5 Best Places to Road Trip in the UAE

UAE offers a variety of landscapes. The scenery changes from mountains to plains to dunes to coastal forms in no time. Taking a road trip in the UAE would be a feast to our eyes and bring peace to our mental state. On the pro-column, they have amazing road connectivity between the cities. We’ve compiled a list of 5 best places to Road trip in the UAE in this article.

Best Places to Road trip in the UAE

Al-Ain – UNESCO World Heritage City

The garden city of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain is the largest inland city in the UAE. It is located 148 km away from Dubai. With a strict height control policy in the city, Al Ain has a refreshing cityscape compared to the other cities in the UAE. 

The only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UAE is famous for its oases, parks, tree-lined avenues and has 5 malls. There is an international karting circuit as well. Wadi Adventure, a must-visit place, has a super-sized surf pool and the world’s largest man-made white water channels. A safari trip is available in the Al Ain Zoo.

A weekend road trip to this oldest inhabited settlement would offer a refreshing breath to our usual routine.  

Other Attractions in Al-Ain

Al-Ain National Museum

Al-Ain Palace Museum

Hili Archaeological Park

Jebel Hafeet Desert Park

Distance from Dubai: 1 hr 38 min (148.5 km) via Al Ain – Dubai Rd/E66

Hatta – Would make you wish for one more pair of Eyes

Hatta is located just 1.5 hours away from Dubai is a heritage village renowned for its breathtaking mountain landscape, turquoise waters, and relatively cool climate. The Hatta adventure centre hosts a bunch of activities like kayaking, axe throwing, zorbing, biking, and archery to make your weekends adventurous. The latest addition is Hatta luxury caravan that will reopen to the public on October 1. 

Other Attractions in Hatta

Fort Hotel, Hatta

Hatta Heritage Village

Rock Pools

Distance from Dubai: 1 hr 29 min (134.7 km) via Sharjah-Kalba Rd/E102

Fujairah – Adventure and Water Sports 

The seventh-largest city in the UAE, located on the east coast, is one of the best places for road trips in the UAE. Fujairah is sandwiched between the majestic Hajar mountain ranges on one side and the pristine beach on the other. By road, it’ll take two hours to reach Fujairah from Dubai and the whole trip will be on sealed roads. So, you’ll get an amazing road trip experience throughout.

Fujairah is a popular destination for adventure lovers and thrill-seekers. There is an adventure park that offers adventure activities like cycling, trekking, and dirt jumps. Because of the beach, they also have water-based activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing. You can also visit Snoopy Island, Sandy Beach, and Khor Fakkan.

There are numerous beachfront hotels that could accommodate you and there are many sightseeing places as well. It’ll be a great choice for a weekend road trip mixed with few adventure activities.

Other Attractions in Fujairah

Fujairah’s Fort & Museum

Fujairah Heritage Village

Al Hayl Castle

Fujairah Corniche 

Distance from Dubai: 1 hr 20 min (122.7 km) via Sharjah-Kalba Rd/E102

Liwa – Desert, Desert Everywhere, But not a slice to Eat

Located 3 plus away from Dubai, the road trip to Liwa would be desert and dunes all the way. Moreeb Dune, the highest sandhill in the world, is here. Drag race competitions are hosted here in the Moreeb Dune. If you’re someone interested in camel trekking and off-road driving, Liwa is the perfect road trip destination for you. One of the best times to visit Liwa would be during the Liwa Date Festival. Also, you should visit the Liwa Oasis.

Other Attractions in Liwa

Liwa Forts

Mezairaa Town

Liwa Dunes

Distance from Dubai: 3 hr 28 min (331.0 km) via E11 and Hameem Rd/Liwa – Abu Dhabi Rd/E65

Ras Al Khaimah – The Adventure Destination

The sixth-largest city in the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost Emirate. It is home to Jebel Jais mountain which hosts the world’s longest zipline suspending at 1680 m above sea level. 

The city famous for adventure activities is just an hour away from Dubai and has the most beautiful sceneries along the way. It offers the best hiking experience in the Middle East along with horse riding, paragliding, fishing, and golfing. Ras Al Khaimah is a popular destination during the summer as the city records almost 10 degrees cooler than Dubai. It recently added a sky maze to its list of adventure activities.

Other Attractions in Ras Al Khaimah

Iceland Water Park 

Khatts Spring

Jebel Jais

Distance from Dubai: 1 hr 16 min (113.1 km) via Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Rd/E311

Tired of watching the skyscrapers and crowded malls, take your family and pick up your key. All these amazing destinations are well connected and safe to travel to. Enjoy your weekend/holiday road trip with your family and friends.

If you’ve been to these mentioned places, do share your road trip experiences with us in the comment section below. Share the best places to road trip in the UAE with your friends and family to motivate them to take a road trip.