GA in the middle east
 

Folks

In April 2007, I posted asking for advice for flying in Melbourne as I was going to be here for about a year - 10.5 years later, I've been asked if I would consider Dubai for work.

Flying in Melbourne has been awesome - I've got access to some of the most affordable private flying in the world, paying less than $100p/h for a 150 and $160p/h for a 172. I'm loving it - and it's a lot to consider giving up!

Is there absolutely no GA in and around Dubai? Would I be hanging my headset up until I move back to Aus or the UK in the future?
Would appreciate your thoughts.

If I could find some compromise, it'd make the decision a lot easier!

Thanks all!
GF

Well, there IS a runway but it seems to be mostly or perhaps even exclusively for a paradrop operation.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=17/25.08955/55.13290
I even remember a crash of a drop plane:
https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=20150707-0

GA in Dubai, no problem. If you may consider adding microlight and LSA to your portfolio, just talk to the guys at Jazirah Aviaton Club - 50 miles North Dubai center. The club had about 50 airplanes at the field and a couple of hundred members when I was visiting there. They are friendly and helpful. A friend was flying there during her time working years in Dubai and she was very pleased with the GA possibilities in UAE.

Second for microlight/LSA etc.

Anything needing AVGAS is going to be a struggle (though not impossible).

What about Fujairah?
 

A good few years ago we drove across from Dubai to Fujairah and hired a 172 (with instructor to make things easy). We had a great time, firstly flying up into Omani airspace then going across and making touch and goes at Sharjah, then Dubai, then Abu Dhabi before going back to Fujairah. No landing fees anywhere!

Avgas not being available, the 172 ran on Mogas, which made me think a bit due to the high temperatures:O

An experience to treasure........

PS there was a Hilton at Fujairah for post-flight lunch/celebration.