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Hot Air Balloon Dubai: Standard vs Deluxe vs Adventure

By Qunoosh Published: September 17, 2026 Updated on: October 08, 2026 5 min read
Back to Blog Articles Standard Magical Hot Air Balloon Flight (Meet at Location) — prices updated today 2,000 AED

If you're comparing hot air balloon packages in Dubai, the first thing to know is that the flight itself is the same in every package: the same sunrise take-off, the same desert and up to 60 minutes in the air. What you pay extra for is everything around the flight, such as transfers, breakfast, activities at the desert camp and how much of your morning it takes.

Here is a clear side-by-side of the Standard, Deluxe and Adventure options so you can pick the one that fits.

Quick Answer

  • Standard (from 999 AED): the flight, majlis refreshments, a flight certificate and, with transfers, a camel ride. No breakfast. Best for budget and time.
  • Deluxe (from 1,199 AED): adds an international buffet breakfast at a desert camp, a camel ride and archery. Best value for most people.
  • Adventure (from 1,350 AED): everything in Deluxe plus a 30-minute quad bike ride on the dunes. Minimum 2 guests. Best for thrill-seekers.

Side-by-Side Comparison

FeatureStandardDeluxeAdventure
Balloon flightUp to 60 minUp to 60 minUp to 60 min
Adult price1,099 AED (999 AED self-drive)1,199 AED1,350 AED
Child price999 AED (959 AED self-drive)1,099 AED1,250 AED
4x4 sharing transfersYes (or meet at location)YesYes
Majlis refreshmentsYesYesYes
Buffet breakfast at campNoYesYes
Camel rideYes (not on self-drive)YesYes
ArcheryNoYesYes
30-min quad bike (350cc)NoNoYes
Flight certificateYesYesYes
Approx. total time5 hrs (3 hrs self-drive)5–6 hrs6 hrs
Minimum booking1 guest1 guest2 guests

Prices are per person and current at the time of writing; the tour cards below always show the live price.

Standard: The Flight, Without the Extras

The Standard Magical Hot Air Balloon Flight is our most popular choice for a reason. A shared 4x4 picks you up before dawn, you have refreshments in a traditional majlis while the balloons inflate, and then you fly over the dunes at sunrise. After landing you get your flight certificate and a camel ride, and you're back in Dubai by late morning.

If you have your own car, the Meet at Location version is the lowest-priced way to fly. You drive yourself to the launch site, and the whole thing takes about three hours. It does not include the camel ride or breakfast.

Choose Standard if: you mainly want the flight, you have a busy day planned afterwards, or you'd rather have breakfast back at your hotel.

Deluxe: The Full Desert Morning

The Deluxe Exotic Hot Air Balloon Flight with Breakfast costs 100 AED more than Standard with transfers and turns the flight into a proper morning out. After landing, you go to a desert camp for an international buffet breakfast, then take a camel ride and try archery before the transfer back.

After a 4 am start and an hour in the cold desert air, a hot breakfast makes a real difference, and the camp gives you time to talk about the flight and look through your photos.

Choose Deluxe if: you want the best overall value, you're travelling as a couple or family, or it's your first time and you want the complete experience.

Adventure: Add Some Adrenaline

The Premium Adventure Hot Air Balloon Flight with Quad Bike includes everything in Deluxe plus 30 minutes on a 350cc quad bike on the dunes. It pairs the calmest thing you can do in the desert with one of the most energetic.

Two things to know: the minimum booking is 2 guests, and the quad bike rider must be at least 16 years old. It is also the longest morning, at around six hours.

Choose Adventure if: you're travelling with friends, you haven't done quad biking yet on your trip, or you want to fit two desert activities into one morning.

Compare the Packages

Save 25%
Standard Magical Hot Air Balloon Flight
Dubai

Standard Magical Hot Air Balloon Flight

Approx. 5 Hours (Early Morning) Pickup Mobile
Starting From
2,999 AED 3,999 AED
Details
Standard Magical Hot Air Balloon Flight (Meet at Location)
Dubai

Standard Magical Hot Air Balloon Flight (Meet at Location)

Approx. 3 Hours (Early Morning) Mobile
Starting From
2,000 AED
Details
Save 25%
Deluxe Exotic Hot Air Balloon Flight with Breakfast
Dubai

Deluxe Exotic Hot Air Balloon Flight with Breakfast

Approx. 5-6 Hours (Early Morning) Pickup Mobile
Starting From
3,000 AED 4,000 AED
Details
Save 20%
Premium Adventure Hot Air Balloon Flight with Quad Bike
Dubai

Premium Adventure Hot Air Balloon Flight with Quad Bike

Approx. 6 Hours (Early Morning) Pickup Mobile
Starting From
4,000 AED 5,000 AED
Details

Beyond the Three Main Packages

If none of the three quite fits, there are a few other options:

  • Vintage Land Rover package: a sunrise flight with private 4x4 transfers, breakfast and a 30-minute ride in a classic Land Rover.
  • Overnight Desert Safari: an evening wildlife drive, dinner and a night in a luxury cabana, then the balloon flight at sunrise.
  • Breakfast in the Sky: breakfast served during the flight by a private butler in a seated basket.

Save 17%
Hot Air Balloon Flight with Vintage Land Rover Ride
Dubai

Hot Air Balloon Flight with Vintage Land Rover Ride

Approx. 6 Hours (Early Morning) Pickup Mobile
Starting From
2,500 AED 3,000 AED
Details
Save 33%
Overnight Desert Safari with Hot Air Balloon Flight
Dubai

Overnight Desert Safari with Hot Air Balloon Flight

Overnight (Afternoon to Next Morning) Pickup Mobile
Starting From
3,000 AED 4,500 AED
Details
Breakfast in the Sky Hot Air Balloon Experience
Dubai

Breakfast in the Sky Hot Air Balloon Experience

Approx. 5 Hours (Early Morning) Pickup Mobile
Starting From
4,999 AED
Details

What Every Package Has in Common

  • The same GCAA-regulated flight of up to 60 minutes at sunrise
  • Age limits of 5 to 80 years
  • Passengers over 119 kg (260 lbs) need to buy an additional seat
  • A passport copy and each passenger's weight are required when booking
  • Flights depend on the weather and can be rescheduled or refunded if the operator cancels

On the shared-transfer packages, you can upgrade to a private 4x4 for 350 AED per vehicle (up to 6 guests).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Deluxe flight longer than the Standard flight?

No. All packages include a flight of up to 60 minutes. The Deluxe and Adventure packages add activities on the ground.

Can children do the Adventure package?

Children aged 5 and over can fly, but only guests aged 16 and over can ride the quad bike. Read more in our guide to hot air ballooning with kids.

Which package is best for a first flight?

Deluxe. It gives you the full sunrise morning, with breakfast and camp activities, without the longer day of the Adventure package. See what to expect on your first ride.

Thank you for reading All UAE Tours Blog!

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