No flights, no visas, no airport queues — some of the UAE's most striking scenery sits within a tank of petrol of Dubai. From snorkel-friendly islands to the country's tallest peak, these are the drives worth building a weekend around.
Closest to home is Mangrove Beach in Umm Al Quwain, about an hour from the city. It's a quiet stretch of coastline backed by mangroves and shallow, calm water — ideal for a morning of kayaking or an afternoon doing very little. If you want a bigger change of scene, point the car east towards Al Aqah in Fujairah, where Snoopy Island (roughly 1.5 to 2 hours away) rises out of turquoise water ringed by mountains. The snorkelling here is some of the easiest in the country, and the beach makes a solid base for a full day.
Also on the east coast, Khor Fakkan in Sharjah emirate has a genuinely Mediterranean feel: a sweeping bay, clear water and mountains dropping towards the sea. Beyond the beach and waterfront, there's the well-known Khor Fakkan waterfall to factor in. Plan for 1.5 to 2 hours on the road.
Prefer green to blue? Al Ain Oasis, about 90 minutes from Dubai, is a shaded world of thousands of date palms and cool walking paths — a slower, older side of the Emirates that couldn't feel further from Sheikh Zayed Road. For drama of a different kind, head north to Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE's highest mountain, around two hours out. The winding drive itself is the attraction, with viewpoints and outdoor activities along the way that wouldn't look out of place in southern Europe.
The big commitment of the six is Liwa, deep in Abu Dhabi's Empty Quarter, 3.5 to 4 hours from Dubai. The reward is the UAE's most impressive dune scenery — enormous orange-red sands best enjoyed at sunset, and if you're set up for it, a night sleeping under the stars. It's the only one of these trips that really demands preparation: a full tank, plenty of water, and ideally a 4x4 if you plan to leave the tarmac.
Who's this for? Anyone in Dubai (or visiting) who wants a change of scenery without the cost and hassle of flying. Most of these work as day trips; Jebel Jais and Liwa reward an overnight stay. Weekday mornings beat weekends at the popular coastal spots, and October to April is comfortably the best window for all of them — summer heat makes the desert and mountain trips hard work.
