Children can join a helicopter ride in Dubai with Helicopter Ride Dubai from the age of 2. Every passenger aged 2 and over buys a seat at the full price, children under 2 cannot fly, and children aged 2 to 12 fly with a guardian. Shared seats start at AED 715 per person on the 12-minute City Scapes route.
Key takeaways
- Age rules: children under 2 cannot fly. Every passenger aged 2 and over buys a seat at the full price, and ages 2 to 12 fly with a guardian.
- No lap seats and no child fare: a 4-year-old pays the same shared-seat price as a parent, for example AED 715 per person on City Scapes.
- Families of five: a private flight books the whole helicopter for up to 5 guests and costs less than five shared seats, from AED 3,145 per aircraft on City Scapes.
- Short routes suit young flyers: City Scapes (12 minutes), Fun Ride (15 minutes) and The Iconic Tour (17 minutes) are the gentlest introduction to flying.
- Timing: the booking form offers three windows, 9:00 to 11:00, 12:30 to 14:30 and 15:10 to 17:00. Check in at least 45 minutes before departure.
- Getting there: the optional Private Pickup and Dropoff costs AED 450 per car for 5 to 6 guests and collects you 1 hour before the flight time.
- Weight: shared flights allow up to 110 kg per passenger, and a private flight carries up to 450 kg in total.
- Ask first about car seats, ear protection for small children and motion sickness. The terms do not cover them, so the team is the right source.
Can children fly on a Dubai helicopter ride?
Yes, from the age of 2. The terms of Helicopter Ride Dubai set three age rules that shape every family booking. They apply to every route, whether you book a shared seat or a private flight.
- Children under 2 cannot fly.
- Every passenger aged 2 and over buys a seat at the full price.
- Children aged 2 to 12 fly with a guardian.
You can read them in full on the terms and conditions page, which also sets out the check-in, weight and other passenger rules.
What if you are travelling with a baby?
Because children under 2 cannot fly, a family with a baby or a toddler under 2 has to plan around that rule. In practice, one adult stays on the ground with the youngest child while the rest of the family flies.
Some families give each parent a turn on different days of the trip; others book seats for the older children and one parent only.
The rule is about age, not size or temperament, so there is no exception for a calm baby or a child who is nearly 2. If a child's second birthday falls close to your travel dates, check the flight date against the date of birth before you book.
What does flying with a guardian mean for ages 2 to 12?
The terms say children aged 2 to 12 fly with a guardian. Put simply, a child in that age range does not take a seat on their own: a guardian books a seat too and flies with them.
If the adult flying with the child is not a parent, for example a grandparent, ask the team in advance how the guardian should be named on the booking.
For teenagers aged 13 and over, the terms do not spell out an accompaniment rule. If an older child wants to fly without a parent on board, for example on a shared flight while a parent waits on the ground, ask the team before booking rather than assuming it is fine.
Do children pay full price on a helicopter ride?
Yes. Every passenger aged 2 and over buys a seat at the full price. There is no child fare, no family discount and no lap seat. A child of 2, 6 or 12 pays exactly what an adult pays for the same seat on the same route.
The shared price is per person, whoever that person is, and the private price is per aircraft for up to 5 guests, whatever their ages.
| Route | Duration | Shared seat (every guest aged 2 and over) | Private flight (whole helicopter, up to 5 guests) |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Scapes | 12 minutes | AED 715 per person | AED 3,145 per aircraft |
| Fun Ride | 15 minutes | AED 921 per person | AED 4,041 per aircraft |
| The Iconic Tour | 17 minutes | AED 979 per person | AED 4,525 per aircraft |
| City Circuit | 25 minutes | AED 1,450 per person | AED 6,353 per aircraft |
| The Imperial Tour | 40 minutes | Private only | AED 11,463 per aircraft |
| The Gulf Desert Tour | 60 minutes | Private only | AED 15,593 per aircraft |
Every route includes a pilot, a pre-flight safety briefing, an air-conditioned cabin with large panoramic windows and noise-cancelling headsets for the pilot's commentary. Pickup is not included and costs extra.
For a fuller look at what groups of different sizes pay on each route, see how much a helicopter ride in Dubai costs.
Shared seats or a private flight for a family?
A shared seat is priced per person, so you buy one seat for each family member aged 2 and over. You fly with other guests who have booked seats on the same flight.
A private flight books the whole helicopter for your group of up to 5 guests. On the four routes that sell both options, Helicopter Ride Dubai prices a private flight below the cost of five shared seats. For a family of five, that makes the private flight the better value on City Scapes, Fun Ride, The Iconic Tour and City Circuit.
For a family of three or four, the answer depends on the route. Compare the shared price for each seat you need with the private price for the same route in the table above. Some families decide that having the cabin to themselves is worth paying a little more.
A private flight also helps with children in practical ways. Only your own group is in the cabin, so a shy, chatty or restless child is surrounded by family rather than strangers.
Weight rules families should know
On shared flights, each passenger can weigh up to 110 kg. A guest above that must contact the team and buy an extra seat. A private flight carries up to 450 kg in total across everyone on board.
A group of five adults and teenagers may want to add up their weights before booking a private flight. If the total could come close to 450 kg, contact the team first.
Which Dubai helicopter route suits young flyers?
For a first flight with young children, the three shortest routes are the easiest choice: long enough to see the main landmarks, short enough to hold a young child's attention.
City Scapes: 12 minutes
City Scapes is the shortest route and the lowest price, at AED 715 per person for a shared seat or AED 3,145 per aircraft for a private flight. Its route list names Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, the Dubai Coastline, The Palm Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai.
For a child aged 2 to 5, twelve minutes is often the right length. It is enough time to point at the Palm and the tallest tower, and short enough that the excitement lasts the whole flight.
Fun Ride: 15 minutes
Fun Ride costs AED 921 per person or AED 4,041 per aircraft. Its route list names Burj Khalifa, Aquaventure Waterpark, Burj Al Arab, the Jumeirah Beach Coastline, The World Islands and Business Bay.
Children who have been to a water park, or are about to go, often enjoy spotting Aquaventure Waterpark from above. The World Islands also make a good shape-spotting game for younger flyers.
The Iconic Tour: 17 minutes
The Iconic Tour costs AED 979 per person or AED 4,525 per aircraft. Its route list names Atlantis The Palm, Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Coastline, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay and The Lagoon Project. It suits primary-school children who like ticking off famous buildings one by one.
Longer routes for older children
City Circuit runs 25 minutes and costs AED 1,450 per person or AED 6,353 per aircraft. Its route list reaches further, from The World Islands and Burj Khalifa to Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Creek, Port Rashid, Dubai Internet City, Jumeirah Lake Towers and Dubai Marina. It suits older children and teenagers who will stay engaged for longer.
The Imperial Tour (40 minutes, AED 11,463 per aircraft) and The Gulf Desert Tour (60 minutes, AED 15,593 per aircraft) are private flights only, for up to 5 guests. The Imperial Tour lists Jebel Ali Port, Palm Jebel Ali, Ski Dubai, Burj Al Arab, Kite Beach, the Dubai Canal, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Creek and the Dubai Frame. The Gulf Desert Tour covers city, coast and desert, with Palm Jumeirah, the World Islands, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Creek, the Dubai Frame, Dubai Marina and Palm Jebel Ali on its list. Both suit children old enough to enjoy a long flight.
Set expectations about the route
Routes adjust with weather and air traffic, and each tour page lists the landmarks a flight typically passes. It helps to tell children "we might see" rather than "we will see".
A spotting list written from the route list of your tour gives a child something to do in the air.
Choosing a time window with children
The booking form offers three windows: 9:00 to 11:00, 12:30 to 14:30 and 15:10 to 17:00. There are no other times on the form, so plan the family day around one of these.
A few practical points help when you travel with children:
- Count backwards from the window. Check-in is at least 45 minutes before departure, and the optional pickup collects you 1 hour before the flight time. Work out when everyone needs to be dressed, fed and ready to leave.
- Fit the window around routines. If a young child naps after lunch, the morning window may suit better than the midday one. If mornings are a rush, the afternoon window gives more time to get ready.
- Feed everyone first. Food and drinks are not allowed on board, so plan a meal or snack before check-in and another after landing.
- Leave slack. Toilet stops and a lost shoe take time.
Book at least 2 days ahead, and earlier in peak season.
Getting to the helicopter: pickup or meeting point
Tours fly from Dubai heliports including Atlantis, The Palm. The meeting point is emailed after booking, so do not plan your journey around a particular heliport, hotel or street until that email arrives.
Families who would rather not navigate can add Private Pickup and Dropoff on the booking form. It costs AED 450 per car, takes 5 to 6 guests per car and collects you 1 hour before the flight time. Without it, you make your own way to the meeting point in the email.
If you need a child car seat or a booster seat in the pickup car, the terms do not cover it. Ask the team through the contact page before the day, so you know whether to bring your own.
Check-in, the safety briefing and the walk to the aircraft
Check in at least 45 minutes before departure. The company is not accountable for latecomers and may release the flight as planned, so a late arrival can cost you the flight. With children, aim to arrive with time to spare rather than on the deadline.
Every flight starts with a pre-flight safety briefing. Tell children beforehand that there will be a short talk before take-off and that listening carefully is part of the adventure.
Photos are taken once seated in the cabin, not while walking to or from the helicopter. Agree this with children before you arrive: phones and cameras stay away on the walk and come out once everyone is seated. Keep younger children close and follow the crew's directions on the way to and from the aircraft.
Hazardous materials, explosives, weapons, flammable liquids, food and drinks are not allowed on board. For families, the item most likely to cause trouble is the snack bag, so finish snacks and drinks before check-in.
In the cabin: windows, headsets and noise
The cabin is air-conditioned and has large panoramic windows, so children get a wide view of the city. Seat positions are not something this guide can promise. If a child is anxious about where they will sit, mention it to the team before the day.
The cabin has noise-cancelling headsets for the pilot's commentary, and many children enjoy hearing the pilot name the landmarks as they pass. Whether the headsets fit a small child's head well, and whether anything extra is advisable for young ears, is not covered by the terms. Ask the team before you book, especially if your child is 2 or 3.
What about motion sickness?
The terms do not address motion sickness, and this guide does not give medical advice. If a child is prone to travel sickness, mention it to the team when you book and ask what they suggest. If you are unsure how a child will feel in the air, the 12-minute City Scapes route makes a short first experience.
What if a child is nervous about flying?
Some children are excited from the start; others become quiet or tearful. Helicopter Ride Dubai says a tour may not be comfortable for someone with a fear of flying, heights or enclosed spaces, and asks guests to get in touch first. That applies to children as much as to adults.
A few things can help a hesitant child:
- Look at the photos on the tour page together before the day, so the cabin and the views feel familiar.
- Explain the order of events, from check-in and the safety briefing to take-off and landing.
- Choose a short route and, if the budget allows, a private flight so only family is in the cabin.
- Mention the headsets, so the child knows the pilot will be talking to them about what they can see.
If a child is truly frightened, do not push. The refund depends on how many hours before departure you cancel, so raise any doubts with the team well before the 48-hour mark. For adults and older children with the same worries, is a Dubai helicopter ride scary covers the subject in more depth.
Rules that apply to the rest of the family
Family trips often include grandparents, an expecting parent or a relative with limited mobility. The terms cover these cases too:
- Pregnancy: pregnant guests may fly up to 32 weeks, ideally with a doctor's approval.
- Disability: guests with a disability are welcome with a companion who helps with boarding.
- Weight: shared flights allow up to 110 kg per passenger, and a heavier guest must contact the team and buy an extra seat. A private flight carries up to 450 kg in total.
- Insurance: passengers are insured in line with local UAE civil aviation regulations.
If plans change: cancellation and weather
Children get ill and holiday plans change. The guest cancellation terms are the same for every booking:
- Cancel more than 96 hours before departure: 100% refund.
- Cancel 48 to 96 hours before departure: 50% refund.
- Cancel less than 48 hours before departure: no refund.
If the company cancels for bad weather or a technical issue, guests hear by phone or email and get a 100% refund or a reschedule at no extra cost. Refunds reach a bank account within 7 working days.
The terms do not describe how a guest can move a booking to another date. If you think you may need to change the day, for example because a child is unwell, contact the team as early as possible rather than waiting until the morning of the flight.
A family checklist
Before you book:
- Check every child's age against the rules: under 2 cannot fly, 2 and over buy a full-price seat, and 2 to 12 fly with a guardian.
- Decide between shared seats and a private flight, using the prices per person and per aircraft in the table.
- Pick a route length that matches the youngest flyer, and a window that fits the family routine.
- Decide whether to add Private Pickup and Dropoff at AED 450 per car.
- Ask the team about car seats, headsets for small children or motion sickness, if any of these matter to you.
On the day:
- Feed everyone before check-in, since food and drinks stay off the aircraft.
- Arrive at the meeting point in time to check in at least 45 minutes before departure.
- Keep phones and cameras away on the walk to the helicopter, and bring them out once seated.
Plan your family flight
A helicopter ride with kids in Dubai works best when the ages, the route and the window are settled before you book. Once they are, reserve shared seats or a private flight on the Helicopter Ride Dubai booking form, and for anything the terms do not cover, call or WhatsApp +971 52 590 6075 or email [email protected].
