The 7 Best Scenic Drives in Dubai & the UAE

Jebel Jais Mountain Road, Ras Al Khaimah

Jebel Jais is the highest peak in the UAE at 1,934 metres, and the scenic road to the top is 30 kilometres of smooth, banked tarmac cut into the Hajar Mountains. It's one of the most photogenic drives in the country.

The climb starts at sea level and winds through limestone gorges, with viewpoints along the way where you can stop and look out over the Arabian Gulf. The surface is excellent, signage is clear, and guardrails run the whole way up. Go early in the morning when the air is cool and the light hits the rock faces properly — or late afternoon for sunset photos at the summit viewpoint. At the top there's a restaurant and a zip-line experience for a longer day out. About 90 minutes from Dubai. Drive at a relaxed pace, respect the posted speed limits on the climb, and enjoy the views.

Before you set off, our Dubai driving rules for tourists guide covers the licence, speed-limit, and Salik essentials that apply across the whole UAE road network.

Sheikh Zayed Road (E11)

The main highway through Dubai and probably the most recognisable road in the Middle East. Twelve lanes wide, lined on both sides by the Burj Khalifa, Emirates Towers, and the Museum of the Future.

Driving it after dark is something else entirely. The skyscrapers are lit up and the whole road feels like a film set — perfect for an evening cruise with a friend. Speed limit is 120 km/h and the tarmac is in great shape. The Dubai Marina to Downtown stretch after 10 PM, when traffic eases, is particularly memorable. Keep an eye out for the Salik toll gates and stay within the posted limits — Dubai Police cameras have only a small tolerance and fines escalate quickly.

Al Qudra Road (D63)

A 75-kilometre desert road running south from Dubai into the open dunes. A peaceful, scenic drive through desert landscape — smooth surface, very little traffic, and nothing but sand on either side.

You'll pass Al Qudra Lakes on the way, where flamingos hang around an artificial oasis in the middle of the desert — a popular photo stop. Further on are the Love Lakes, a pair of heart-shaped lakes that are more interesting from the air than from ground level (but still worth a drone shot if you have one). Speed limit is 100 to 120 km/h. Late afternoon is the best time, when the dunes turn orange in the low sun and the light is ideal for photos.

Hatta Mountain Road (E44)

About 130 kilometres from central Dubai, the road to Hatta takes you out of the flat coastal plain and up into the Hajar Mountains. You pass through rocky wadis, small sand-coloured villages, and alongside the bright turquoise water of the Hatta Dam.

The last section into Hatta has a nice series of gentle bends through quiet mountain valleys — excellent scenery for photos. Hatta itself has kayaking on the dam, mountain bike trails, and the Wadi Hub adventure park. Give it a full day and stop at the Heritage Village while you're there. The road surface is good throughout and the pace is naturally unhurried — this is a scenic day-trip drive, not a motorway sprint.

For the route breakdown, the worthwhile stops, and the practical timing, our Dubai to Hatta road trip guide is the dedicated read.

Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain

Twelve kilometres of tarmac climbing 1,240 metres through 60 corners. The road was built to European mountain-pass standards: wide lanes, proper camber, and smooth transitions between bends. It's one of the most scenic mountain drives in the region, and the summit viewpoint over Al Ain is one of the best in the UAE.

At the top you get a full panoramic view over the desert and Al Ain below — a spectacular photo stop. There's a hotel and café at the summit. About 90 minutes from Dubai. Go late in the afternoon so you can drive up for sunset and come back down as the lights come on in the city. Respect the posted speed limits on the climb — the corners deserve to be taken at an unhurried pace for the scenery, not speed.

Kalba Coastal Road (E99)

Roughly 40 kilometres along the Gulf of Oman coastline between Fujairah and Kalba. Rocky cliffs on one side dropping into turquoise water, the Hajar Mountains on the other. It's the closest thing the UAE has to a European coastal road.

The bends are wide and sweeping with good visibility. There are fishing villages along the way and a few empty beaches where you can pull over for a swim or photos. Parts of it narrow to two lanes so the pace is naturally relaxed — which matches the scenery perfectly. Worth combining with a visit to the Kalba mangrove reserve or snorkelling at Shark Island. About two hours from Dubai.

Dubai to Liwa Oasis via the E45

The longest drive on this list. The E45 heads south from Abu Dhabi into the Rub al Khali, the Empty Quarter, ending at Liwa Oasis on the edge of the biggest sand desert on the planet.

The 300-kilometre drive from Dubai changes character as you go. City gives way to flat gravel plains, then to massive orange dunes that reach over 300 metres high. The road is well-maintained — a single strip of tarmac through an absurd amount of sand. Stop at Moreeb Dune for photos. If you can, stay overnight at the Qasr Al Sarab resort rather than trying to do it as a day trip — the scenery is too good to rush.