When people talk about the UAE, everyone always mentions visiting Dubai, but what about all the other places in the country? There are 7 Emirates in the UAE, and yet only Dubai, and sometimes Abu Dhabi, is often spoken of by travelers. We are here to change that.
Within this guide, we will highlight all the awesome travel destinations in the UAE that are outside of Dubai and great places to visit as a day trip for those who are looking to go off the beaten path in the UAE.
Without further ado, here are the 6 best day trips you can make from Dubai, but first, let's take a look at where these places are on the map below:
Best Day Trips to Make from Dubai Map
6 Best Day Trips to Make From Dubai
1. Hatta
One of the most popular day trips to make from Dubai, Hatta, a mountainous region east of Dubai right by the border between the UAE and Oman, is a great place to visit for those who are looking to get away from the modernity and extravagance of Dubai and surround themselves with desert mountains, jagged peaks, and traditional villages.
At Hatta, you will be able to spend some time learning about the life of the people living here, what it was like back then, and how they were able to survive with such scarcity at Hatta Heritage Village, a traditional mock-up village that will guide you through the history for free.
You have the opportunity to do some hiking here as well, with a little hike up the North and the South Tower of Hatta, where you will be able to really appreciate just how stunning the landscape is around there.
- Dubai Red Dunes ATV, Sandsurf, Stargazing & 5* BBQ Al Khayma Camp (6 hours)
- Dubai Dune Bashing, Self-Ride 60min ATV Quad, Camel Ride & Dinner (7 hours 30 minutes)
- Dubai Red Dune Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandboarding & BBQ Options (4 to 7 hours)
Best of all, at sunset, you can drive up to Hatta Dam, grab a kayak, and row around the stunning blue water, surrounded by the jagged peaks of Hatta as you watch the sunset. It is an incredibly surreal experience that you wouldn't expect to have in a desert country like the UAE.
The drive is about an hour and a half from Dubai on a pretty straightforward highway. You can either rent a car from Dubai or go on an organized tour if you are traveling solo to save costs.
2. Jebel Jais & Ras Al Khaimah
If you are looking to do something a little more extreme here, there is no better place to visit than Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the country. At an elevation of 1,934 m, Jebel Jais is a great place to visit as a day trip from Dubai, even in the midst of the summer months.
The drive to Jebel Jais is one of the most scenic drives you can make in the UAE, and once you are up there, you will be surrounded by stunning desert peaks and mountains that you didn't know existed in the UAE.
Jebel Jais is also home to the longest zipline in the world, where you will be able to take flights on a 9,284-foot (2.82 km) long zipline across canyons, reaching a speed of almost 95 mph (150 km per hour). There is nothing more extreme than that! You can get your Jebel Jais zipline tickets here.
There is also a nice rest stop up there where you will be able to have snacks while enjoying the stunning sunset, which is the best time to visit Jebel Jais, or you can go for a hike and ascend the highest accessible peak there for the sunset.
On your way there and back, be sure to stop by Ras Al Khaimah, the main city of the emirate with the same name. Places like the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah and Dhayah Fort are definitely worth your visit.
3. Fujairah
Fujairah is also another great day trip to make from Dubai. Located on the east coast of the Indian Ocean, this sleepy town is home to a ton of hidden gem things to do, such as a great mosque that nobody knows about, beautiful forts, and stunning dams for you to indulge yourself in.
The Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah is definitely the highlight of your visit. The grand mosque resembles the mosque designs you often see in Turkey, with a domed prayer hall and four minarets on all sides.
The inside of the mosque is as impressive as the outside, with beautiful patterns and a grand chandelier right at the center, worthy of its grand mosque destination. Best of all, it is free to enter without bookings or PCR tests, unlike the one in Abu Dhabi.
Fujairah Fort is also another awesome place to visit if you like old desert forts that are often found in this part of the world, mostly in Oman.
Driving further north, you will arrive in Khor Fakkan where you will be able to visit places like Al Rafisah Dam or go for a hike along the famous Al Rabi Hiking Trail.
You can easily spend an entire day between Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, and the two best ways to reach this place are either to rent a car from Dubai or go on an organized group. You can find more tours here.
4. Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi needs no introduction from me. As the capital city of the UAE, Abu Dhabi is home to the stunning Mosque Of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan the First, which is one of the most impressive mosques in the world and a must-visit if you are traveling in the UAE.
Abu Dhabi is also home to other awesome tourist attractions, like the Louvre, a museum full of unique international artwork collections just like the one in Paris, and Ferrari World, a massive motor racing theme park great for families, among others.
Abu Dhabi is definitely a place where you have to spend an entire day to truly appreciate its uniqueness. The place is definitely not just another Dubai. One of the reasons it may not rank higher on some people's lists is its rather strict rules when visiting famous landmarks, such as the Mosque of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan the First, particularly concerning women and their adherence to the hijab rule.
If your hijab happens to slip, revealing even a single strand of hair, security personnel will promptly issue a warning. So, make sure to be mindful of your attire when you're taking photos in the mosque. As long as you keep this in mind, you should be able to enjoy everything that Abu Dhabi has to offer.
My local friends were denied entry to many tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi because of these restrictions, so be sure to keep that in mind when planning a trip here.
The best way to get to Abu Dhabi is to either rent a car from Dubai or go on an organized tour to Abu Dhabi which should help you out with the current strict PCR-test requirements.
5. Al Ain
Last but not least, Al Ain, a city that goes by many names such as the city of gardens or the oasis of the Emirati desert, is another place you should definitely drop by. It is in this small city that the founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, spent much of his life.
In Al Ain, you will be able to visit the Al Ain Palace Museum, where you will be able to stroll around the Sheikh's previous residence and see how simple life was before the rise of oil and the wealth flowing in.
You can also visit Al Jahili Fort, see how camels are traded at the camel market, or drive up to Jebel Hafeet for a stunning view of the city.
Al Ain is part of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, so the PCR-test restrictions also apply here. So be sure to prepare the result before heading out to Al Ain. To get there, you can rent a car from Dubai or go on an organized tour to Al Ain.
6. Spend the Night in the Desert
Last but not least, if you are looking for a unique experience to have in the UAE and have about 2 days to spare, I highly recommend going on an organized tour to explore the beautiful open desert in a jeep. The trip will often include going on a safari, tracking down rare animals like onyx and falcons, witnessing falconry performances, and enjoying an overnight stay in a Bedouin camp in the heart of the desert.
There are plenty of desert tours available from Dubai, but it's best to opt for an overnight tour. In my personal experience, the evening at the camp with dance performances, superb traditional cuisine (where I had the opportunity to try camel meat for the first time), and the sunrise walk were the most memorable aspects.
I went with the Platinum Heritage Tour which is probably one of the most prestigious desert tours you will find here with an incredibly beautiful desert camp, great selection of food, and you get access to protected areas that other tours can not get to. It is quite pricey, but it was totally worth it for me. I met some really cool people at the camp as well 😁.
If you only have a day to spare, Platinum Heritage also has a day trip you can join which follows pretty much the same itinerary as the overnight trip but without spending the night. It is also half the price, which is great for those on a budget.
If you're looking for something more extreme to get your adrenaline pumping, you can also go with a dune-bashing tour, where you'll be clinging to your life as the jeep driver navigates the sand dunes. If that doesn't get your adrenaline pumping, I don't know what will. All in all, you can't come to Dubai without experiencing the desert, so be sure not to miss it.
More The UAE Activities
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for the United Arab Emirates
I have plenty of articles to help you with your trip planning for the United Arab Emirates. Here is a selection of articles that you might find useful:
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary to Dubai and the UAE? Here is a 7 Days Backpacking Dubai Itinerary.
- Have a few days to spare and wondering what you can do in Dubai? Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Dubai.
- Planning to visit the Expo 2020 Dubai event soon? Here are the 15 Most Beautiful Pavilions To Visit At Expo 2020 Dubai that you shouldn't miss.
- To see all articles about the UAE, visit the United Arab Emirates Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for the Middle East? You can find more on my Middle East Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
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