iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Earlier, NCM had issued yellow alert for rain, wind and dust from 1.30pm to 8pm today
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Microlight Flight for a Macro View of Dubai
Thrill seekers who are under the impression that paragliding and bungee jumping is the end of all sky adventures better head towards the Al Marmoom Desert reserve for some serious sky adventures.
An aerial event organised by Mashreq Bank, the Mashreq Sky Adventures is an exciting activity where adventure enthusiasts can accompany professional microlight pilots for a 20-minute ride over the Al Marmoom desert reserve.
This signature event of the Dubai Shopping Festival is being held under the patronage of Olympic Gold medallist Shaikh Ahmed bin Hasher Al Maktoum who has taken a keen interest in flying a microlight aircraft version.
The Micro Aviation Team Club, a Hungarian sport aviation team, came to Dubai for the first time during the Dubai Shopping Festival 2008. After flying over Dubai city, Shaikh Ahmed suggested that the team fly over the Marmoom desert reserve.
“Dubai is not all about huge buildings and big cities, we have such a beautiful desert and visitors can see the splendid desert as they fly over the reserve area,” Shaikh Ahmed told Khaleej Times.
“Flying over the desert not only gives a spectacular view, but visitors can get accustomed to the wildlife of the UAE. Aviation sports are very exciting and I have just recently developed a great interest for the sport.
“Within a few days I will be giving an exam for a licence to fly the micro flight professionally,” he added.
The micro flight is a very safe ride and goes at a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour, and the aircraft weighs 270kg. The pilots riding the aircraft are ex-air force pilots.
Founder and leader of the Micro Aviation Club Team Capt Laszlo Toth said, “We aim to promote the simplest and safest of aviation sports in the Arab region. The microlight aircrafts have a seating capacity of two persons including the pilot. Riders are given safety helmets and a protective jacket during the ride,” said Laszlo. After the riders have been safely buckled in, and a temporary bumpy ride on the desert, the aircraft takes off. Riding over the Al Marmoom desert reserve, one can see the occasional wild life like Arabian Gazelles, camels and foxes.
“Depending on its popularity, we plan on setting up a more permanent base here in the UAE,” added Laszlo.
Except for the very long ride to the Al Marmoom desert reserve, the microlights are worth the trip.
The airstrip is open from 10am to 10pm, and the best time to ride would be during the late evenings when the sun is setting. It costs Dh400 for a 20-minute ride, and Dh250 for a 10-minute ride.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
Dhanusha Gokulan
More news from UAE
Hanna Karen Arroyo Leyva had put out a plea on social media groups after her 34-year-old brother went for a walk on Sunday morning and didn’t return
The shower is expected to produce up to 8 meteors per hour at their peak during the early morning
He was accorded a ceremonial welcome after landing in the country's capital
Participants will be able to pitch live at the third edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit taking place from 11 to 13 January, 2025
The establishment was located in the city's Mafraq industrial area
The outdoor destination is home to over 3,000 animals representing 78 mammal species, 50 varieties of reptiles, and 111 kinds of birds
Dubai welcomed 10.62 million tourists in the first seven months of 2024, an 8% increase year-on-year