Dubai itself is flat and fast, built around wide highways like Sheikh Zayed Road. The good driving is out of town, in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain and along the east coast, where the roads finally climb and turn. Here are five routes worth the early start, and the kind of car that makes each one better.
Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah
Jebel Jais is the one every driver here talks about. It is about 175 km from Dubai, roughly two hours up the E311 and then the signed mountain road as you cross into Ras Al Khaimah. The last stretch climbs around 30 km of smooth, wide, well-kept tarmac with long sweeping corners, the closest thing the UAE has to an Alpine pass. Go early to beat the heat and the traffic both.
This is a road that rewards power and a settled ride. A sports car is the obvious choice, though a big grand tourer like the Rolls-Royce Wraith suits the long open sections just as well.
Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain
Jebel Hafeet sits on the edge of Al Ain, about 170 km and two hours from Dubai. The road up is a piece of engineering history, built in 1986: nearly 12 km long with sixty corners as it rises about 1,200 metres to the summit, where there is a car park and a long view back over the city. It is regularly rated one of the best driving roads in the world, and on a quiet morning it is easy to see why.
The switchbacks suit something agile. A convertible with the roof down near sunset is hard to beat here.
Hatta
Hatta is closer, around ninety minutes from Dubai in the Hajar Mountains near the Oman border. The roads are tighter and less forgiving than Jebel Jais, with sharp curves, blind bends and sudden dips, so it rewards a careful pace rather than speed. The dam and the turquoise reservoir are the payoff at the end, along with kayaking and mountain trails if you want to make a day of it.
The east coast: Khor Fakkan
For sea instead of summit, head to the east coast. Khor Fakkan is about 140 km from Dubai, around ninety minutes through the Hajar Mountains, and the newer road in cuts through mountain passes with the Gulf of Oman opening up on the far side. The corniche, the waterfall and the cliffside viewpoints make it a full day out, and the driving on the way is as good as the destination. A comfortable luxury car or a large SUV suits the distance.
Al Qudra, on Dubai's doorstep
If you do not have a full day, Al Qudra Road runs into the desert on the southern edge of the city, past Al Qudra Lakes and the Love Lake. It is flat and straight rather than technical, but an early run out there, dunes on either side and almost no traffic, is one of the easiest good drives you can do from the city.
When to go
The season matters more than the time of day. From November to March the mountains are cool and clear, and the roads are at their best in the early morning before the day-trippers arrive. In summer, go at first light or not at all, because midday heat in the mountains is punishing. Fridays and public holidays fill Jebel Jais and Hatta, so a weekday run is quieter.
Matching the car to the road
Fast, open climbs like Jebel Jais reward power and stability, so a sports car or a big grand tourer is the pick. Tight, technical roads like Hatta and Jebel Hafeet are more about balance than speed, where a nimble coupe or convertible shines. The longer cruises to the east coast or out to Al Qudra are about comfort, which is where a luxury sedan or SUV earns its keep.
Before you go
- Fill up before you leave; stations get sparse in the mountains
- Start early, both for the temperature and the empty road
- Check the car's insurance covers other emirates, and tell the company your plan
- Salik gates are in Dubai only; none of these routes are tolled
- Carry water, and don't rely on phone signal on the climbs
All five are an easy day trip in the right car. Browse the full fleet or the luxury range, and we will deliver it in Dubai with a full tank and no deposit.