A new way to fly in the air travel hub of Dubai

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) In the air travel hub of Dubai there's a new way to fly: A zip line run by extreme sports company XDubai.

XDubai which began its operations in 2015 is associated with Shaikh Hamdanbin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council known by millions for his Instagram posts. The zip line fits into the extreme-sports aesthetic of this city-state already a popular skydiving destination where parachutes deploy daily among its skyscrapers.

The view from the start of the zip line is just as breathtaking. The Burj Khalifa the world's tallest building at 828 metres (2716 feet) looms to your left along with the under-construction ship-shaped Dubai Opera. Directly ahead lies the massive Dubai Mall and the dancing Dubai Fountain whose nightly music-and-light shows see water sprayed 140 metres (460 feet) into the air. The Address Downtown Dubai hotel is on your right.

To reach the zip line I entered one of the many residential towers surrounding the Burj Khalifa taking an elevator up to the 25th floor and walking up a utility staircase to the roof. There XDubai workers helped me into a zip-line harness that has a small satchel attached to hold riders' personal belongings.

I waited on a metal staircase watching those before me screech squeal and shout as they went over the edge. When my turn came XDubai staff strapped me in and told me to keep my feet up going over the edge. Other than that it was a quick one-two-three count before I too got pushed out into the open air.

The air whipped around my face on the 45-second ride 90 meters (300 feet) in the air the blue waters of the Dubai fountain beneath me as I hollered as well despite myself. Just as my feet reach the mall the line caught throwing my feet up in front of me.

Halted hanging in the air an XDubai worker asked me if I had a good time. I definitely had.