A tandem skydive in Dubai costs about AED 2,200 to AED 2,750, depending on whether you jump over the desert or the Palm and whether photos and video are included. You exit at up to 13,000 ft and fall at around 200 km/h. Jumpers must be 18-75, and men up to 100 kg and women up to 90 kg, with BMI limits. Book one to three months ahead and keep 3-4 hours free. Below: the two sites, the rules, the day, and a Marina boat tour to follow it.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Dubai Marina Speedboat Tour — From $45 per person, 90 minutes.
How much does a skydive in Dubai cost?
A tandem skydive costs about AED 2,200 at the Desert Campus and about AED 2,750 at the Palm Dropzone with photos and video, roughly $600-750. Insurance-only packages are about AED 1,900 (desert) and AED 2,200 (Palm). Extra footage, such as an Instagram highlight reel, costs more. Prices change, so confirm on the operator's site.
This guide also answers:
- Is it better to skydive over the Palm or the desert?
- What is the weight limit for skydiving in Dubai?
- What age can you skydive in Dubai?
Five ways to fly, from freefall to a gentle float
#1
Tandem skydive over the Palm
The jump most visitors picture: you fall above Palm Jumeirah with the fronds, the crescent and the Marina skyline laid out below. It is the dearer of the two sites, about AED 2,750 with photos and video, and it runs in the mornings only.
#2
Tandem skydive over the desert
The same jump, the same safety rules and the same 13,000 ft, over dunes instead of towers. It costs about AED 2,200 with photos and video, or about AED 1,900 with insurance only, and it is the better pick for anyone watching the budget. The drive out of the city is longer than the Marina taxi, so allow for it.
#3
Parasailing off Jumeirah
A calm flight under a canopy, towed by a boat, with the Jumeirah coast and the Burj Al Arab in view. Our parasailing is from $99 solo or $179 for a tandem, flyers must be 15 or older, and the limit is about 150 kg per flight, so it works for people the skydive turns away.
#4
The Palm from the sea
After the jump, see the Palm and Atlantis from the water. The shared speedboat tour from $45 leaves the Marina pier with photo stops at JBR, Ain Dubai, Atlantis and the Burj Al Arab, and the Palm Dropzone is also in the Marina, so the afternoon needs no long transfer.
#5
Sunrise balloon over the desert
The quiet end of the scale: a 40-70 minute drift at sunrise, with a gourmet breakfast, a camel ride and a falcon photo after landing. It is from $275, includes hotel pickup, and takes guests who would not jump, though it is not suitable for children under 7 or for pregnancy.
Skydiving in Dubai: the short answer
A tandem skydive in Dubai costs about AED 2,200 to AED 2,750 per person, roughly $600-750. The lower figure is the desert site with photos and video; the higher is the Palm site with the same package. Both are tandem jumps: you are harnessed to an instructor, who handles the parachute, and you leave the aircraft at up to 13,000 ft, falling at around 200 km/h before the canopy opens.
There are two places to jump. The Palm Dropzone is on Al Seyahi Street in Dubai Marina and flies over Palm Jumeirah. The Desert Campus is out on the Al Ain-Dubai Road (E66) near Margham and flies over dunes. Prices and rules below come from the operator's published pages and change, so check the official site before you book.
Three things decide whether it works for you: age (18-75), weight (men up to 100 kg, women up to 90 kg, plus a BMI limit) and time. Keep a full morning free, book well ahead and put the jump early in the trip so a windy day can be moved. If a jump does not suit you, the parasailing guide and the section on cheaper options further down cover the alternatives.
Palm Dropzone or Desert Campus
The jump itself is the same. What changes is the view, the price and the journey to get there. Photos and video are an add-on at both sites, and the cheapest package has insurance only, so decide whether you want the footage before you pay.
| Palm Dropzone | Desert Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Al Seyahi Street, Dubai Marina | Al Ain-Dubai Road (E66), Margham |
| What you see | Palm Jumeirah, the coast, the Marina towers | Open dunes and desert |
| Tandem with photos and video (about) | AED 2,750 | AED 2,200 |
| Insurance-only package (about) | AED 2,200 | AED 1,900 |
| Days and hours (check current) | Thursday to Monday, mornings; closed Tuesday and Wednesday | Wednesday to Sunday, 7 AM to 2 PM; closed Monday and Tuesday |
| Best for | The skyline-and-Palm photo, a short taxi from the Marina and JBR | A lower price and a quieter setting |
Approximate prices and opening days taken from the operator's own pages; they change, so confirm on the official site before booking.
If the Palm view is the reason you are jumping, pay for the Palm. If you simply want to say you did it, the desert is about AED 550 cheaper with the footage included. Both sites have their own runway, so you take off and land at the place where you check in.
Age, weight and health rules
The operator publishes strict limits and applies them at the scales, in your shoes and clothes, on the day. Read them before you pay, because failing a check at the desk is not refundable under its policy.
- Age: 18 to 75 on the day of the jump. Guests aged 70-75 need a Declaration of Fitness signed and stamped by a doctor.
- Weight and BMI: men up to 100 kg with a BMI of 30 or below; women up to 90 kg with a BMI of 27.5 or below.
- Medical conditions: heart or lung disease, high blood pressure, epilepsy, diabetes, a past severe head injury or a dislocated limb, among others, mean a doctor's signed form before you arrive. Ask your own doctor, and treat the operator's list as the final word.
- Pregnancy: strongly advised against.
- Alcohol and drugs: none for at least 24 hours before the jump.
- Scuba diving: none for at least 24 hours before, so do not book a dive the morning before.
- Wheelchair users: contact the operator by email first; it is not always possible.
How far ahead to book, and what the day looks like
Book one to three months ahead in the busy season, which runs roughly from October to April when the weather is kindest. Dates fill, and a daily waiting list exists for sold-out days. If you are only in Dubai for a few days, check both sites; one may have a slot the other does not.
The time on your confirmation is your arrival time, not your jump time. The operator asks you to plan three to four hours from check-in to landing: a briefing, a pre-jump interview with the camera flyer, a safety check on the runway, the flight up and the descent. A weather standby, with wind at height the usual reason, can add a wait or move the jump to another day. A full refund is possible if you cancel in writing at least 24 hours ahead.
Because of that, put the jump in the first half of the trip. If wind cancels the first day, you still have days to reschedule. Do not tie it to a flight home, a tight tour or a dinner booking the same evening.
What to wear and bring
The dress rules are about the harness, not about fashion, and they are enforced at check-in.
- Athletic, comfortable clothes in a dark or mid colour; white and light colours get dirty.
- Shorts must cover the thighs so the harness sits well. Leggings or tracksuit bottoms are simplest.
- Laced trainers with no buckles or studs.
- Not allowed: low-cut or sleeveless tops, collared shirts, swimwear, crop tops, sandals, boots or heels.
- A government photo ID or passport, and your doctor's form if you need one.
- Prescription glasses and lenses are fine under the goggles you are given.
Is it worth the money? Cheaper ways to fly
A skydive is about a minute of freefall plus a few minutes under the canopy for around AED 2,200 or more, so you are paying for the experience rather than the time. That is fair if freefall is on your list. If it is not, or if the weight and BMI limits rule you out, these are the honest alternatives.
| Option | Price (about) | Time in the air | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tandem skydive | AED 2,200-2,750 | About a minute of freefall, then the canopy | 18-75; 100 kg men, 90 kg women, BMI limits |
| Indoor skydiving (wind tunnel, Margham) | From AED 240 | Short sessions | Suitable for all ages and skill levels, per the operator |
| Parasailing (our tour) | From $99 solo, $179 tandem | 10-12 minutes | 15+; about 150 kg per flight |
| Helicopter, 12 minutes | From about AED 700 a seat | 12 minutes | Weight limit per seat; children from 2 |
| Sunrise balloon (our tour) | From $275 | 40-70 minutes | Not under 7; not in pregnancy |
Third-party prices are rounded and change; ours are as listed on the tour pages.
For the view alone, a helicopter (routes in the helicopter guide) or the balloon gives more time for less adrenaline. For the rush, only the jump will do. The adventure activities ranking puts them side by side.
Pair it with the sea in Dubai Marina
The Palm Dropzone is in Dubai Marina, and so is the pier for our 90-minute speedboat tour, from $45 per person. It runs up to nine departures a day between 9 AM and 5 PM, with photo stops at JBR, Ain Dubai, Atlantis The Palm and the Burj Al Arab, so you can see from the water what you saw from above. The 5 PM departure is $60 and the last of the day.
Leave a gap. Check-in is 30 minutes before departure, closes 15 minutes before and the boat leaves on time with no refund if you miss it. With a jump that can run 3-4 hours, book the boat for the afternoon, not straight after. Note that the speedboat does not take guests aged 65 and over or children under 5, so ask us about the calmer shared yacht tour if that applies.
The area is covered in the Dubai Marina guide, and the view of the same island from the ground is in the Palm Jumeirah guide.
FAQ
How much does a skydive in Dubai cost?
A tandem skydive costs about AED 2,200 at the Desert Campus and about AED 2,750 at the Palm Dropzone with photos and video, roughly $600-750. Insurance-only packages are about AED 1,900 (desert) and AED 2,200 (Palm). Extra footage, such as an Instagram highlight reel, costs more. Prices change, so confirm on the operator's site.
Is it better to skydive over the Palm or the desert?
Choose the Palm for the view of the island, the coast and the Marina, and the desert for a lower price and a quieter site. The jump is the same height, up to 13,000 ft, and the safety rules are the same at both. The Palm Dropzone is in Dubai Marina; the Desert Campus is inland near Margham.
What is the weight limit for skydiving in Dubai?
Men must be 100 kg or less with a BMI of 30 or below, and women 90 kg or less with a BMI of 27.5 or below. You are weighed at check-in in your shoes and clothes. Failing the check on the day is not refundable, so test your BMI before booking.
What age can you skydive in Dubai?
Tandem skydivers must be 18 to 75 on the day of the jump. Guests aged 70-75 need a Declaration of Fitness signed and stamped by a doctor. Under-18s are not accepted for a tandem, so for teenagers parasailing (15+) or a donut ride (12+) are the practical choices.
How long does a skydive take from start to finish?
Plan three to four hours from check-in to landing, even though the freefall is about a minute. The time on your confirmation is your arrival time. Wind or other conditions can add a wait, so book early in your trip and keep the rest of the day flexible.
How far ahead should I book a skydive in Dubai?
One to three months ahead is typical, and more in the cooler months. If the calendar shows no space, join the daily waiting list or check the other site. A full refund is possible if you cancel at least 24 hours before in writing.
Can I skydive after drinking or scuba diving?
No. Avoid alcohol and drugs for at least 24 hours before the jump, and do not scuba dive for at least 24 hours before it. Being under the influence, or having dived, is a reason for the operator to refuse the jump without a refund.
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Photos: A tandem skydiver in freefall directly above Palm Jumeirah, with the whole palm shape visible below — Dubai Tourism, CC BY 3.0, Tandem skydive over the Palm — dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).