Capital Gate is known as the leaning tower of Abu Dhabi, a glass skyscraper whose tilted shape stands out among the upright towers of the city. From the street it looks like an optical illusion. From a helicopter you can see the lean clearly against the buildings and roads around it. On the Abu Dhabi hub it is a sight on the two 30-minute flights, and it is one of the few towers in the city that looks more striking from above than from street level.
The Abu Dhabi 30-Minute Shared Helicopter Tour is the one to look at first. It spends 30 minutes in the air and costs from US$273 per person, in a shared helicopter with up to 6 guests. The route follows the Corniche past the Rixos hotel, Marina Mall and the flagpole, passes the Presidential Palace and the gardens of Emirates Palace, and heads out over the Arabian Gulf to Hudayriyat Island. It then passes Capital Gate and continues to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Sheikh Zayed Sports City and the mangroves around Reem Island.
The Abu Dhabi 30-Minute Private Helicopter Tour flies the same route with only your group on board, from US$1,362 per helicopter for up to 6 guests. Capital Gate is not named on the 17-minute flights, which stay closer to the Corniche and the palaces before turning to the mosque. So if the leaning tower is on your list, choose one of the 30-minute tours, and decide whether you want to share the cabin or keep it to your group.
Both 30-minute flights start and finish at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal heliport at Zayed Port (Mina Zayed). Capital Gate comes in the second half of the route, after the Corniche, the palaces and the stretch over the Gulf to Hudayriyat Island, and shortly before the Grand Mosque. Headsets are included so you can hear the pilot’s live commentary in English, and the cabin has large windows, which helps with a tower that is all about its angle.
The helicopter passes the tower rather than circling it, and there is no set time over any single landmark. On the shared flight the crew assigns seats, with up to 6 guests on board. The private flight carries only your group, and the price covers the whole helicopter. Cancel up to 24 hours before your flight for a full refund. If the weather or visibility is poor, you can reschedule free of charge or take a full refund.
Arrive at the heliport 45 minutes before your flight, and bring an original, valid passport or Emirates ID for every guest. There is no hotel pickup, so make your own way to Zayed Port. Food, drinks, selfie sticks, smoking and vaping are not allowed on board. Shared flights allow up to 110 kg (242 lb) per passenger, and private flights up to 420 kg (920 lb) for the whole group. Children must be at least 2 years old, and the flights are not suitable for wheelchair users or pregnant women. To see Capital Gate and the Gulf coast in half an hour, book the 30-minute shared tour.
Se Capital Gate från luften: Abu Dhabi · Abu Dhabi 30-Minute Shared Helicopter Tour.