Dubai itself is mostly motorway, but within two or three hours there are roads that are worth driving for their own sake. All of these are paved, which matters because a rental is only insured on sealed roads. For the paved desert roads, such as Al Qudra and Liwa, see our desert driving guide.
Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah
The road up Jebel Jais climbs the UAE's highest mountain in a long series of hairpins, from the gravel plains outside Ras Al Khaimah to a viewing area well over a thousand metres higher. It is wide, well surfaced and has crash barriers the whole way, with several lay-bys for photographs.
From Dubai it is about an hour and a half to two hours each way, mostly on Emirates Road. Go early in the morning or late afternoon: the light is better and there are fewer people at the top. At the summit it is noticeably cooler than on the coast, which is pleasant in summer and cold in January.
The climb is steep, so a car with plenty of torque is easiest. An SUV is relaxed going up and down; a sports car is more fun, but take the descent slowly to keep the brakes cool.
Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain
Jebel Hafeet rises on its own beside Al Ain, on the border with Oman. The road to the top is about 12 kilometres long with around 60 bends, and it is often called one of the best driving roads in the world. The surface is excellent, the bends are well sighted, and there is a car park at the summit with views over Al Ain.
Al Ain is about an hour and a half from Dubai. Weekend evenings bring a crowd to the mountain road, so a weekday morning is the quietest time to drive it. The city also has a camel market and an oasis worth an hour if you are making a day of it.
The east coast, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan
The drive across to the east coast takes you through the Hajar mountains and down to the Gulf of Oman. The newer road to Khor Fakkan runs through a string of tunnels cut into the mountains, and the coast road south towards Fujairah follows the sea with the mountains behind.
Allow about two hours from Dubai to the coast. It is a good day out in a convertible in the cooler months, with a beach stop on the way, and an easy drive in any car.
Abu Dhabi, the corniche and Saadiyat
For something flatter, the drive to Abu Dhabi ends on a long corniche and the roads around Saadiyat Island, wide and quiet early in the morning. It is about 90 minutes from Dubai Marina. The emirate runs its own cameras and its own tolls, so read our Dubai to Abu Dhabi guide first.
Before you set off
- Take water. Mountain roads have few shops, and in summer a breakdown in the sun is not a small problem.
- Speed limits apply on mountain roads too, and cameras are common on the approaches.
- Stay on the road. Wadis and gravel tracks next to these roads are off-road for insurance purposes, whatever car you are in.
- Oman needs permission in advance. Some routes run close to the border. Crossing into Oman in a rental needs our written permission and Omani insurance, both sorted before the trip.
For mountain drives, a Land Rover Defender or a Nissan Patrol is comfortable for a family, and a Porsche 911 or a Huracan makes the bends the point of the trip.
