Introduction

From the stunning beaches of Dubai to the historic buildings of Abu Dhabi, the camel market of Al Ain, the lake at Hatta, and the beautiful mountains of Ras Al Khaima, this itinerary is perfect for anyone planning a trip to the UAE!

Details

Day 1 - Dubai

We arrived in Dubai and checked into our hotel. We took the metro for the first few days as we realised we didn’t need a car in Dubai. After leaving our bags, we headed to the pool to relax and unwind. Once we were feeling refreshed, we headed out into town to explore the spice souk market and old town. The spice souk market is a must-visit for anyone who loves spices and herbs. The market is filled with vendors selling everything from saffron to cinnamon. The old town is also worth exploring as it is home to some of the oldest buildings in Dubai. The heritage district located on the banks of the Dubai Creek is a testament to Old Arabia – the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Gypsum and coral buildings have been painstakingly restored to their original glory, complete with iconic windtowers that cast a contrasting silhouette to the city’s modern skyline. This neighbourhood is home to some of the city’s finest cultural gems such as Al Fahidi Fort – officially constructed in 1781, it’s the oldest building in the city.

Day 2 - Dubai

We started our day by exploring downtown Dubai and visiting the Dubai Mall. The mall is one of the largest in the world and has something for everyone. From high-end fashion brands to fast food restaurants, there is no shortage of things to do and see at the mall. In the evening, we headed to the Mall of Emirates for some more shopping. The mall has over 700 stores and is home to Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort. We stayed overnight in Dubai.

Day 3 - Dubai

We spent the day exploring Dubai’s beaches and other attractions. One of our favorite beaches was Jumeirah Beach which has crystal clear waters and white sand. In the afternoon, we took a desert safari tour - the tour took us through the desert where we got to experience dune bashing, camel riding and sandboarding. The tour ended with a traditional Arabian dinner under the stars. We spent another night in Dubai.

Day 4 - Abu Dhabi

We picked up our rental car at the airport and drove to Abu Dhabi first thing in the morning (approx 1 hr 40). Alternatively, we could have traveled by bus from Al Ghubaiba bus station (15mins walk from hotel) - on the E100 bus (every 15 mins from 04:40 am) to Abu Dhabi Central Bus station (2-3 hours).

Once we arrived in Abu Dhabi, we visited Sheik Zayed Grand mosque which is one of the largest mosques in the world. The mosque is made up of white marble and has beautiful chandeliers and mosaics inside. After visiting the mosque, we explored old town Abu Dhabi which has a number of historic buildings including Qasr Al Hosn, a palace that dates back to the 18th century followed Louvre Abu Dhabi which is a stunning museum that showcases art from around the world. We stayed at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island.

Day 5 - Abu Dhabi

We spent the day at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld which is one of the largest water parks in the world. The park has over 40 rides and attractions including a wave pool, lazy river and water slides. In the evening, we drove to Al Ain which took around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Alternatively, we could have taken bus X90 Bus from Al Nahuan, Abu Dhabi bus station to Al Ain Central Bus Station (2 hours 37mins) - evening times were 17:30-20:07, 19:00-21:37, 20:35-23:12.

Day 6 - Al Ain

We explored Al Ain’s camel market which is open until 1pm every day except Friday when it opens at 3pm. The market is home to hundreds of camels that are bought and sold every day. After visiting the camel market, we visited Al Jahili fort which was built in 1891 to protect Al Ain’s palm groves from raiders. The fort has been restored and now houses an exhibition about Wilfred Thesiger who crossed Arabia’s Empty Quarter in the 1940s. After visiting Al Jahili fort, we visited Al Qatarra oasis which is a beautiful oasis that is home to date palms and other plants. Finally, we drove up Jebel Hafeet mountain which offers stunning views of Al Ain city and back to our hotel part-way up the mountain.

Day 7 - Stopping en-route to Ras Al Khaima

We drove to Hatta Lake which took around 2 hours from Al Ain. Hatta Lake is a beautiful lake that is surrounded by mountains and offers stunning views of the surrounding area and was excellent fun to rent one the kayaks at the lake and paddle around for a couple of hours. After visiting Hatta Lake, we drove to Fujaira museum which showcases local history and culture. Next, we visited Al-Bidya Mosque which is one of the oldest mosques in the UAE dating back to the 15th century. After visiting Al-Bidya Mosque, we visited Al Aqah beach which has crystal clear waters and white sand. Finally, we visited Bithnah Fort which was built in 1735 to protect Fujairah from raiders.

After visiting Bithnah Fort, we continued driving onto Ras Al Khaima where we spent the night.

Day 8 - Ras Al Khaima

We visited Jebel Jais which offers stunning views of Ras Al Khaima city and beyond. Unfortunately, the zipline was closed on Monday so we couldn’t try it out but there were plenty of other things to do on top of Jebel Jais including hiking trails and the newly opened alpine sled.

Day 9 - Ras Al Khaima and onto Dubai

We spent our last day in Ras Al Khaima kayaking through mangroves before driving south onto the airport in the evening. On the way to the airport, we were sure to stop at the Jazirat al-Hamra ghost town on journey south; a great stop! Alternatively, we could have stopped along the coast for beaches or mangrove kayaking in Umm al Quwain – we could have rented kayaks from UAQ Marine Club or Kite Beach Centre (15GBP per kayak). We dropped off our rental car at night and took an early morning flight back home.

Summary

This trip was an unforgettable experience that allowed us to see some of the most beautiful places in the UAE. From the stunning beaches to the historic buildings, there is no shortage of things to do and see in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaima. We highly recommend this road trip to anyone who is planning a trip to the UAE. Driving was very straight forwards, and a welcome break from the heat at times!

Getting around

Getting around Dubai city is very easy using the metro, bus, water taxi or occasional taxi (metered or ride-share app e.g. Careem). For the remainder of the trip around the UAE we decided to rent a car which seemed simplest to pick up from Dubai airport. The roads were excellent, and other than Dubai and UAE city centre,s they were not busy.

Where we stayed

We stayed in 4 hotels and the balance seemed about right:

• Dubai - 3 nights at J5 Hotels Bur Dubai – pool, breakfast included, close to metro, 15 minute walk to Al Ghubaiba bus station
• Abu Dhabi - 1 night at Hilton Yas Island - sometimes includes free entry offer to water park
• Al Ain - 2 nights at Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Ail Ain Hotel - pool, part-way up mountain (need car). Highly reccommended!
• Ras Al Khaimah - 2 nights at Hilton Doubletree - free shuttle to other Hilton where you can use their facilities incl. pool and private beach