer routes add Dubai Frame, Dubai Creek, Ain Dubai, Bluewaters and the old districts to the Palm and Burj Khalifa. They suit photographers and anyone who has already seen the headline sights from the ground. The 40-minute route is private only, so it is a charter price per helicopter rather than a seat.
#4
Burj Khalifa instead
A Burj Khalifa ticket from $55 costs less than a third of a 12-minute helicopter seat and gives you 1.5-2 hours, with no time limit on Levels 124 and 125. You do not get the Palm from above or the movement, but you do get sunset, the lit city and a terrace. For most visitors it is the better first view.
#5
Sunrise balloon instead
The balloon is the opposite of the helicopter: slow, silent and over the desert rather than the city. A 40-70 minute flight at first light is followed by a camp breakfast, a camel ride and a falcon photo, with hotel pickup included. It costs more than a helicopter seat but fills a whole morning.
Helicopter tour in Dubai: the short answer
A shared seat on a Dubai helicopter costs from about AED 700 (roughly $190) for 12 minutes. The 17-minute Palm route is about AED 945, a 30-minute route about AED 1,770, and a private helicopter for up to five passengers is priced at five shared seats. Photo and video packages are sold separately. All of this changes, so confirm on the operator's site before you go.
What you see depends on the minutes. The 12-minute loop covers the Jumeirah coast, the Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa and Business Bay. The 17-minute flight spends its extra time on the Palm. Routes of 22 minutes and more add Old Dubai, the Creek, Dubai Frame, Ain Dubai and the World Islands.
It is also the most expensive way to see the city per minute. If the view is the goal, a Burj Khalifa ticket gives far more time for far less; if the Palm's shape is the goal, only the air shows it. The rest of this guide helps you choose.
Routes and minutes: which flight to pick
Two main operators fly sightseeing routes. HeliDubai uses a helipad inside Dubai Police Academy, opposite Mall of the Emirates, with routes of 12, 17, 22, 30 and 40 minutes; the table uses its prices. Falcon Helitours flies from Atlantis, The Palm, with flights from 12 to 60 minutes and prices in the same range (about AED 715 a seat for 12 minutes).
| Flight | Shared seat (about) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 12 minutes | AED 710 | Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah coast, Burj Khalifa, Business Bay |
| 17 minutes (Palm route) | AED 945 | Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm and The Royal, World Islands, the main landmarks |
| 22 minutes | AED 1,300 | Old and new Dubai, Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame |
| 30 minutes | AED 1,770 | Ain Dubai, Bluewaters, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame and more of the city |
| 40 minutes | Private only (about AED 11,200 a helicopter) | The longest route: Jumeirah coast, Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Palm, World Islands |
Approximate shared-seat prices from HeliDubai's own page; they change, and a private helicopter for up to five costs five shared seats.
Our advice for most people: if you only fly once, take the 17-minute Palm route for the island, or the 12-minute loop if the budget is tight. The longer routes make sense only if you will use the time for photographs. A party of five can charter the helicopter for the same total as five shared seats, which also guarantees you are not split up.
Where it takes off and what to expect
Allow about an hour at the helipad for a 12-minute flight. Check in at least 45 minutes before departure with a passport or other government photo ID, and be ready to be weighed: the weight limit at HeliDubai is 115 kg per seat, and the crew uses the weights to balance the aircraft and allocate seats. Children from two years old can fly under the operator's conditions.
Large bags and loose items stay on the ground, and selfie sticks do not go on board. Wear comfortable clothes and secure shoes, and avoid loose scarves or hats that rotor wash can pull off. After a safety briefing you walk to the helicopter, and you shoot through the windows, so dark clothes help to cut reflections in the glass.
Flights run daily but depend on weather, air traffic control and operational needs, so a route or a time can change on the day. Free-cancellation windows are listed on the operator's pages (24-48 hours before departure at the time of writing); read them before you pay.
Helicopter vs Burj Khalifa vs the balloon
These three are often compared because all show Dubai from above. They answer different questions.
| Helicopter (12 min) | Burj Khalifa | Sunrise balloon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From about AED 700 (about $190) | From $55; SKY Level 148 from $115 | From $275 |
| Time | 12 minutes in the air, about an hour at the helipad | 1.5-2 hours, no time limit on Levels 124 and 125 | 40-70 minute flight, 4-5 hours with pickup and breakfast |
| What you see | Coast, Palm, Burj Al Arab, Downtown, moving | The whole city from a terrace, by day, at sunset or lit | Desert, dunes, gazelles and oryx, the Hajar mountains |
| Watch out for | Short, glass reflections, weight limit | Crowds at sunset; prime-time slots cost more | Sells out 1-2 weeks ahead; weather can cancel it; not for under 7s |
Helicopter prices are approximate and third-party; Burj Khalifa and balloon prices are ours, as on the tour pages.
In short: the helicopter is the thrill, the Burj Khalifa is the view and the balloon is the morning. The Level 124 vs 148 guide helps you choose a deck, the best time to visit Burj Khalifa says which slot to book, and balloon or desert safari covers the morning option. If the Palm from above is what you want, The View at The Palm, which we can book on request, costs far less than a flight.
Groups, families and couples
A private helicopter takes up to five passengers and is priced at five shared seats, about AED 3,550 for the 12-minute flight. A party of five therefore pays the same either way, and the private flight keeps you together and gives you the cabin to yourselves. Couples use it for anniversaries and proposals; the operators sell celebration and photo packages, so ask what is included before you pay.
Families should check two things. Children from two years old can fly, but ask whether a child's seat is charged as a full seat, because the flight is short and the price per minute is high. And the weight limit of 115 kg per seat comes with a note that further restrictions may apply for weight distribution, so tell the operator about larger passengers when you book rather than at the helipad.
If a child is under two, or anyone in the party dislikes noise and movement, the calmer alternatives are the shared yacht tour, from $32, or a Burj Khalifa visit. The seaplane guide covers the other flying option, and the couples guide lists the romantic ones.
When to fly: light, haze and season
The air is clearest from November to March, and that is when a flight shows the most distance. In summer, haze softens the horizon, and in the hotter months a late-afternoon slot avoids the midday glare. Ask for a slot about an hour before sunset if you can get one, as a Burj Khalifa visitor would.
Dust and low cloud can reduce visibility on any day, and flights are cancelled or moved when conditions are poor. Do not put a flight on the last day of a trip. The best views in Dubai guide compares the other places to see the city from height.
Is it worth it, and who should skip it
The 12-minute flight works out at roughly AED 60 a minute. That buys the thing nothing else on the ground can: the Palm as a shape, the coast as a line, the towers as a cluster from the side. It is a short thrill, not a long view.
Skip it if you are on a tight budget, prone to motion sickness, heavier than the seat limit or hoping for hours of sightseeing. Take a Burj Khalifa ticket instead, or see the same landmarks from sea level on our 90-minute speedboat tour, from $45, with photo stops at the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis. The Palm Jumeirah guide has more on the island, and skydiving is the pricier option for adrenaline.
FAQ
How much is a helicopter ride in Dubai?
A shared seat starts at about AED 700 for a 12-minute flight (roughly $190), about AED 945 for 17 minutes and about AED 1,770 for 30 minutes. A private helicopter for up to five passengers costs five times the shared price. Photos and video are extra, and prices change, so check the operator's site.
How long is a helicopter tour of Dubai?
Routes run from 12 to 40 minutes at one operator and up to 60 minutes at another. The 12-minute loop is the shortest. Allow about an hour in all for the shortest flight, because check-in is 45 minutes before departure and there is a safety briefing before boarding.
Where do Dubai helicopter tours take off?
One operator uses a helipad inside Dubai Police Academy, opposite Mall of the Emirates. Another flies from Atlantis, The Palm. Always check the pin on your booking, because a taxi driver sent to the wrong entrance can cost you the slot.
Is a helicopter tour better than Burj Khalifa?
It is different. The helicopter flies over the Palm, the coast and the Burj Al Arab for 12 minutes or more, while a Burj Khalifa ticket from $55 gives you 1.5-2 hours at the top with no time limit on Levels 124 and 125. Most first-time visitors get more value from Burj Khalifa.
Helicopter or hot air balloon in Dubai?
The helicopter shows the city and the Palm in 12-40 minutes; the balloon, from $275, drifts over the desert for 40-70 minutes and includes hotel pickup, breakfast, a camel ride and a falcon photo. Choose the helicopter for skyline, the balloon for a quiet desert morning.
What is the weight limit on a Dubai helicopter?
At HeliDubai the limit is 115 kg per seat, and all passengers are weighed at check-in to balance the aircraft. Other operators set their own limits. Children from two years old can fly under the operator's conditions.
What is the best time of year for a helicopter flight?
November to March, when the air is clearest. Summer haze can soften distant views. Book a slot about an hour before sunset for warm light, and leave a spare day in case wind or visibility moves the flight.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
It is a ticket, not a guided tour: you pick the date and time slot, we book it and send the e-tickets on WhatsApp, and you make your own way to The Dubai Mall. Levels 124 and 125 suit most visitors; SKY adds Level 148 at 555 m with priority access, a multilingual host and refreshments. On request we also book Sky Views Observatory, The View at The Palm and Dubai Frame.
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hours
- Area
- Downtown Dubai
- Format
- Timed-entry ticket
- Best for
- first-time visitors, couples and families who want Dubai from the observation decks of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa
From $55 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon in Dubai
It is the desert from above at first light: gazelles, oryx and camels in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the Hajar Mountains on the horizon and the dunes turning gold. After landing a vintage Land Rover or SUV takes you to a private Bedouin camp for a gourmet breakfast (veg and non-veg options), a short camel ride and a falcon photo, and every guest gets an electronic flight certificate signed by the pilot.
- Duration
- 4-5 hours
- Area
- Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
- Format
- Shared sunrise balloon flight with breakfast
- Best for
- couples, photographers and anyone who wants the desert at sunrise from above
From $275 per person 30% deposit
View tour
Dubai Marina Speedboat Tour
It is Dubai's postcard landmarks seen from the sea in one loop: an open speedboat shared with up to 22 guests, a 360-degree view from every seat, stops for photos and live commentary in English from the guide on board. There are up to nine departures a day between 9 AM and 5 PM, and from October to mid-March the sun sets during the 5 PM ride.
- Duration
- 90 minutes
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared speedboat
- Best for
- couples, friends and families with children aged 5+ who want Dubai's big landmarks from the sea in one loop
From $45 per person Full prepayment
View tour📚 Keep reading
Photos: The 17-minute Palm flight — dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).