Dubai Helicopter Sightseeing Flight from The Palm

Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis The Palm

Palm Jumeirah is the world's most famous artificial island, built from millions of tonnes of sand and rock dredged from the Gulf and shaped like a palm tree with a trunk, 16 fronds and a protective crescent. Work began in 2001, and today it holds villas, hotels, beaches and the monorail that runs along its trunk.

At the tip of the crescent stands Atlantis The Palm, the pink resort where your flight takes off. Only from the air can you truly see the palm shape, which is why a Dubai helicopter tour from The Palm is so popular. Check-in at the helipad opens well before your flight, and the view begins the moment you lift off.

Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Coast

Burj Al Arab, opened in 1999, stands on its own artificial island about 280 metres off Jumeirah Beach. Its 321-metre silhouette was designed to look like the billowing sail of a traditional dhow, and it quickly became a symbol of Dubai. From the helicopter you see its helipad and the curved bridge linking it to the shore.

The flight follows the Jumeirah coastline, a long stretch of white beaches, beach parks and waterfront resorts. From above you can clearly see how Dubai grew along the sea. If you want to visit Burj Al Arab later, note that access to the hotel itself is limited to guests and those with bookings inside.

Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai

Burj Khalifa, completed in 2010, is the tallest building in the world at about 828 metres, with more than 160 floors. Its tiered design was inspired by the desert flower Hymenocallis, and at its foot lie the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain and the lake of Downtown Dubai.

Flying level with the upper part of the city skyline gives a very different impression from the observation decks inside the tower. The helicopter approaches Downtown on all flights, and the pilot explains how this district rose from desert in just a few years. Burj Khalifa tickets for the observation decks are separate if you want to see the view from inside afterwards.

The World Islands, Port Rashid and Dubai Creek

About four kilometres off the coast lie the World Islands, around 300 artificial islands arranged to form a map of the continents. From ground level they are barely visible, but from the air the outline of the world appears clearly on the blue water. The longer flights also pass Port Rashid, Dubai's historic port, which now holds the cruise terminal and the Queen Elizabeth 2 ship hotel.

The 25-minute flight continues to Dubai Creek, the saltwater inlet where the city began as a pearl-diving and trading settlement, and passes Union House, where the United Arab Emirates was founded in 1971. Seeing old Dubai next to the modern towers explains the city's story better than any museum.

Dubai Marina and New Dubai

On the return leg of the 25-minute flight, the helicopter heads south along the coast to Dubai Media City, Internet City and Dubai Marina, a man-made canal district lined with more than 200 towers, and the Jumeirah Lakes Towers beside it. You also see Ski Dubai's sloping roof on the Mall of the Emirates.

Is a helicopter ride in Dubai worth it? For many visitors it is the single best way to understand the city's size and bold planning in a short time. The best time to fly is in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft and the haze is lower; the 25-minute option is our default because it covers all the main areas.