After a while in Dubai, the skyscrapers start to feel a bit same-ish. You've done the Mall, done the Marina, maybe done the desert safari. And then someone at work says, "Have you driven to Hatta yet?" and suddenly you realise the UAE is more than one city with very tall buildings.
I spent three years in Dubai, and I used most of my weekends exploring what's within a 90-minute drive. Some trips became regular favourites. One — and I'll be honest about which — I'd never repeat. Here's the breakdown, ranked in order of how much I actually enjoyed them, not alphabetically or by distance, because that seemed more useful.
In This Article
Abu Dhabi — Yes, It Deserves Its Own Day
Abu Dhabi is about 1 hour 20 minutes from Dubai if you leave before 8 AM. If you leave at 9, it's two hours. Sheikh Zayed Road traffic is something you plan around, not push through.
Everyone comes for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and it earns every superlative. 82 domes, over 1,000 columns, a main prayer hall carpet that took 1,200 weavers two years to complete. Entry is free. I've been four times — twice with visitors, twice on my own — and I still find myself staring at the ceiling. Go early morning for the quietest experience; Friday is the busiest day. Women need to cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothes that cover arms and legs (abayas are available to borrow for free at the entrance).
Louvre Abu Dhabi is the other must-see. That floating dome of 7,850 metal stars filtering light into patterns on the floor — genuinely one of the most beautiful spaces I've ever walked through. Its collection spans millennia, from ancient Egyptian artefacts to contemporary art. Entry is AED 63. Budget at least two hours, ideally three. Check Visit Abu Dhabi for current exhibition schedules.
If you've got energy after those two, Yas Island has Ferrari World (AED 310), Yas Waterworld (AED 295), and Warner Bros. World (AED 345). They're solid theme parks, but honestly, I'd save them for a separate trip — cramming a mosque, a museum, and a theme park into one day is a recipe for exhaustion rather than enjoyment.
Hatta — Dubai Has Mountains?
Sort of. Hatta is a small town in the Hajar Mountains, technically still part of the Emirate of Dubai but about 130 km southeast, near the Oman border. The drive takes around 1.5 hours, and the scenery changes so dramatically you'd swear you'd left the country. Sand gives way to gravel, then rock, then actual green mountains.
What draws most people is Hatta Dam, where turquoise water backed up against rust-red mountains looks like it was Photoshopped. You can rent kayaks (AED 60 for single, AED 120 for double, per hour) and paddle around the reservoir. It's peaceful in a way that Dubai proper never is.
Beyond the dam: Hatta Heritage Village (free, small but interesting), Hatta Rock Pools (a 20-minute hike from the main road — bring water), and mountain biking trails that range from gentle to genuinely challenging. Hatta Wadi Hub rents bikes starting at AED 50 per hour.
I took a friend from London to Hatta on her first visit to Dubai. She spent the entire drive saying, "This doesn't look like Dubai." She was right. That's the point.
Fujairah — The Coast You Didn't Know About
Most visitors to Dubai only see the Persian Gulf side — the flat, calm, warm water along JBR and The Palm. But drive 90 minutes east and you hit the Gulf of Oman coast, which is a different sea entirely. Cooler water, real waves, and genuinely good snorkelling.
Snoopy Island (named because the rock formation supposedly looks like Snoopy lying on his back — I see it, vaguely) is the highlight. It's a small island just off Sandy Beach in Fujairah, accessible by swimming or kayaking from the shore. The reef around it is decent by UAE standards, with plenty of fish, and occasionally small sharks and turtles. Snorkel gear rental is around AED 50–80 at the nearby hotels.
Fujairah Fort is worth a stop if you're passing through the town — one of the oldest forts in the UAE, dating to the 1670s. Free entry. Fifteen minutes is enough unless you're deeply into Emirati military architecture.
For lunch, the seafood restaurants along the Fujairah Corniche serve the freshest fish you'll find in the Emirates. Grilled hammour with rice at a local spot will run you AED 40–60. Miles better (and cheaper) than anything comparable in Dubai.
Ras Al Khaimah — For People Who Get Bored Easily
RAK (everyone abbreviates it) is the northernmost emirate, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Dubai. It's positioning itself as the UAE's adventure destination, and it's doing a decent job of it.
Most people come for the Jebel Jais Flight — reportedly the world's longest zipline, running 2.83 km across the Hajar Mountains at speeds up to 150 km/h. AED 650 per person. I did it. I screamed. It's not cheap, but it's genuinely thrilling in a way that most tourist activities aren't.
Jebel Jais itself, at 1,934 metres the UAE's highest peak, has a beautifully engineered viewing deck and some hiking trails. Temperatures at the top can be 10°C cooler than Dubai, which in summer feels like a different climate zone. A growing number of outdoor activities — via ferrata routes, the Bear Grylls camp, mountain biking — make RAK a credible full-day adventure trip.
Al Ain in August — Learn From My Mistake
Al Ain is about 1.5 hours from Dubai, inland toward the Oman border. It's known as the Garden City, and it does have more greenery than anywhere else in the UAE. The Al Ain Oasis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — 1,200 hectares of date palms with walking paths underneath. Free entry, and it's beautiful.
Jebel Hafeet is a 1,249-metre mountain just south of the city, with a winding road to the summit that's popular with cyclists and people who like hairpin bends. The views from the top are impressive — you can see across to Oman.
Now, here's the thing. I drove to Al Ain in August.
Outside, it was 49°C. Walking through the oasis, which should have been pleasant, became an endurance test. Driving up the mountain was fine because the car was air-conditioned, but standing on the viewing platform at the top was like facing a hairdryer set to maximum. My phone overheated and shut down. My water bottle was warm within minutes of being outside. Even Al Ain Zoo (which is actually one of the best in the region) was essentially empty — the animals had retreated to shade, and honestly, I envied them.
Al Ain between November and March? Absolutely worth it. Al Ain between May and September? I'd rather stay in Dubai and go to the mall.
What You'll Actually Spend
| Destination | Drive time | Petrol (approx) | Main costs | Total per person (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 1.5 hrs | AED 50–70 | Louvre AED 63, food AED 60–100 | AED 150–250 |
| Hatta | 1.5 hrs | AED 50–60 | Kayak AED 60–120, food AED 40–60 | AED 120–200 |
| Fujairah | 1.5 hrs | AED 50–60 | Snorkel gear AED 50–80, food AED 40–60 | AED 100–180 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 1.25 hrs | AED 40–55 | Zipline AED 650, food AED 50–80 | AED 200–750 |
| Al Ain | 1.5 hrs | AED 50–65 | Zoo AED 30, food AED 40–60 | AED 100–160 |
Petrol in the UAE is cheap by European standards — roughly AED 3 per litre. A full day trip rarely costs more than AED 60–70 in fuel for a standard car.
Rental Cars and the No-Car Option
You'll need a car for all of these trips. No public transport connects Dubai to Hatta, Fujairah, or RAK in any practical way. Abu Dhabi does have a bus (E100, AED 25, every 30 minutes from Ibn Battuta station), but it limits your flexibility once you're there.
Car rental from Dubai starts at around AED 90–120 per day for a basic sedan (Nissan Sunny or similar). I'd recommend a slightly larger car — a Nissan Kicks or similar SUV — for the mountain roads to Hatta and Fujairah. AED 150–200 per day. Book through the international chains (Hertz, Europcar) or local ones like Shift — the local companies are often cheaper but read the insurance fine print carefully.
If you don't want to drive, organised day tours run to all these destinations. Expect to pay AED 250–400 per person for Abu Dhabi tours and AED 200–350 for Hatta or Fujairah. They'll pick you up from your hotel and handle everything. Less freedom, less stress.
My Honest Ranking
After doing all of these trips — some of them multiple times — here's how I'd rank them for a first-time visitor with one free day:
- Abu Dhabi — non-negotiable. The Grand Mosque and the Louvre alone justify the drive. If you only do one day trip from Dubai, this is it.
- Hatta — the best surprise. Nobody expects mountains and turquoise water this close to Dubai. Great for couples, active travellers, or anyone who needs a break from the city.
- Fujairah — brilliant if you love the sea. Snoopy Island is a highlight, and the drive through the mountains is gorgeous. Best between October and April.
- Ras Al Khaimah — if you're an adrenaline person, bump this to second. The zipline is extraordinary. If you're not, it's a pleasant but less essential trip.
- Al Ain — genuinely interesting and the cheapest trip on this list. But pick your season. I cannot stress this enough. Not in summer. Not in summer.
The UAE is small — you can cross the entire country in three hours. But within that space, there are mountains, two different coasts, desert, oases, and a capital city that feels nothing like Dubai. A day trip rewrites what you think this place is.
Back in Dubai, there's still plenty to fill your time — have a look at the desert safari guide or my budget tips if you want to keep costs in check. And if you're still planning your itinerary, the top things to do list covers the city-based highlights.