Dubai · Sharjah · Ajman · Abu Dhabi · Ras Al Khaimah
Sunrise over the dunes, a thousand metres up.
Lift off before dawn from the desert outside Dubai, drift over red dunes, oryx and camels as the sun comes up, land, and sit down to breakfast. The calmest, most photographed morning in the Emirates.
✦Season late September to May
✦About an hour in the air
✦Falcon display and breakfast included
✦Pickup around 4:30 am, back by 10
A balloon flight is the quietest thing you can do in Dubai. The burner roars for a few seconds at a time, then there is nothing: no engine, no wind, because you move with it, just the basket, the desert and the light changing under you.
Flights go from the desert conservation area south-east of the city, where the dunes are red and the wildlife is real: Arabian oryx, gazelle, camels. Pickup is around 4 to 5 am, the flight lasts about an hour at up to 1,200 metres, and most packages include a falcon flying alongside the balloon, breakfast at a camp after landing, and sometimes a short camel ride or a 4x4 dune drive on the way back.
The season runs from late September to May; balloons do not fly in the summer heat. Below: what it costs, what the morning looks like, and who can fly.
Good to know
Is it scary?+
Almost nobody finds it so. The basket is chest-high, the ascent is slow and there is no sensation of movement. People with a fear of heights regularly do it and are fine, because there is no edge to look over.
How high and how far?+
Up to about 1,200 metres, drifting five to fifteen kilometres depending on the wind. The pilot chooses altitude for the best views and the landing site.
Who cannot fly?+
Children under five, pregnant women, anyone who has had recent surgery or cannot stand for an hour, and passengers over about 120 kg on most operators. Ages five to twelve fly with an adult.
What if the weather is bad?+
The pilot checks the wind at 4 am. Wind above about 15 km/h or fog cancels the flight and you are rebooked or refunded in full. This happens on a handful of mornings each season.
What should I wear?+
Layers: desert mornings in winter are 10 to 15 degrees before sunrise, warm by the time you land. Closed shoes, no heels, a hat you can hold onto.
Make it a full trip
Same team, same simple booking, other days of your stay.