Dubai diners soaring heights

Dubai's crane craze has reached new heights. You can now dine in the sky, says Nadia Khalifeh.

Strapped up from head to toe, I wait for the moment to come. I am seated in an airline seat around a table with 21 other diners, breathlessly waiting to be lifted 50 metres above the ground.

Soon the gentleman who is assisting us gives the awaited sign: he lifts his hand up and says, "Go."

I glance over at the waiters who are accompanying us: they are standing in the centre of the rig. They have no seatbelts on and no seats. I think: 'Shouldn't they be sitting like we are?' But I don't have much time to ponder as the platform starts rising. The moment feels like it's never going to end. Holding onto my seat, I shut my eyes. When I open them again, I find our platform is slowly rising to our destination in the sky. I feel the ground disappear below me, the tall JBR buildings are the only objects in my sight.

To my surprise and relief, the waiters are still standing. They then start moving around our table, asking what we would like to drink with the class of five-star hotel staff. It's as if they don't feel the height. I'm impressed.

Along with the other guests, I'm tyring not to look down at the growing body of water below me. Sometimes I forget and must quickly avert my eyes the moment they drift down. On board is one of the organisers of the evening, Haluk from Dubai-based Event Horizon, who laughs and jokes with the guests ensuring everything is fine. He gives us details on what they call the "flight options" and tells us how ours is going to be a 20-minute coffee break rather than two hour dinner suspended in the air.

Unlike me, Haluk is relaxed and confident and it seems like he's sipped coffee midair thousands of time before. But his confidence makes me realise it's time for me to shake off my fear and enjoy the experience. So I do.

As my fear dissipates I begin savouring the delights of this unique coffee break. The waiters move around offering us tea and coffee as well as delicious sweet and salty canapés.

Elegantly garnished and dipped in different flavours, the canapes melt in my mouth. When the platform finally reaches the anticipated 50 meters, I utter a sigh of relief ; it's not as high as expected.
But the platform then begins to move with the wind, which is, luckily, blowing lightly. As the platform gently rocks in the sky, I suddenly feel secure and I am able to take a look at the view from all angles.

Wow! It really is something. From this height, everything takes on a different dimension and what matters on ground doesn't matter that much anymore in the sky. In front of us the Hilton Hotel rises from the ground along with JBR's skyscrapers. I suddenly realise we are at the height of a 12th or 13th story of a building.

As everybody chats and snaps shots of the view, a loud bell rings, stopping us from what we are doing. Yes, our "flight" is over and we are starting our descent back to the ground. Honestly I am both happy and sad.

Happy because the belt keeping me safe is becoming uncomfortable and sad because I don't know that I will ever have the chance to experience something like this again.

The whole thing was a nice rush of adrenaline and quite a unique coffee break. We touch the ground. Those who helped launch us into the sky help us to unstrap. I finally put my feet on the ground. Ah& It's a nice feeling to be back on terra firma.

After my flight, I chat with Haluk to find out about Dinner in The Sky. Here for the second time, the initiative has been around the world, with platforms rising and descending above the most beautiful cities.

Be it over the Grand Canyon, alongside the Eiffel Tower or over the canals of Venice, this is an event that you will remember forever.

Haluk also assures me that all platforms launched in the sky follow strict security measures, which are ensured before each flight. For them security is "prime".

The Walk hosts 11 flights a day which are divided into chill flights or (coffee breaks) and a two-hour dinner flight. The food served on board is usually prepared ahead of time, but Dinner in the Sky will have chefs cooking live on board in the future. In the meantime, dinner consists of a fixed menu made of a different selections of appetisers, a main course, and desserts that the client can choose when he books the flight.

Haluk tells me that the main idea of Dinner In The Sky is to appreciate healthy food and be in touch with nature. All the ingredients are organic, giving every dish authentic flavours.

Haluk also mentions a future initiative they wish to bring to Dubai: "Marriage in the Sky." It's a full-on wedding in the sky for couples who wish to celebrate their union closer to heaven.

At the end of the ceremony, the couple can make their dreams come true by launching themselves into an adventurous bungee jump. Cool, isn't it? For more info on Marriage In The Sky you can check out the website, www.marriageinthesky.com.