Dubai's sky-high aspirations find a new outlet as it hosts a jet suit race for 'Iron Man' pilots

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This city-state in the United Arab Emirates, known for being home to the world's tallest building and other wonders, hosted what it called its first-ever jet suit race. "And yes, the world of Marvel superheroes and DC Comics, they have created that dream book with CGI, and we’ve got the closest I think anybody’s ever got to to delivering that for real.” Gravity previously drew worldwide attention when it equipped one of its jet suits on a U.K. Royal Marine, who landed on a ship at sea several years ago. The races on Wednesday saw pilots wear 1,500-horsepower jet suits, using the same kind of fuel that powers Dubai-based long-haul carrier Emirates' Airbus A380s and Boeing 777 aircraft. “It's pretty amazing to see that they can do this in Dubai and they have these guys flying over the water,” said Jennifer Ross, 50, a U.S. citizen from Houston who now lives in Dubai.