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Hot Air Balloon Rides in Dubai

Lift off over the desert at dawn and watch the sun rise over the dunes — a calm hour in the air, then breakfast at a desert camp.

See also:Scenic Flights

Planning a hot air balloon ride in Dubai

How the morning goes

Balloon flights in Dubai take off over the desert outside the city at sunrise, when the air is calmest. Pickup from your hotel is very early — usually between 4 and 5 am — and the drive to the launch site takes about an hour. You watch the balloon being inflated, climb into the basket with the pilot and float for about an hour over the dunes, with the light changing from blue to gold.

After the landing most packages continue on the ground: breakfast at a desert camp, often a falconry display, sometimes a camel ride or a drive in a vintage Land Rover. Expect to be back at your hotel by late morning.

Standard, premium or private basket

A standard flight shares a large basket with other guests, divided into compartments. Premium packages add a smaller group, a better breakfast or extras such as falconry and a desert drive; a private basket is booked for your group alone, which suits proposals and anniversaries.

Some packages combine the flight with dune bashing or a quad bike ride, and a few fly from Ras Al Khaimah, about an hour further north. Each listing says what is included and whether hotel transfers are part of it.

Weather, season and what to bring

Balloons fly only in calm weather. The pilot decides on the morning itself; if wind or visibility rule out the flight, you are offered another date or a refund. The season runs mainly from October to April, with fewer flights in the summer months.

Desert mornings are cool, even when the days are hot: bring a light jacket, wear closed shoes and keep your camera within reach. The list is ranked by traveller reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a hot air balloon ride in Dubai?

About an hour in the air. With the early pickup, the inflation, breakfast and the drive back, the whole trip takes the morning — roughly from 4–5 am until late morning.

What time does a balloon flight start?

At sunrise, so the time changes with the season. Hotel pickup is usually between 4 and 5 am; the operator confirms the exact time the day before.

Can children fly in a hot air balloon?

Usually from about 5 years old, accompanied by an adult. Pregnant women and people with back or heart problems are generally advised not to fly — check the listing for the operator’s conditions.

What happens if the flight is cancelled?

If the pilot cancels for wind or visibility, you are offered another date or a refund. That is why it is worth booking the balloon early in your trip, leaving a spare morning.