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Skydive Dubai: Palm jump vs iFLY

Skydiving in Dubai comes down to one choice before anything else: a real aircraft jump or an indoor wind-tunnel flight. The outdoor tandem takes you to 13,000ft over Palm Jumeirah for about 60 seconds of freefall at 120mph, then a parachute descent, but it carries age, weight and health rules and can be pushed back by weather. iFLY runs indoors whatever the weather, welcomes flyers from age 3, and skips the altitude entirely. This guide compares both, checks your eligibility, and tells you which to book first.

Overview of Skydiving Dubai

  • Which one should I book? Want the Palm-from-13,000ft photo and a real adrenaline story? Book the outdoor tandem. Want a taste of freefall with no aircraft and no altitude, or you're bringing kids? Choose iFLY, it flies from age 3, though it has its own height, weight, health and guardian-consent rules.
  • Am I eligible? Outdoor jump: ages 18–75, under 100kg/BMI 30 (men) or 90kg/BMI 27.5 (women), no alcohol 24 hours before. iFLY: from age 3, with its own weight and height limits and none of the altitude rules.
  • How long do I need? 3–4 hours for the outdoor jump (freefall itself is 60 seconds); 60–90 minutes for iFLY. Neither is a quick stop between other plans.
  • What if it's windy or dusty? The outdoor jump can be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled when conditions aren't safe. That's a normal safety process, so keep the day flexible. iFLY runs indoors and isn't exposed to the same disruption.

​Compare both experiences and prices →

🪂 First-timer and a little nervous?

A lot of people jump into the wind tunnel before they jump out of a plane, and it helps.

Skydivers over Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, with Skydive Dubai experience.
Know more

Jump to what you need

Real jump or indoor flight? Here's how to choose

Skydive Dubai — The PalmiFLY Dubai

What it feels like

A real aircraft jump: around 60 seconds of freefall at ~120mph, followed by a parachute descent over the Palm.

Controlled indoor freefall: you float on a powerful column of air with an instructor beside you.

Altitude

13,000ft above the ground

Around 3–4m above the tunnel floor

Time commitment

Allow around 3–4 hours on site

Allow around 90 minutes

What's included

60-second freefall, instructor, photos + 3-minute edited video

Training, flight suit, helmet and goggles, 2 × 1-minute flights, 1-on-1 coaching

Best for

Bucket-list thrill, the actual jump, and iconic Palm Jumeirah views

Trying the sensation of flight without an aircraft jump or altitude

Weather-dependent

Yes, can be rescheduled at short notice

No — flies rain, shine, or sandstorm

Starting from

AED 2,749

AED 199

Are you eligible? Check this before you pay for anything

Skydive Dubai at The PalmiFly Dubai Indoor Skydive

Age

18–75 years. If you’re 70–75, you’ll need a doctor-signed Declaration of Fitness before arrival.

3 years and up. Under 18s need signed permission from a parent or guardian.

Weight/size

Women: 90kg or under and BMI 27.5 or under. Men: 100kg or under and BMI 30 or under. You’ll be weighed in your clothes and shoes at check-in.

Under 105kg if shorter than 180cm; under 115kg if taller than 180cm.

Medical conditions

Certain conditions can prevent you from jumping, including heart or lung conditions, high blood pressure, epilepsy, recurrent blackouts, recent surgery and some musculoskeletal conditions.

You cannot fly if you have previously dislocated your shoulders or are wearing a plaster cast. If you have neck, back or heart problems, check with a doctor before booking.

Pregnancy

Not permitted.

Not permitted.

Alcohol & drugs

No alcohol or recreational drugs within 24 hours of your jump.

You must not be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.

ID & paperwork

Bring your original passport or valid photo ID. Your booking name must match your passport exactly. You’ll also need to complete the tandem waiver and insurance form.

You’ll need to sign the iFLY waiver.

⚠️ Close to the BMI limit?

You’re weighed at check-in, including clothes and shoes, and the safety limits are non-negotiable.

If you don’t meet the outdoor jump criteria, iFLY is a real alternative, not a consolation prize. It’s the only one of the two that will still let you fly.

Participant enjoying indoor skydiving at iFly Dubai.

Before you book: the conditions that can catch you out

For both experiences

  • Check your booking and venue: Confirm the exact address and check-in time on your booking. The Palm Dropzone and iFLY Dubai are on opposite sides of the city.
  • Bring your original ID: Make sure your booking name matches your identification.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear comfortable clothing and secure, closed-toe shoes. Leave loose jewellery behind and tie back long hair.
  • Arrive on time: Late arrival may mean missing your slot. Refunds or rebooking depend on your ticket terms.

For the Palm tandem skydive

  • Bring required medical paperwork and complete the tandem waiver and insurance form.
  • Avoid scuba diving for at least 24 hours before your jump.
  • Keep your phone on for weather or operational updates. Conditions at the dropzone and jump altitude can differ from what a general weather app shows.
  • Keep the rest of your day flexible. Your booking time is your check-in time, and the experience can take up to four hours. Avoid scheduling another fixed-time activity immediately afterwards.

For iFLY Dubai

  • Arrive one hour before your booked flight for check-in, changing and training.
  • Complete the waiver before flying.
  • Leave personal cameras and GoPros outside the wind tunnel. Check your ticket for available photo and video add-ons.

Book this if...

Should you book both?

If your itinerary and budget allow it, there's a genuine case for booking both — not as two unrelated activities, but as one plan that works better together than either does alone.

  • Nervous first-timer? Do iFly a day or two before the Palm jump. It won't replicate freefall exactly, the tunnel is a sustained hover, not an accelerating fall, but it gets your body used to strong wind, an unfamiliar position, and trusting an instructor completely. Plenty of first-time jumpers say it took the edge off.
  • Mixed-age groups. Let the under-18s or anyone outside the weight/BMI limits fly at iFly while the rest of the group does the real jump, nobody just stands around watching.

When and where should you meet?

These two experiences are on opposite sides of Dubai, so check the venue on your confirmation before you leave. Neither includes hotel pickup.

What actually happens — and how long it takes

The jump itself is short. Your day isn't. Budget for the whole block, not just the airtime.

Know before you go skydiving in Dubai

Frequently asked questions about skydiving in Dubai

​Skydive Dubai at the Palm is an outdoor tandem skydive: you are harnessed to an instructor, exit an aircraft and descend under parachute after freefall. Choose it if you want the full aircraft-jump experience and aerial views of Palm Jumeirah.

​iFLY is an indoor, instructor-led wind-tunnel experience at City Centre Mirdif. You fly in controlled airflow rather than jumping from an aircraft, making it the better fit for younger children, first-timers or anyone who wants the sensation of flying without the outdoor skydive. iFLY describes the tunnel as reaching around four metres above ground.