In general, skydiving is the experience that works two-fold: It gives you a hefty adrenaline rush, and it also builds character. In Dubai, the process is improved by the spectacular sights that open up once you step out of the airplane.
Since we’ve just done a helicopter tour in the emirate, we felt it was too early to take to the skies again, thus enlisting the help of our friends that were fine with plummeting to the ground at 200 km/h. Since their successful landing, we tapped these experts for detailed intel, combining the findings into one easy-to-use guide.
Here is everything you need to know before you skydive in Dubai — an activity hailed as one of the most thrilling and life-affirming experiences one’s had in their time on earth so far.
Article contents
- Skydiving in Dubai costs + essential information
- What to expect? Step by step explanation
- Our tips for Skydive Dubai
- Other top-rated tours in Dubai that we’ve tried
Skydiving in Dubai costs + essential information
The first thing that is bound to cross your mind when starting to consider taking “the leap of faith” is the upcoming expenditures — after all, “How much does skydiving cost in Dubai” is a Google search that is up there with “How tall is Burj Khalifa” and “What is the best time to visit the Emirates”. It is a bucket list activity for the most intrepid Dubai visitors, but what about the regular folk? Will Skydive Dubai price (per person, that is) scare you off into the “never trying it” territory or will the costs be justified considering the cutthroat efficiency of the entire operation? Let’s take a closer look!
Skydive Dubai tickets price hinges upon a few factors:
- which dropzone you choose,
- what season it is,
- what additional add-ons sound good at the moment.. you get the picture.
The approximate costs you should shoot for are:
✅ Palm Jumeirah Dropzone — from 2,499 AED ($680) per person. The most popular option. The dropzone is operational year-round. Skydiving over Palm Jumeirah comes with off-the-charts wow factors: The man-made island is one thing, but the view of Ain Dubai, Dubai Marina, and the greater Dubai in the distance is reason enough to jump.
✅ Desert Campus/Dropzone — from 2,199 AED ($600) per person. The more removed location, hence the lowered price tag. Desert skydiving still comes with incredible views though — rolling hills of red and orange sand as far as the eye can see, something straight out of the animated Aladdin film! Desert Dropzone is usually closed during summer months.
When it comes to cost transparency, you can rest assured that Skydive Dubai packs no ill intent of ripping you off left and right — the packages include insurance coverage, gear, safety briefing/training, instructor guidance, the instructor himself, and the jump! Some packages (like this one you can book via GetYourGuide) already include a basic photo/video bundle.
Is the media bundle worth it? A swash-buckling spirit of the activity would be remiss without its documentation — each person gets their own personal videographer that jumps before them, capturing all the gamut of emotion you’re bound to experience. The standard video and photo package lands in your inbox within 48 hours of the jump — in our opinion, it’s worth the wait (and also every penny you spend on it).
However, we all know that Dubai never sits still and often follows the trends — skydiving sector is no exception. If you want to have even more varied documentation of your jump, you can choose between these two offers (both can be purchased on top of the standard media package):
- One-Minute Highlight Reel — 150 AED ($40). The reel does not have any new footage — they use the standard video and modify it to fit a reel form. We believe it’s not really worth the extra price tag, since you can edit the video you’ll get yourself to reflect your personal brand better.
- Selfie-View Package — 250 AED ($70). Now, this one is a feature to get! An additional camera will be strapped to the instructor’s wrist, so you get another angle of yourself having this off-the-hook vertiginous experience.
Full list of Skydive Dubai requirements
What do you need for a tandem* skydive? It’s not a certification or a two-year experience, not in the slightest. Skydive Dubai tandem requirements are pretty basic, but it is very important that you fit them ALL. Such strictness and diligence is welcomed — skydiving is a high-risk activity, so it’s best if everything goes according to plan.
*(yes, all of the jumps are made with an instructor strapped to your back; more on this later!)
And for that, study these Skydive Dubai requirements closely before booking the activity:
✔ You must be between 18 and 75 years old. Skydive Dubai age limit has another small caveat — people aged 70–75 must bring a Declaration of Fitness form that is signed and stamped by a licensed doctor. So, if grandma’s tagging along for the ride, make sure she is in good health (a judgement that can be confirmed by a doctor).
✔ You must not exceed the weight limit and also fit the appropriate level of fitness (BMI). Men’s weight should not exceed 100 kg and women’s 90 kg. Your BMI is also important: It should be 30.0 or less for men and 27.5 or less for women. BMI shows the necessary level of fitness and ensures that the equipment will fit properly to your body shape. You have to fit both requirements — otherwise, you won’t be able to jump.
✔ You should not suffer from the following medical conditions: Heart, brain, and nervous system diseases, blackouts, serious head/limb injuries. One more thing: If you caught a cold right before your booked date, we would personally advice you to reschedule — imagine flying with a cold, times a thousand; that’s how you’ll feel once you’re in the sky.
✔ You must not be pregnant. It’s a no-brainer.
✔ You must avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before the skydive — Skydive Dubai is a substance-free environment that is set on better ensuring the safety of all the people included in the jump.
Side note: This one seems a bit out of left field, but it’s very important — you should try and refrain from scuba diving for at least 24 hours before the skydive. Why? We think it has something to do with blood pressure — you either go down into the water or up into the air, not both (for one dawn-to-dark at least!).
Where to book the activity
Unlike desert safari, jumping with a parachute over Dubai is not an activity that is offered by countless companies.
On the contrary, just one company seems to have a monopoly on skydiving in Dubai.* Because of that, there really aren’t many places where you can book your skydiving slot, and even fewer reputable sources.
- GetYourGuide — a tried-and-tested service that offers great deals on skydiving and other activities.
*Upon snooping around online, you might’ve found one more company — iFly Dubai — that specializes at indoor skydiving. It’s really not the same — pure child’s play compared to the real deal.
One thing you need to keep in mind is how popular skydiving in Dubai is among tourists. In high season, all slots are booked up weeks, if not months, in advance. During low tourist season, however, you could get away with poor planning and just show up at the Skydive Dubai headquarters in Dubai Marina and get a time slot two to three days in advance.
Even then, it’s a gamble — the company often accommodates championships and tournaments, plus the weather in Dubai can be quite mercurial and unpredictable. You don’t want to miss out on the experience of a lifetime just because of your lack of foresight and planning. Book the activity well in advance — you’ll have more time to come to terms with your fears and anxieties, at the very least.
What to expect: Tandem skydiving experience step by step
Now, let’s circle back to the whole “tandem” part of your Dubai skydiving experience. You didn’t think that they’d just kick you out of a plane all by yourself after a short briefing and watching a training video, did you?
Throughout the entire duration of the process, a very experienced and a very knowledgeable instructor will be at your side. Well, not side — your back, since you’ll be strapped to another person like an overgrown child in a giant front-facing baby carrier.
Can you jump alone at Skydive Dubai? Totally, if you have a valid membership and/or license, with a minimum number of jumps over the last few months under your belt. Other than that, you will not blink or move without an instructor accompanying you whilst in the air, no matter if it’s your first time skydiving or if you’ve succumbed to your hardcore adventurer ways a few times already.
For the more pragmatic (and the more nervous) skydivers, let’s get some numbers out of the way:
- The plane will take you 13,000 feet (4 km) up into the air — this is the altitude from which you will exit the plane
- Your freefall to the ground will last approximately 60 seconds
- You will reach speeds of up to 120 miles per hour (almost 200 km/h) during the freefall
- At approximately 6,000 feet (1,8 km), the parachute will deploy
- The remaining flight (now much slower) will last about 4 to 5 minutes
Given the drama and intensity of the process, aren’t you glad to learn that the instructors do on average 8 jumps a day, with 1,000 and more jumps done before they’re even allowed to take on tourists? And even if all of the practical info doesn’t help ease up your nerves, know this — all of the people who conquered their fear and tried out skydiving say that Skydive Dubai team’s attention to detail and cheerful and encouraging atmosphere they create led to a fuss-free and enjoyable experience every time!
The entire process and the thought and effort that goes into managing the activity, however, is not as simple as a plain parachute jump — your experience will have many stages (some more exciting than others), which we’re more than happy to break down for you.
Without further ado, this is what your “Operation Dubai Skydive” will look like:
- Getting there
Transfers are not included into Skydive Dubai packages, so you will have to make do on your own. Thankfully, the Palm Dropzone is located right in the middle of all the (beachfront) action.
Getting to the Palm Dropzone is easy if you’re staying in Dubai Marina — a simple walk and you’re here! But if you decided to base yourself in some other Dubai neighborhood, then use the Dubai Metro. After getting off at Sobha Realty Metro Station, it’s a mere 10-minute walk to the headquarters.
Side note: Renting a car in Dubai proves to be a worthy endeavor, especially if you plan on covering much ground during your chock-full itinerary — trust us, even if it’s your tenth time visiting the Emirates, you’ll have a heavily dog-eared list of recommendations nonetheless. We like to use Localrent for our UAE escapades, since the service is very straightforward and easy to use (with frequent deals to boot).
- Arrival and registration
Once you enter the center’s doors, it all becomes too real — but don’t be scared, since your appointed time is not the time of your jump. It can take a couple of hours to get to the point of even loading onto the plane.
The first thing you’re going to do is fill out a waiver form — the Tandem Passenger Agreement — that covers release of liability and agreement not to sue the company in case things go south (not only injury-wise, but also in case somebody steals a wallet from your locker).
The vital part of your registration process is having your ID on hand — do not forget it! You know the saying “No glove, no love”? Well, at Skydive Dubai, it’s no ID/passport — no parachute jump!
After the most formal and document-centric part of your check-in, it’s time for a weigh-in. Note that your weight and BMI will be calculated from your weight plus your clothes and shoes (it’s better to leave your Balenciaga Triple S sneakers at home then). If you fit both requirements, then you’ll be sent to the waiting area.
- Waiting
There are two floors at Skydive Dubai Palm Dropzone — the first one is the one where you complete your registration and where you’ll be gearing up once your appointed time comes up. Upstairs, there’s a small cafe and an outdoor terrace on the second floor, where you can grab something small and light to give you energy for the jump. We would advise against a belt-busting lunch, if you don’t want to see it in reverse later on.
Don’t worry about checking the time every few minutes — the wait in this liminal zone can last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours (it all depends on the weather conditions). There’s no TV with the timetable on the deck, but you do get a buzzer — missing your turn simply cannot happen at Skydive Dubai. While you wait, you can enjoy the landing area panorama: See the planes take off and the daredevils that went before you swiftly descend from the sky and onto the green grass.
However, if you need a little encouragement, look for the wall inside that is covered in cheesy, but somehow effective slogans: “Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith”, “Those who don’t jump will never fly”, and our favorite — “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. In the moment, the cringiest of sayings get the job done.
Side note: When you’re conquering your fear, you might need all the cheering on you can get — that’s why you can take your close friends or relatives to accompany you to this activity. There’s an allocated room where your squad can hang out at once you leave for the plane.
- Buzzer goes off — time to get ready!
After their name appears next on the schedule, even the calmest of participants feel the fear starting to loom large over them. Thankfully, there are a few people in each group, so collective anxiety soon turns into excitement!
There isn’t much time to waste anymore: Make your way downstairs, put your personal belongings in a locker, and come to meet your instructor. They will tell you everything you need to know to have a safe and well-rounded skydiving experience: How long is the freefall in Skydive Dubai, what body position to take as you exit the plane, how to behave in the air, what to do before landing, and other pertinent questions and their answers.
As soon as your briefing is over, you will be put into gear — a harness that will be secured to the parachute system with 4 attachment systems: Two at the shoulders and two at the hips.
- When it comes to parachutes, Skydive Dubai made sure that every possible precaution is taken care of: There are two parachutes per each tandem, and the backup is equipped with AAD — automatic activation device that will deploy the parachute at a certain altitude in case the instructor (for some crazy reason) has failed to do so himself.
Now that you’re feeling a little bit like Lara Croft, it’s time for your pre-jump interview conducted by your personal videographer. It’s fun to look back on the footage after the fact and compare it with the debrief they get upon your landing — your pre-jump face and body jitters reveal excitement and nervousness, while the crazy-smiling and messy-hair person (yourself, but a little harder to recognize) that just finished the dive looks nothing short of elated, euphoric even!
- Getting to the loading area + flight to altitude
The short bus ride is where your fate starts to feel sealed — the jump is almost inevitable at this point (though you could always tap out, nobody will throw you out of the airplane against your will). The atmosphere in the group of fellow jumpers is tight as a string — thankfully, the instructors and videographers know how to take your mind off worrying and even make you laugh.
Then, the group will be taken inside the small plane. Do not disregard the plane ride altogether: Though the most thrilling part is the dive, you can already look out the plane windows and admire Dubai from the bird’s eye view.
Pro tip: Be the first to enter the bus — that makes you the last to enter the plane, which means you’ll be sitting next to the large roll door; the seat that provides the ultimate views. Of course, it also means that you’ll be the first person out of the group to jump — a good thing, come to think about it, since you’ll have less time to psyche yourself out.
Mind the light adjacent to the plane’s door — as the plane starts to climb, it’ll signal red; but once the necessary altitude of 13,000 feet is reached it’ll turn yellow. It means get ready — the fun is about to begin!
- “The Jump”
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The light turns green, the roll door opens, and your instructor inches closer towards it, you in tow — the wind almost creates a sound, the air is thin and you want to gasp (from the lack of oxygen or crazy adrenaline rush, it doesn’t matter). The videographer moves in front of you, waiting for the OK sign from your instructor. At this point, a normal person would stop in their tracks and not exit the plane — however, you’re strapped to your instructor, and it’s the professional that makes the step into the windy exhilarating abyss.
Once the countdown is finished, you find yourself in the air — though fear and thrill are curdling in your stomach, remember the training and get into the optimal body position. What is it? Usually called a “banana” (due to the uncanny resemblance), it means arching your body, hips forward and all, with knees bent behind you, arms holding on to the harness, and your head up, almost pressing into your tandem instructor’s shoulder. There might be some light turbulence in the first few seconds — a couple of flips and spins in the air is normal until your instructor manages to find the balance.
Pro tip: Our trusted sources reveal an important nugget of info — try and NOT open your mouth during the jump. Nose breathing is preferred; if you cannot for the life of you catch a breath, cup your hands under your chin, blocking the upwards gusts of wind — but only do it once your instructor signals that you can let go of the harness.
- Freefall
The 60 seconds of freefall are the most invigorating part of the skydiving experience. You cover HALF the distance between the plane and the ground, air and earth melt together in your eyesight, and the sheer joy kicks in. This is where the instructor nudges you to let go of your harness and spread your hands wide, like you’re actually flying. They say that you should fully relax and enjoy the ride. However, “relax” might be the wrong word — you will feel euphoric enough that time stands still, as though bending for you to have the most gleeful experience for as long as possible!
- Parachute deploying + the rest of the dive
At 5,500 feet, right as you’ve gotten somewhat used to freefalling, the parachute is deployed, yanking you up towards the sky again. This moment is intense — the jerk upwards is powerful, and you might feel like you’ll get separated from your instructor.
The rest of the journey (five minutes or slightly less) can be spent marveling at the 360 panoramas:
🔹Palm Jumeirah looks like it was made to be enjoyed from above;
🔹Burj Al Arab stands proudly glistening in the sun,
🔹Dubai Marina’s urban oasis is towering over the neat bay filled with little white dots of luxurious yachts,
🔹and the rest of Dubai, even its furthest reaches, is looming in the distance.
The sight of the always-growing metropolis alone is worth the money you’ll spend on your Skydive Dubai experience, even without the adrenaline aspect — even Burj Khalifa viewpoints fail to deliver such a head-spinning vista!
- Landing
We all know that when it comes to all things that fly, landing is much harder than take off. Thankfully, your instructors are seasoned pros, and they are in charge of safely getting your feet (or butt, in most cases) onto the steady ground.
All they need from you is a position with your legs bent up, like you’re sitting in a lounge chair. The rush of emotions wash over you the second you realize you’ve made it back to earth in one piece, and most importantly — alive! That’s what your videographer is going to capture (they land before you, to get the best shots) — you, dizzy, stammering, and at a full loss for words; but happy and elated to the max!
And there you have it — this is an entire process of skydiving with Skydive Dubai, from arrival to landing. On average, the whole shebang lasts 2–2,5 hours (the jump itself covers just about five minutes), but we’ve heard stories of weather delays that resulted in the expected time being 3–4 hours.
While the standard video and photo package might take up to 48 hours to land in your inbox, if you paid extra for the reel edit, you will get it in under two hours (20 minutes on average, based on the reviews). This is just enough time to reel (heh) with excitement, while sharing your personal feelings with your fellow jumpers and your support group.
So what do we think, are you up for the challenge? Book the activity via GetYourGuide!
Our list of tips for trying out Skydive Dubai
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Though you might’ve noticed that skydiving is a very straightforward and no-nonsense endeavor, there are still some details that are worth focusing on. If you come with all your bases covered, there will be fewer opportunities for you to freak out. It’s a win-win in our book, so here are a few more things you need to know about skydiving in Dubai:
- Book your skydive WELL in advance, especially in high tourist season — a point that bears repeating! And if you thought low tourist season in the Emirates means bored instructors at Skydive Dubai, you’d be mistaken: Even under the most pulverizing sun, there will be plenty of customers wanting to get their thrill on.
- Speaking of seasons, what is the best time for skydiving in Dubai? The answer kind of coincides with the best time to visit the UAE in general. You can’t go wrong with October and April — these months have the optimal conditions for skydiving. As for what time of day to book your slot for, early morning jumps prove to be the most pleasurable — you can take advantage of cooler temps and calmer winds.
- What to bring with you to the skydiving center? Apart from your official ID, there’s nothing you actually NEED to bring with you; no extra gear, nothing!
- The question of what to wear for skydiving, however, will require a more thorough planning. There are quite a few rules to follow: Athleisure and generally comfortable clothes are best, with lace-up shoes or sneakers to go with them. What fashion faux pas to avoid? Low-cut or sleeveless tops, dresses, collared shirts, swimsuits, crop tops, sandals, heeled or buckled shoes are out of the question — if you come as your usual dandy-at-large, you will earn the trip to Skydive Dubai merch store. And let us tell you, it’s not the most stylish boutique store in Dubai!
- Just like with any high-reward activity people build their entire itineraries around, skydiving in Dubai should be planned for one of the first days of your vacation. Though the Emirates are notorious for having sunny days year round (they say that Dubai has two seasons — hot and hotter), it’s the wind and poor visibility that can spoil your plans.
- Is it safe to skydive in Dubai? With the highly trained and experienced staff, state-of-the-art systems, and attention to detail, it’s hard to argue — it is completely safe. My anxious mind went ahead and checked the incidents reports — since opening in 2010, Skydive Dubai hasn’t had a major accident happen to its tandem dive customers. Sure, there were a few unfortunate occurrences, but most of them happened with licensed solo divers that use wingsuits, not parachutes.
- Does skydiving hurt? Well, the most uncomfortable sensation that our friend encountered was his ears popping — if you suffer from ear sensitivity, you will have to look out for this possibility. The degree of discomfort is usually worse compared to the feeling you get at plane take off, and some people report experiencing ear pain for hours, even days, after the fact.
- Is skydiving in Dubai mind-numbingly terrifying? Well, it should be scary, at least a little — if you’re not a tad afraid of the experience, you must either be a psychopath, or plain dead. In reality, there will be two points that will get your heart pumping extra fast — the first step (that your instructor makes, and you obviously follow) out of the airplane and into the gusts of wind and the moment the parachute deploys, yanking you back up into the sky.
Our honest review of skydiving in Dubai — is it worth the hype?
We can’t say anything about the hype: After all, Skydive Dubai reviews in 2025 are not that different from the previous years. And that is an obvious fact — when the entire operation runs like clockwork, the demand doesn’t ever die down. There will always be people who crave adventure and pushing their limits — and with that, Skydive Dubai will stay on top.
But when you pose the question in a more personal manner — Is skydiving in Dubai worth it for you — there will be a more nuanced answer. As the wall at the center says, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. If you feel that proving yourself you can do it will be a net positive for your development, then go for it, one hundred percent!
Note that skydiving isn’t reserved for crazy fit daredevils who seek high-voltage bursts of adrenaline wherever they go. You don’t have to fit that stereotype in the slightest, since virtually everyone can tandem skydive. The only thing that can stop you from taking to the sky is your health — if you have any serious conditions we listed in the requirements, please think again about potential risks/rewards.
Sometimes sitting out one bucket list activity can lead to more energy to take on another:
Other top-rated tours in Dubai that we’ve tried
While in Dubai, cram-in-it days are almost inevitable, so if refraining from doing a parachute jump spurred a voracious appetite for other activities, we’re here to help you!
You can easily cross a few of these worthy hits off your list even if you only have a day in Dubai:
- Helicopter tour — yet another vertiginous experience in the Emirates, but this one comes with fewer health requirements. Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa, Ain Dubai, Burj Al Arab, — you’ll see all the familiar sights from an entirely new perspective! And though the ride in the helicopter is not as adrenaline-inducing as skydiving, at least it lasts longer. A 12-minute tour starts from $200 per person — a complete steal, considering how expensive Dubai is in general.
- Hot air balloon flight — though it is no Cappadocia, riding in a basket over the vast Arabian desert at sunrise is still a magical experience. The activity does take you into the air, so overcoming your fear of heights will still take place; but the process feels much safer and just more chill all around. An hour in a slow-moving aircraft gives you plenty of opportunities to admire the red dunes and look out for the native wildlife. The basic package starts from $300 per person, so feel free to choose it if a ride in a hot air balloon is more your speed (at least for now!).
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- Desert safari tour — if high altitudes still terrify you, then being close to the ground will sound like a good idea. And you won’t get any closer than this — dune bashing will have sand flying into your jeep’s windshield, with you confusing sky and ground for a solid 30 minutes of the experience. Desert safari tours are very popular in Dubai, in part because they’re pretty budget friendly (the most basic package starts at $30 per person), but mostly because they’re so dang fun! We even took our parents dune bashing — they loved every second of it!
- Admiring cityscapes from various Dubai viewpoints — you can start conquering your fear of heights small; first, with a visit to Dubai Frame, then working your way up to Burj Khalifa. In both cases, you don’t need to actually take flight, which is a huge plus for particularly anxious adventurers.
- Take to the water along Dubai’s best beaches — if it’s the thrills you’re after, consider booking a speedboat tour. If you’re more focused on relaxing though, then a yacht tour on Dubai Marina is in order!
If your mental and physical health are in good shape, however, we encourage you to consider trying out the magical and life-altering experience that is skydiving in Dubai. Everyone who’s done it (our knowledgeable friends included) absolutely raves about their Skydive Dubai adventures — you will truly never be the same once you conquer your fear. It will feel like only the sky’s the limit — literally!
