Balloon ride in Dubai
One of the things you can do in Dubai is ride a hot air balloon. This is offered at Ibn Batuta Mall at a price of 60 Dirhams. The ride lasts for only 15 minutes which seemed very little at first but after experiencing it I think its just enough.
So last weekend we decided to go for the balloon ride. When we bought the tickets we found out that there was one hour wait time. So we decided to hang around in the mall. By the time it was our turn to board the balloon, the sun had already set and it was dark. Nevertheless, we had to take the ride because there was no option to return the tickets or book the ride for another day. You have to use the ride same day you buy the tickets.
The experience was not that bad in the end. You get to see a bird-eye view of Dubai. Places like Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeira (including the Atlantis hotel), Sheikh Zayed Road, and surrounding areas can be seen from a height. Plus it was quite windy that night so balancing yourself in the balloon was quite thrilling.
A view from the balloon
My only comment about this was that the location for the ride was not ideal. Ibn Batuta mall is on the edge of the city. There is not much sight seeing there. If these was offered in City Center or Dubai Mall, the view from top would have been amazing. I was not too excited to see Jebel Ali Indsutrial Area from the top. Plus things would have looked better in the day light then at night.
If you are visiting Dubai, I recommend the balloon ride to you. It is an experience in itself and it 60 bucks it’s not that expensive.
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