When Lieutenant Al Shehhi Ahmed, sporting his Emirati dress (kandura), stood on the ramp of Burj Khalifa in Dubai, he felt an overwhelming sense of pride. For the 36-year-old pilot, this was not just a base jump from 500 meters; it was also about representing the UAE from the top of the world’s tallest building.
Lt Al Shehhi, a base jumper, skydiver, and an officer of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), was among 31 select athletes from over 15 countries invited for Exit139, a daring base-jumping event that took place over two days.
While Lt Al Shehhi had performed skydives in a kandura before, this jump was particularly special for him.
“Jumping from the world’s tallest building in our national dress was a moment of pride, not just for me, but for every Emirati,” he said. “I received calls saying, ‘You have represented us. You are our ambassador.’”
Lt Al Shehhi also performed a separate jump wearing his official GDRFA uniform. “Representing my organization in such a historic event made me even prouder,” he said.
When he approached his higher-ups for approval, they immediately offered support. “They encouraged me, and that made it even more special,” said the athlete, who completed 14 base jumps in two days during Exit139.
Al Shehhi’s journey into extreme sports began in 2011 when he took up skydiving. A year later, he was selected for the UAE national skydiving team and has since participated in numerous competitions and exhibitions across the UAE and worldwide.
“This was my first time jumping from Burj Khalifa,” he said. “I started base jumping in 2020 in Idaho, USA, and later in Switzerland. But I still can’t believe that I actually jumped from the Burj Khalifa. It was my dream.”
To ensure a safe descent from Burj Khalifa, a specially designed ramp was built that extended a few meters from the building, creating a clear flight path. “The safety measures were world-class, with expert trainers, security personnel, and weather monitors ensuring the perfect conditions,” he said.
“The first day had strong winds, but on the second day, the weather was calmer, making it ideal for the jump. The moment the instructor said, ‘Ahmed, you can jump,’ I got goosebumps. I didn’t see anything, I just jumped. It was the best moment of my life.”
During freefall, Lt Al Shehhi followed a planned flight path. “In the video, you can see that I moved away from the building while my fellow jumper filmed me closer to the structure. That’s a safety measure to ensure enough room for parachute deployment,” he said.
The entire descent lasted under a minute, with 10 seconds of freefall and about 45 seconds of controlled landing.
Lt Al Shehhi, who has completed over 9,000 skydives and 160 base jumps, described the experience as incomparable.
“Seeing Dubai from mid-air is an entirely different feeling. It’s nothing like a plane or helicopter ride. You feel the wind rushing through your body and an immense sense of pride.”
