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Short answer
Helicopter tours over Dubai leave from two places: Falcon Helitours from Atlantis The Palm, and HeliDubai from the Dubai Police Academy helipad opposite Mall of the Emirates. Even the 12-minute flights pass Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa; longer ones add The World Islands, Dubai Creek or Dubai Marina.
Official rules & facts
From the source, quoted word for word.
Falcon Helitours departure and durations
Atlantis The Palm; 12 to 60 minutesTake off from the iconic Atlantis, The Palm and choose from premium Dubai helicopter tours ranging from 12 to 60 minutes.falconhelitours.com · checked 15 November 2026
Falcon 12-minute Pearl Heli Tour
AED 715 per seat, VAT includedPer Seat AED 715falconhelitours.com · checked 15 November 2026
HeliDubai departure
Dubai Police Academy helipad, opposite Mall of the EmiratesYour experience begins at the HeliDubai helipad inside Dubai Police Academy, opposite Mall of the Emirates.helidubai.com · checked 15 November 2026
HeliDubai 17-minute Palm tour
AED 945 per passenger; private AED 4,725 for up to 5AED 945 / USD 257 Per Passengerhelidubai.com · checked 15 November 2026
HeliDubai 12-minute Iconic tour
AED 710 per passengerAED 710 / USD 194 Per Passengerhelidubai.com · checked 15 November 2026
HeliDubai weight limit
115 kg per passenger per seatHeliDubai states a safety limit of 115 kg per passenger per seat.helidubai.com · checked 15 November 2026
Two helipads, two operators
Falcon Helitours
HeliDubai
Departs from
Atlantis The Palm
Dubai Police Academy helipad, opposite Mall of the Emirates
Shared durations
12, 15, 17, 25 minutes
12, 17, 22, 30 minutes
12 minutes, per seat
AED 715
AED 710
17 minutes, per seat
AED 979
AED 945
Longest per seat
25 minutes, AED 1,450
30 minutes, AED 1,770
Private
Whole helicopter, 6 or 7 seats
Whole helicopter, up to 5 passengers
Check-in
45 minutes before, per the listings
45 minutes before, with passport or photo ID
Prices are published by Falcon Helitours and HeliDubai, checked November 2026; Falcon includes 5% VAT. HeliDubai also lists a 22-minute Vision tour at AED 1,299 per passenger. Falcon sells its 45 and 60-minute flights only as private charters. The cards above sell several durations on Headout and GetYourGuide.
What each duration shows
Duration
Route, as each operator describes it
12 min, Falcon
Atlantis The Palm, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Dubai coastline
12 min, HeliDubai
Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah coastline, Burj Khalifa, Business Bay
15 min, Falcon
Burj Khalifa, Aquaventure Water Park, Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach, The World Islands
17 min, Falcon
Atlantis, Burj Al Arab, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa, the Lagoon Project
17 min, HeliDubai
Burj Al Arab, The World Islands, Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, Jumeirah coastline; Port Rashid and Burj Khalifa if the route allows
22 min, HeliDubai
Route not published in detail on the page we read
25 min, Falcon
The World Islands, Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Creek, Jumeirah Beach, JLT, Dubai Marina
Both operators say routes can change with air traffic control and weather.
The Palm in 12 minutes or longer. From Atlantis you take off at the top of the Palm, and the listing says you see the full palm shape in the first minute. From the Police Academy the Palm is one stop among several on the 12-minute route. HeliDubai built its 17-minute route around the Palm, with five more minutes than the 12-minute tour. Longer flights add city, not Palm. If the Palm is the reason you fly, 12 minutes from Atlantis or 17 minutes from the Police Academy is enough.
Shared or private
On a shared flight you buy one seat. HeliDubai weighs every passenger at check-in for seat allocation and aircraft balance, so on a shared flight you do not choose your seat. The listings put up to 6 passengers on a shared flight from Atlantis. A private flight is priced for the whole helicopter and gives your group the cabin, which suits a family or a special occasion.
Weight, age and what to bring
Weight: HeliDubai states 115 kg per seat, with extra conditions near the limit. Falcon Helitours states 110 kg per seat, with an extra seat to buy at or near that weight, and no seat-belt extenders. One HeliDubai listing says guests over 140 kg cannot fly. Near these numbers, ask before booking.
Age: from 2 at both operators; Falcon requires a guardian for ages 2 to 12, and some listings say up to 16.
ID: the listings ask for the original passport or ID; soft copies are not accepted.
Cameras: casual photos are fine. Selfie sticks, iPads, long lenses and large bags are not allowed on board.
Cancellation terms differ by card, so read each one. The HeliDubai card from the Police Academy is marked as cancellable.
Helicopter or skydive for the view
A helicopter gives you 12 to 30 minutes of looking, through a window, with the pilot talking you through each landmark. The tandem jump from up to 13,000 ft gives about a minute of freefall (a partner figure; Skydive Dubai publishes none) and, per the partner listings, up to 5 minutes under the parachute over the Palm, and you cannot carry your own camera unless you hold a licence with 200 jumps. The jump costs AED 2,749 at the Palm Dropzone, published by Skydive Dubai, against AED 710 to 1,770 per helicopter seat. The helicopter listings mention no upper age and no BMI rule, so it works for groups where not everyone passes the jump's weight and age limits. The alternatives page compares all the ways to fly.
Questions people ask
How much is a helicopter tour in Dubai?
The operators publish AED 710 (HeliDubai) and AED 715 (Falcon Helitours) per seat for 12 minutes, up to AED 1,770 per seat for HeliDubai's 30-minute flight, checked November 2026. The cards above show partner prices in your currency.
Where do helicopter tours in Dubai leave from?
Falcon Helitours flies from Atlantis The Palm. HeliDubai flies from its helipad inside the Dubai Police Academy, opposite Mall of the Emirates.
Which helicopter tour duration should I choose?
Choose 12 minutes if you mainly want the Palm and Burj Al Arab. Choose 17 minutes for more time over the Palm, or 22 to 25 minutes to add Downtown, Dubai Creek and Dubai Marina.
Is there a weight limit for helicopter tours?
HeliDubai states 115 kg per seat. Falcon Helitours, which flies from Atlantis, states 110 kg per seat: heavier passengers buy an extra seat, and it cannot fly anyone who needs a seat-belt extender.
Can children fly in a helicopter in Dubai?
Both operators take children from age 2. Falcon Helitours says children aged 2 to 12 must fly with a guardian, and some listings say up to 16.
Is a shared or private helicopter flight better?
A shared flight sells single seats and staff place you by weight. A private flight costs the whole helicopter, up to 5 passengers at HeliDubai or 6 to 7 at Falcon, and gives your group the cabin.
