We take a ride on Dubai’s XLine. Watch the footage and find out how to have a go yourself. 

Few things will shake you out of your daily routine quite like zipping through the air at 85 kilometres per hour and landing to tell to the tale.

Since its installation, a handful of Dubai residents – including adventure enthusiast His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – have had the opportunity to ride the world’s most talked-about zipline, XLine Dubai, which sets off from Burj Residences 3 in Downtown Dubai, all the way across The Dubai Fountain to The Dubai Mall. We did too! Here’s how our ride went down:

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After making our way to the 30th floor, then walking up another two flights of stairs, we reached the roof, which had been transformed into an extreme sports adventure zone. There were flags, harnesses, and bright yellow XDubai logos – a brand that’s now become synonymous with outrageous extreme stunts across the globe – peppered over the rooftop. As we looked across some 600 metres to the other side, we could see more giant, yellow XDubai posters. In between was a thick cable running from one side to the other.

While I can lay claim to having tried a few ziplines in my time, nothing could quite prepare me for the brilliant sensation of swooping across Downtown Dubai as I dangled some 30 stories up trying to take in the view.

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Sure, you may have encountered ones that meander, or are purely for scenic purposes, or aimed as a family-friendly adventure, but the XLine is unlike any other. In fact, it starts off like a barrelling roller coaster with a one-track mind – to fly you through the air at lightning pace. By the time you pass the Burj Khalifa, though, the momentum slows and you can properly enjoy the view. Sadly, after 40 seconds, it’s all over.

XLine’s trump card is its location. What better place in the world is there to zipline than in the centre of Downtown Dubai, beside the world’s tallest building, past the stunning Souk Al Bahar, across a lake and landing on top of The Dubai Mall?

Sign up on XDubai’s Facebook page for your chance to take your own leap off the edge…

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