A view to a thrill
If you live and work in Dubai like I do, sometimes it can feel like you spend most of your life staring at the car in front of you (usually a taxi) on the Shaikh Zayed Road.
You know there are fabulous buildings all around you, that technically you live in a desert, and that you are fortunate to be in one of the most fascinating destinations in the world — but it can all slip from your mind in the day-to-day grind.
Tour operators in the UAE are catching on to the fact that, when they do have some free time, many people want to enjoy some sort of ‘experience’ — rather than simply sitting on a beach all day or going for a brunch.
One such operator is Seawings, who organise seaplane trips over Dubai and the northern emirates.
When they offered me the chance to hop on board to get a different view of the city, I knew it would be just what the doctor ordered.
Sky-high demand
Seawings has carved a very successful niche in the travel ‘experiences’ sector and although it is only entering its second season, it currently flies an impressive 15,000 people per month in a fleet of three Cessna 208 Caravans.
So on a clear and bright morning, a friend and I bundled into a taxi down to Club Joumana in Jebel Ali Resort and Spa — the operating base for the fleet.
There we were greeted by the brains behind the venture, CEO Stewart Wheeler, who explained to us the company’s vision for expansion.
A couple of facts that caught me by surprise were that the operator had recently been placed at the top of the pile on the much-used tripadvisor.com and that the New York Times had last year voted a flight on a Seawings seaplane as the number one thing to do when in Dubai.
“Flying on a seaplane is something that few people have done; it is something very unique and a really dramatic way to see Dubai from the air,” enthused Wheeler.
“When you fly with us, the emphasis is on having an experience, not just transportation.”
Wheeler stressed that the aircraft are maintained by highly qualified engineers and that the company is regulated just like any other airline.
Even more reassuring was the fact that its pilots are amongst the world’s most skilled at flying seaplanes and between them have accrued thousands of hours of air time.
Hitting the water
For our trip that day we were scheduled to head over Dubai for a close-up aerial view of the famous landmarks, before heading down to Ras Al Khaimah for a sailing trip on the Arabian Gulf. It all sounded splendid.
With passport and boarding pass clutched in hand, my friend and I headed purposefully down to the marina ready for our flight.
Our chosen mode of transport looked so dainty as we shuffled down the boardwalk that it instantly reminded of the model aircraft kids often have suspended from their bedroom ceilings.
However, once on board and fastened securely to nice plush leather seats, I was raring to go.
What is odd at first is the realisation that you are in an aeroplane, sat on water, about to take off.
Your mind has to adjust, especially when you start heading towards the ‘runway’ — a.k.a. the sea.
Our friendly American pilot kept nerves calm however by explaining to us what was coming next and seemed so relaxed in his job, even the most edgy amongst us started to press our noses against the windows.
And then the roar of engines and take-off — and a lot of splashing water! But it is a real thrill — and much more bouncy than a normal aircraft, but in a fun, fairground ride kind of way.
There’s no getting around it, even on a day with good conditions like ours, there are a few bumps and drops when you’re up in the air in a seaplane.
I have no issues with flying, in fact I love it, but my friend went an interesting shade of green a few times and had trouble concentrating on her camera duties in between groans.
Jaw-dropping views
But despite a few lurches, I think all of us (the aircraft carries nine passengers) were unprepared for the amazing views we were about to be treated to.
“Look!” shrieked one passenger, “The Palm!”… and indeed it was, the under-construction Jebel Ali Palm spread out below us in all its glory, so close it felt unreal.
It is only at this point that you realise the sheer level of engineering skill and audacity the planners behind Dubai’s transformation must have.
And from then it was difficult to take it all in at once: Burj Dubai, The World Islands, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina (I admit I was gesticulating wildly that I could “see my flat!”) — it was all there in amazing detail.
If you think flying in a seaplane must be similar to passing over Dubai on a regular aeroplane, think again. This is the real deal.
Another Seawings seaplane was flying parallel to us on this trip and it was surprising to see how close they get to one another — all testimony to the skill of the pilots — but somewhat disconcerting when the plane next to you suddenly drops from sight only to reappear on the other side!
As we travelled along the coast, away from Dubai, past Sharjah and over the less developed emirates Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, the landscape in between changed and it was my first real opportunity to see the stark beauty of the UAE coastline; along with expanses of desert there was more greenery than I expected and patches of what looked from above like swamp.
Sailing in style
Eventually we approached our landing destination — the Hilton Resort & Spa Ras Al Khaimah, where we were to catch our next mode of transport for the day, a traditional Lejainie schooner.
Landing in the marina outside the Hilton was surprisingly gentle compared to the take off — much to the relief of the weak-of-stomach amongst us.
The Hilton at RAK is quite impressive and from a quick scan of the surrounding area it was clear the emirate has big plans.
Tell-tale skyscraper skeletons were dotted around us, but the overall ambience of the place is fairly laid-back and the few official tourism representatives we encountered were genuinely friendly and knowledgeable.
So, with only half an hour to get our land legs back, we were hopping on board the schooner for a few hours sailing.
I’m definitely going to start scouring my family tree for noted sailors or sea captains because not once during the entire trip did I feel motion sickness.
The same cannot be said for everyone onboard our boat (my ill-fated camera pal included) — so I guess it’s all in the genes — but most people seemed very happy.
Fine dining
What was startling was the elegance of the dining experience on the boat. I guess we were all expecting a few sandwiches, tea and coffee.
Not a bit of it. We were ushered to tastefully set tables and treated to a delicious three-course meal including homemade soup, a delicious buffet salad and fresh grilled fish.
The quality of the fare was made more impressive by the tiny size of the kitchen the chef had to work in.
After a pleasant couple of hours slicing through the waves, watching the crew unfurl and position the sails, and simply sitting back to take in the view of the Omani mountains, we made our way back to the marina just as it began to get dark.
A comfortable coach was waiting to take us on the final leg of the trip — a leisurely drive back to Dubai.
I was surprised how tired I suddenly felt. Probably the result of a lot of adrenaline and fresh air in one day after weeks of being harnessed to a desk.
And the best result of the day was, thanks to my seaplane experience, when we did finally arrive back to Dubai, I was delighted to see it.
PROFILE
The concept
Based in Dubai, Seawings is the Middle East’s only seaplane tour operator.
Starting with one Cessna 208 Caravan amphibious seaplane in 2007, the operator was launched with the idea to create a new and unique aerial sightseeing excursion across Dubai’s dramatic and ever-changing coastal skyline.
Its vision is to provide a bird’s eye view of the region’s natural beauty and Dubai’s extraordinary manmade structures.
Services include scenic flights, customised excursions, packages and exclusive aircraft charters. The company is expanding its offering to include various activity, sightseeing and cultural trips.
ECOLOGY
Seeing green
Seaplanes have proven to be environmentally friendly as they emit no contamination. Since the propeller, engine and exhaust are all above water there is no disturbance to marine life and there is no oil discharge into the water. They also have low external noise and excellent safety records.
OFFERS
Tour options
Seawings Pearl — Dh895per person Seawings Silver — Dh1125 per person Seawings Gold Lite — Dh6500 per charter Seawings Gold — Dh9500 per charter Seawings Diamond — Bespoke tour price on application SIGHTS
Jebel Ali Palm Burj Dubai The World Islands Jebel Ali Port Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai Marina Palm Jumeirah Dubai Creek* Dubai Festival City*
If you live and work in Dubai like I do, sometimes it can feel like you spend most of your life staring at the car in front of you (usually a taxi) on the Shaikh Zayed Road.
You know there are fabulous buildings all around you, that technically you live in a desert, and that you are fortunate to be in one of the most fascinating destinations in the world — but it can all slip from your mind in the day-to-day grind.
Tour operators in the UAE are catching on to the fact that, when they do have some free time, many people want to enjoy some sort of ‘experience’ — rather than simply sitting on a beach all day or going for a brunch.
One such operator is Seawings, who organise seaplane trips over Dubai and the northern emirates.
When they offered me the chance to hop on board to get a different view of the city, I knew it would be just what the doctor ordered.
Sky-high demand
Seawings has carved a very successful niche in the travel ‘experiences’ sector and although it is only entering its second season, it currently flies an impressive 15,000 people per month in a fleet of three Cessna 208 Caravans.
So on a clear and bright morning, a friend and I bundled into a taxi down to Club Joumana in Jebel Ali Resort and Spa — the operating base for the fleet.
There we were greeted by the brains behind the venture, CEO Stewart Wheeler, who explained to us the company’s vision for expansion.
A couple of facts that caught me by surprise were that the operator had recently been placed at the top of the pile on the much-used tripadvisor.com and that the New York Times had last year voted a flight on a Seawings seaplane as the number one thing to do when in Dubai.
“Flying on a seaplane is something that few people have done; it is something very unique and a really dramatic way to see Dubai from the air,” enthused Wheeler.
“When you fly with us, the emphasis is on having an experience, not just transportation.”
Wheeler stressed that the aircraft are maintained by highly qualified engineers and that the company is regulated just like any other airline.
Even more reassuring was the fact that its pilots are amongst the world’s most skilled at flying seaplanes and between them have accrued thousands of hours of air time.
Hitting the water
For our trip that day we were scheduled to head over Dubai for a close-up aerial view of the famous landmarks, before heading down to Ras Al Khaimah for a sailing trip on the Arabian Gulf. It all sounded splendid.
With passport and boarding pass clutched in hand, my friend and I headed purposefully down to the marina ready for our flight.
Our chosen mode of transport looked so dainty as we shuffled down the boardwalk that it instantly reminded of the model aircraft kids often have suspended from their bedroom ceilings.
However, once on board and fastened securely to nice plush leather seats, I was raring to go.
What is odd at first is the realisation that you are in an aeroplane, sat on water, about to take off.
Your mind has to adjust, especially when you start heading towards the ‘runway’ — a.k.a. the sea.
Our friendly American pilot kept nerves calm however by explaining to us what was coming next and seemed so relaxed in his job, even the most edgy amongst us started to press our noses against the windows.
And then the roar of engines and take-off — and a lot of splashing water! But it is a real thrill — and much more bouncy than a normal aircraft, but in a fun, fairground ride kind of way.
There’s no getting around it, even on a day with good conditions like ours, there are a few bumps and drops when you’re up in the air in a seaplane.
I have no issues with flying, in fact I love it, but my friend went an interesting shade of green a few times and had trouble concentrating on her camera duties in between groans.
Jaw-dropping views
But despite a few lurches, I think all of us (the aircraft carries nine passengers) were unprepared for the amazing views we were about to be treated to.
“Look!” shrieked one passenger, “The Palm!”… and indeed it was, the under-construction Jebel Ali Palm spread out below us in all its glory, so close it felt unreal.
It is only at this point that you realise the sheer level of engineering skill and audacity the planners behind Dubai’s transformation must have.
And from then it was difficult to take it all in at once: Burj Dubai, The World Islands, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina (I admit I was gesticulating wildly that I could “see my flat!”) — it was all there in amazing detail.
If you think flying in a seaplane must be similar to passing over Dubai on a regular aeroplane, think again. This is the real deal.
Another Seawings seaplane was flying parallel to us on this trip and it was surprising to see how close they get to one another — all testimony to the skill of the pilots — but somewhat disconcerting when the plane next to you suddenly drops from sight only to reappear on the other side!
As we travelled along the coast, away from Dubai, past Sharjah and over the less developed emirates Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, the landscape in between changed and it was my first real opportunity to see the stark beauty of the UAE coastline; along with expanses of desert there was more greenery than I expected and patches of what looked from above like swamp.
Sailing in style
Eventually we approached our landing destination — the Hilton Resort & Spa Ras Al Khaimah, where we were to catch our next mode of transport for the day, a traditional Lejainie schooner.
Landing in the marina outside the Hilton was surprisingly gentle compared to the take off — much to the relief of the weak-of-stomach amongst us.
The Hilton at RAK is quite impressive and from a quick scan of the surrounding area it was clear the emirate has big plans.
Tell-tale skyscraper skeletons were dotted around us, but the overall ambience of the place is fairly laid-back and the few official tourism representatives we encountered were genuinely friendly and knowledgeable.
So, with only half an hour to get our land legs back, we were hopping on board the schooner for a few hours sailing.
I’m definitely going to start scouring my family tree for noted sailors or sea captains because not once during the entire trip did I feel motion sickness.
The same cannot be said for everyone onboard our boat (my ill-fated camera pal included) — so I guess it’s all in the genes — but most people seemed very happy.
Fine dining
What was startling was the elegance of the dining experience on the boat. I guess we were all expecting a few sandwiches, tea and coffee.
Not a bit of it. We were ushered to tastefully set tables and treated to a delicious three-course meal including homemade soup, a delicious buffet salad and fresh grilled fish.
The quality of the fare was made more impressive by the tiny size of the kitchen the chef had to work in.
After a pleasant couple of hours slicing through the waves, watching the crew unfurl and position the sails, and simply sitting back to take in the view of the Omani mountains, we made our way back to the marina just as it began to get dark.
A comfortable coach was waiting to take us on the final leg of the trip — a leisurely drive back to Dubai.
I was surprised how tired I suddenly felt. Probably the result of a lot of adrenaline and fresh air in one day after weeks of being harnessed to a desk.
And the best result of the day was, thanks to my seaplane experience, when we did finally arrive back to Dubai, I was delighted to see it.
PROFILE
The concept
Based in Dubai, Seawings is the Middle East’s only seaplane tour operator.
Starting with one Cessna 208 Caravan amphibious seaplane in 2007, the operator was launched with the idea to create a new and unique aerial sightseeing excursion across Dubai’s dramatic and ever-changing coastal skyline.
Its vision is to provide a bird’s eye view of the region’s natural beauty and Dubai’s extraordinary manmade structures.
Services include scenic flights, customised excursions, packages and exclusive aircraft charters. The company is expanding its offering to include various activity, sightseeing and cultural trips.
ECOLOGY
Seeing green
Seaplanes have proven to be environmentally friendly as they emit no contamination. Since the propeller, engine and exhaust are all above water there is no disturbance to marine life and there is no oil discharge into the water. They also have low external noise and excellent safety records.
OFFERS
Tour options
Seawings Pearl — Dh895per person Seawings Silver — Dh1125 per person Seawings Gold Lite — Dh6500 per charter Seawings Gold — Dh9500 per charter Seawings Diamond — Bespoke tour price on application SIGHTS
Jebel Ali Palm Burj Dubai The World Islands Jebel Ali Port Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai Marina Palm Jumeirah Dubai Creek* Dubai Festival City*
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