When it comes to the great outdoors, the GCC desert
is a truly unique adventure playground. With vast areas of rarely visited
wilderness to explore, dune and wadi bashing are popular pastimes in the GCC. It
is places like these that open up newer frontiers to off-road UAE exploration.
While off-road driving is
exciting, it requires skill. To ensure that most of your off-roading memories
are good, be prepared and use your common sense. A good off-roader is careful
and cautious, with a high regard for safety and the environment. A popular
wadi is the Wadi Al Wurayah set among the Hajar Mountains around 180km from
Dubai. The way is very rocky. There are long stretches of rocks. It is said to
be home to more than 100 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians as
well as more than 300 species of plants. If lucky, one can spot the endangered
Arabian Tahr. Hatta pools are also one of the most popular spots for off-road
exploration. The reason is its scenic beauty - rolling orange dunes that lead
into the rugged Hajar Mountains. You can take a plunge in the Hatta pools,
browse around the Heritage Village and spend the night under the stars. Natural
spring water from the mountains feeds the pools. Thus off-road UAE can be quite adventurous.
As far as camping goes, Dubai offers a real slice of it. Liwa is a vast desert region where camping among the endless sand dunes is a must-do. Similarly, the desert on road to Dhaid is one of best spots for camping in Dubai. Jebel Maleihah too is primed for camping. With deserted, sandy beaches and the remains of fishing boats pulled up on shore, the tiny town of Khor Kalba enables campers to find many peaceful sandy areas to pitch a tent. The Hajar Mountains offer some of the best camping opportunities. Umm Al Quwain is a great spot for novice campers. Madbah has a wonderful, desolate brilliance about it. The peaceful mangrove areas of Abu Dhabi offer unique camping possibilities. Nature lovers will be in their element as the area is teeming with marine and wildlife, such as turtles, fish, birds, gazelles and desert foxes.
Dubai is extremely easy to navigate around, as almost everyone speaks English. The impressive International Airport is an easy access to most parts of the city. Taxis are the best way to get into town. Make sure to give your driver references to big landmarks, as they don't always know the whole city that well. There’s no shortage of public transport options in Dubai, but if you plan on getting behind the wheel, you’ll need an international driver’s license. Traffic jams are a part of Dubai life, particularly when trying to cross the Creek. If one is planning on traveling to Dubai between October and April, the weather is near perfect. The temperature hovers around 26 degrees C and there's rarely a cloud in the sky. The summer is not quite as welcoming. Temperatures routinely exceed 50 degrees C and humidity soars; it's incredibly unpleasant to be anywhere without air-conditioning.
As far as camping goes, Dubai offers a real slice of it. Liwa is a vast desert region where camping among the endless sand dunes is a must-do. Similarly, the desert on road to Dhaid is one of best spots for camping in Dubai. Jebel Maleihah too is primed for camping. With deserted, sandy beaches and the remains of fishing boats pulled up on shore, the tiny town of Khor Kalba enables campers to find many peaceful sandy areas to pitch a tent. The Hajar Mountains offer some of the best camping opportunities. Umm Al Quwain is a great spot for novice campers. Madbah has a wonderful, desolate brilliance about it. The peaceful mangrove areas of Abu Dhabi offer unique camping possibilities. Nature lovers will be in their element as the area is teeming with marine and wildlife, such as turtles, fish, birds, gazelles and desert foxes.
Dubai is extremely easy to navigate around, as almost everyone speaks English. The impressive International Airport is an easy access to most parts of the city. Taxis are the best way to get into town. Make sure to give your driver references to big landmarks, as they don't always know the whole city that well. There’s no shortage of public transport options in Dubai, but if you plan on getting behind the wheel, you’ll need an international driver’s license. Traffic jams are a part of Dubai life, particularly when trying to cross the Creek. If one is planning on traveling to Dubai between October and April, the weather is near perfect. The temperature hovers around 26 degrees C and there's rarely a cloud in the sky. The summer is not quite as welcoming. Temperatures routinely exceed 50 degrees C and humidity soars; it's incredibly unpleasant to be anywhere without air-conditioning.