Paradise for car lovers: Best driving roads in UAE

UAE loves cars. It owes its splendor to the invention of cars. Its richest people pride themselves on their expensive car collections. It is bestowed with beautiful mountain ranges, vast shifting deserts, and breathtaking coastlines. To no one’s amazement, it is also home to some of the best driving roads in the world that can challenge even the best drivers and enthusiasts.  

Jebel al Jais, Ras Al-Khaimah

Situated in Ras Al-Khaimah, on the border of UAE and Oman, the Jebel Jais is the highest point of the UAE at 1934 m above sea level. Popular with the locals for its low temperatures, the ribbon of tarmac that drapes itself around it holds a different charm. An hour away from Dubai, this extremely technical 30 km road with more than 10 hairpin bends and many blind turns present an irresistible challenge for anyone interested in driving. The driver can also enjoy this amazing road while surrounded by natural beauty only topped by the breathtaking view from the top. Just avoid weekends.   

Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain

The Jebel Hafeet regularly features on lists covering the best driving roads in the world, and for good reason. Situated 170 km away from Abu Dhabi in Al Ain, at 1250 m, it is the second highest point in UAE. At 7.3 miles long, it might seem quite short but this short length contains over 60 exhilarating and challenging turns. Depending on the car and the skill of the driver, it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes to climb it. Built in 1986, this is a must visit for any petrol heads visiting the area.

Hatta Fort Hotel, Hatta

A well-known cultural hub and a must visit for anyone interested in learning about the culture of UAE, it is also attracting people interested in driving. Just past Hatta Fort Hotel Roundabout lies a short road that is a hidden treasure. It is surprising that it doesn’t even have an official name yet it is known to almost every petrol head. It is also not the smoothest driving surface in UAE. What’s more? Many of its turns are situated on top of punishing cliffs. However, if the driver is brave and skilled enough they will be rewarded with the rush of having conquered a challenging road full of difficult curves, blind turns, and unexpected elevation changes.

Al Taween, RAK

Being hidden in the mountain ranges, this remarkable road is still not as popular as some of the other on this list making it a veritable hidden treasure. The road, however, is not for the inexperienced drivers. It requires undivided attention as it is full of sudden and unexpected elevation changes. Steeps of as much as 30-40 degrees mean that sometimes, all the driver can see is the sky above. The driver also needs to look out for the unexpected splattering of gravel on the road along with any tricky hairpin that may happen to be lurking around.

Liwa Oasis

 

Not all driving needs to be through challenging and twisty roads. If you are looking for a relaxed drive while taking in the majesty of the sand dunes, the road from Liwa oasis to Al Ain would be a sheer pleasure. Unlike everything else on this list, this road is a long stretch of smooth tarmac without any challenging twists. Running almost parallel to the Saudi Arabian border, it snakes through the Rub Al Khali desert, presenting the beautiful sight of rolling sand dunes around you.

Kalba, Sharjah

 

Connecting Dubai to Fujairah, this road starts almost innocuously. This, however, is just the beginning of a road trip that truly begins after passing the emirate’s industrial area, snakes through mountains go through a 1.27 km tunnel and has a number of deviations that only add to the fun like the Hatta/Oman road and the Fujairah mountain road, before finally ending at the coastal roads of Fujairah. This endless stretch of smooth tarmac is an adventure of its own and captures everything we like about driving.

So, these are some of the most popular roads in UAE that should be on your list for taking a joyous ride in your beloved car.