Hot air balloon rides in Dubai
Assure books sunrise hot air balloon flights over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and drives you to the operator in your own car. Pickup is between about 3 and 5:30 am, the flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes, and the morning ends 5 to 6 hours after pickup. Flights run daily from 1 October to 31 May.
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Updated Checked by Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing Partner
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The day, stop by stop
Times are a guide. Your driver keeps to your group's pace.
3:00 to 5:30 am
Pickup at your door
Your chauffeur collects you in the dark at the time the operator set for your flight.
Operator's meeting point
You join the operator, who takes guests on to the desert take-off site.
Take-off at sunrise
Arabic coffee and dates at the take-off site on the signature package.
45 to 60 minutes
The flight
Up to 4,000 feet over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, with in-flight falconry. The wind decides where you land.
Breakfast in the desert
A 1950s Land Rover takes signature-package guests from the landing site to the operator's desert retreat for breakfast and a short camel ride.
5 to 6 hours after pickup
Back at your hotel
Your chauffeur drives you home from the return point agreed with the operator.
What the trip includes
Included
- A place on a sunrise balloon flight, booked with the operator for your date
- Private car and chauffeur from your Dubai address to the operator's meeting point, and back after breakfast
- The extras listed in the operator's package you choose, such as in-flight falconry and breakfast
Not included
- Anything outside the package you choose
- Pickups outside Dubai, unless they are in your quote
What to bring
- Trainers or other flat shoes for climbing in and out of the basket
- A warm layer from December to February, when the desert is cold before sunrise
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for after sunrise
How a balloon morning runs
Balloons take off at sunrise, so the day starts in the dark. Hero Balloon Flights Dubai, which also trades as Balloon Adventures Dubai, collects guests between about 3 and 5:30 am. The exact time follows the sunrise and is confirmed the day before.
The flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the weather. Balloons climb to as much as 4,000 feet over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, with in-flight falconry on board. Pilots control the height, but the wind picks the landing spot. The operator warns that the basket may hop or drag before it stops, and says that is normal.
On the signature package, a 1950s Land Rover takes you from the landing site to the operator’s desert retreat. Breakfast and a short camel ride follow. You are back in Dubai 5 to 6 hours after pickup.
Your own car or the shared pickup
The operator’s standard pickup is an air-conditioned vehicle shared with other guests, up to six at a time. Its own private flight uses a Land Rover Defender 130 and starts at AED 12,950 for two.
With Assure, the car is yours from the start. Your chauffeur collects you from your hotel, home or apartment anywhere in Dubai at the set time. You go to the meeting point agreed with the operator, such as the Dome Entrance of The Dubai Outlet Mall. We agree the return point when we book, and your chauffeur takes you home after breakfast.
A couple fits in a Lexus ES 300h. A family of up to 6 fits in a GMC Yukon or a Mercedes-Benz V-Class.
How much is a hot air balloon ride in Dubai?
These are the operator’s own published rates, checked on 17 October 2026.
| Package (Hero Balloon Flights Dubai) | Published price |
|---|---|
| Signature Experience, adult | AED 1,695 |
| Signature Experience, child aged 7 to 11 | AED 1,395 |
| Private Experience | From AED 12,950 for two guests |
The Assure car is quoted on WhatsApp. These things set its price.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Pickup area | The drive from your address to the operator’s meeting point |
| Car size | A sedan for 3, an SUV or van for 6, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for 13 or 19 |
| Hours | A 3 am start and a mid-morning return |
| Return plan | Straight home, or the car stays with you for the rest of the day |
Who can fly: age, health and dress
- Children under 7 cannot fly. Children aged 7 to 11 pay the child rate.
- Guests over 60 sign an extra waiver.
- Not allowed to fly: anyone pregnant, anyone with major surgery or a broken arm or leg in the past 6 months, and anyone with chronic back or neck pain.
- Clothes: something comfortable that lets you climb in and out of the basket. Wear trainers, not heels.
- Winter mornings: from December to February the desert is cold before sunrise, so bring a warm layer.
Weather, delays and cancellations
Flights go ahead only in ideal conditions. If the operator cancels for weather, you can rebook another day or take a full refund. It usually tells you the day before. If fog or strong wind keeps the balloon down once you arrive, breakfast comes first and the pilots then reassess.
For cancellations you make, the operator’s pages put the full-refund cut-off at 18 to 24 hours before pickup. There is no refund inside 18 hours or for a no-show. Online bookings close at 5 pm the day before, so book early in the peak months.
If your flight moves to another day, message us on WhatsApp so the car can be rebooked for the new date.
Fitting the flight into your trip
Flights run from 1 October to 31 May. Our guide to the best time to visit Dubai compares those months for heat and crowds. Fly on your second morning rather than your first. If you land late at Dubai International (DXB), a 3 am pickup the next day leaves little sleep.
You are home by mid-morning, so the rest of the day is free. Keep the same car with a driver by the hour for lunch or the malls. Add an evening desert safari on another day for the dunes at sunset.
With a child under 7, who cannot fly, book a morning desert safari instead: the same early start, on the ground. For the city from the air, a helicopter tour over the coast suits guests who would rather not fly at dawn.
What to expect on a Dubai balloon flight describes the flight, and helicopter, seaplane or balloon compares it with other aerial options.
Add an airport transfer
Landing the same day? The same booking can include your pickup from any UAE airport, with your name on a board in arrivals.
Questions and answers
How much is a hot air balloon ride in Dubai?
Hero Balloon Flights Dubai lists its shared Signature Experience at AED 1,695 per adult and AED 1,395 per child aged 7 to 11. Its private flight starts at AED 12,950 for two guests. Those were the rates on its website on 17 October 2026. The private car from Assure for the pre-dawn pickup and the return is quoted on WhatsApp.
What time is the pickup for a balloon flight?
Between about 3 and 5:30 am. Take-off is timed for sunrise, so the pickup moves through the season, and the operator confirms the exact time the day before. Send us that time on WhatsApp and your chauffeur sets the pickup from your address so you reach the meeting point on time.
How long is the balloon flight, and when am I back?
The flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the wind. The whole morning takes 5 to 6 hours from pickup to drop-off, because it includes the drive out, the landing and the transfer to breakfast. With a 4 am pickup, that puts you back at your hotel between about 9 and 10 am.
Can children or older guests fly?
Children under 7 cannot fly with Hero Balloon Flights Dubai, and children aged 7 to 11 pay the child rate. Guests over 60 sign an extra waiver. Anyone who is pregnant, has had major surgery or a broken arm or leg in the past 6 months, or has chronic back or neck pain cannot fly.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The operator flies only in ideal conditions. If it cancels for weather, you can rebook another day or take a full refund, and it usually tells you the day before. If fog or wind holds the balloon down after you arrive, breakfast comes first and the pilots reassess. Message us if your flight moves, so the car can be rebooked.
Can I have a private car instead of the shared pickup?
Yes. The operator's standard pickup is a shared vehicle that holds up to six guests. With Assure, the car and chauffeur are only for your group, from your door to the meeting point agreed with the operator and back. Couples fit in a Lexus ES 300h, and families of up to 6 in a GMC Yukon or Mercedes-Benz V-Class.
When is the hot air balloon season in Dubai?
The operator we checked flies daily from 1 October to 31 May, so there are no summer flights. December to February are the coldest mornings, and the desert is chilly before sunrise, so bring a warm layer. Weather can still cancel a flight on any day of the season.