Dubai: An Angry Bird, Humpty Dumpty, a human face, a UAE flag, a heart-shaped balloon are just a few of the attractions for the first Dubai International Balloon Fiesta that opened at the P5 section of the Global Village on Thursday night.
All the balloons are privately owned by enthusiasts from the US, UK, UAE, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Australia, Singapore, and Germany.
Since the balloons are not commercial, the public cannot buy tickets to ride them, one of the organisers from Classic Concepts Events Management, said.
The public, however, can buy Dh15 tickets to watch the “night glow” event from 8pm onwards at the Global Village where the balloons while grounded (due to prevailing high winds) “dance” to the music by lighting up in a synchronised manner.
Organisers said the plan to tether the balloons 50m to 100m up in the air from 8pm Thursday to Saturday for the duration of the festival would not be feasible as windy weather is forecasted over the weekend.
For the balloons to be successfully tethered, the winds should be stable and the wind speed should be less that 19kmh, a Dubai-based balloonmeister told Gulf News.
