13,000 FT.

That’s how high up in the sky you are when you’re jumping out of a plane over the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

Let me back up here.

A few months ago, I went skydiving (in my opinion) one of the most extravagant cities over one of the coolest man-made islands – the Palm Jumeirah. It was a rush of adrenaline, overexcitement, and fear and one of the most epic things I have done thus far that I got to cross off my bucket list.

Me and my family were in Dubai back in March of 2023 during the month of Ramadan so tourism was low and the city was a little quieter. We were on our way to my parent’s home country of Bangladesh and decided to spend as a few days in the UAE since we had a layover there anyway.

We were only in Dubai for a couple days before we left to visit Abu Dhabi so the night we flew in, I thought it was now or never. I either book my slot to skydive the next morning or I miss this shot and it has been on my bucket list since I was 16 to skydive over the Palm Jumeirah so I said screw it. I’m booking it.

The next morning, I had the JITTERS. It was skydiving day and I was absolutely terrified but also excited. We arrive to Skydive Dubai located on the Palm Jumeirah and the place is filled from people all over the world waiting for their turn to tandem skydive.

They begin by introducing you to the professional who will be performing the tandem skydive with you – you’re attached to them during the whole time. Once we were introduced, one of the girls conducting all of the interviews for the potential skydivers interviewed me to ask how I was feeling and what made me want to go skydiving. This eventually went into the video/photo package that I received afterwards. I was scared and so nervous but I channeled all that energy into being excited. Once the interview was over, I met back with my trainer who I will be performing the tandem jump with. We got to know each other as we waited for the plane that was going to be taking us up. There was a group of about 9 of us – 3 professionals, 3 more professional jumpers to video our jump, and 3 of us amateurs attached to each professional.

The plane ride up to our jumping point was breath-taking. You saw all that Dubai had to offer below you – the Burj Al Arab, the city skyline, and finally a view of the Palm Jumeirah below us. Once we reached an altitude of 13,000, one of the videographers opened the door of the plane for the first pair to dive. I was second. I don’t even think I remember seeing the first pair take their jump because I was so scared.

It was my turn, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was about to tandem skydive out of a plane with the Palm Jumeirah below. My trainer wasted no time. On three we went..

1.. 2.. JUMP

And there we went. The first 60 seconds was a free fall and they were the most terrifying yet exhilarating 90 seconds of my life. I was screaming at the top of my lungs, the wind was slapping me in the face, and all I could think was HAVE GOOD FORM SO I DON’T KILL US IN THIS MOMENT! REMEMBER WHAT THE INSTRUCTOR SAID!

60 seconds later, my professional jumper that I was attached to released the parachute and it was smooth sailing from there. We were gliding in the air for about 5-7 minutes and it was just peaceful. We were gliding over the ocean, over the Palm Jumeirah with the city scape in the distance. You could even see the beyond the city from how high we were up. And it was magical. All I could think while I was in the sky was I did it. I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. Nothing mattered in that moment but taking everything in and looking out over the city below me.

After about 5-7 minutes, we safely land back at the skydiving facility. I couldn’t believe it. I think I was still in disbelief when my feet touched the ground. My body was back on the Earth but my mind was still up in the sky. And it was one of the most epic feelings.