New indoor attraction offers unparalleled flying experience

Dubai: If you're looking for an activity that will give you an adrenaline rush in Dubai, try iFly Dubai.

Brought by Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, iFly Dubai is a new indoor skydiving facility located in Mirdif City Centre. It opened its doors on April 1 and gives visitors an airborne experience as high as 38 feet off the ground.

With opening hours similar to that of the Mirdif City Centre, the new facility has received an average of 200 to 250 visitors per day, according to Thomas Gateff, operations manager at iFly Dubai.

Within just two weeks of opening, the facility has drawn hundreds of visitors, including Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and hip hop singer Vanilla Ice. It has 1,200 Facebook fans online.

Diving gear

Before going for the experience, skydivers gear up by donning overalls, a helmet, goggles and earplugs.

They get a briefing on hand signals and body positions, which they use to communicate with instructors during the dive.

"We communicate with [skydivers] in the tunnel with hand signals because we can't talk to [them]," Alan Gayton, iFly chief instructor, said.

An instructor accompanies every diver into the tunnel, which blows huge gusts of air. The instructor monitors the diver's position as he tries to balance his weight and fly on his own.

"There is no way that one can enter a tunnel without an instructor," Gateff said.

There are two vertical wind tunnels at iFly.

Beginners can safely fly a few feet off the floor with an expert's instruction for the entire session.

More experienced skydivers can learn to perform aerobatic manoeuvres and even fly in groups.

Gayton said both children and adults were coming in to try it.

"It's a family experience. You don't have to be majorly fit to do this. Anyone from three to a hundred can do this," he said.

The company plans to double the number of visitors to 400 by next month when iFly Dubai becomes fully operational.

It currently has 10 instructors, but iFly plans to increase their number to 16.

Prices vary depending on peak and off-peak hours. It costs Dh165 for adults and Dh125 for children up to 1.2 metres in height during off-peak hours on Sunday to Thursday between 10am and 3pm. It costs Dh195 and Dh145 respectively on weekends.

IFly Dubai also plans an online booking system, making it easier for interested divers to book their flying experience.

"Everyone's dream is to fly. We make that dream come true here at iFly," Gayton said.