Roadtripping the United Arab Emirates and Oman

This blog contains a road trip of 14 days through Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and Oman with a subtle emphasis on outdoor experiences and the agricultural way of life in the UAE and Oman.

The trip includes:

  • United Arab Emirates (5): Dubai, Abu Dhabi (& Al Ain), Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah

  • Oman (Nizwa–Jabal Shams area) (including 4x4 car & NOC)

Travel itinerary 

Dubai (4 nights)
Abu Dhabi (1 night)
Al Ain (1 night)
Oman (2 nights)
Fujairah / Ras Al Khaimah (2 nights)
Dubai – relaxing beach resort (3 nights)

Day 1: Travel day 

  • Arrival in Dubai, transfer by taxi to the hotel, check-in hotel
  • Evening: Burj Khalifa Fountains & dinner Time Out Market

Day 2: Exploring Dubai

Morning & afternoon:

  • Excursion to Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall (explore leisure options such as the ice rink, etc.)
  • Museum of the Future (20 minutes by metro)

Evening (free to plan, options include):

  • Stay in the Downtown area (and have diner here)
  • Free shuttle bus from Downtown to the beach
  • Marina; take the metro from Burj Khalifa to DMCC Metro Station (approx. 30 minutes). From there, you can take a water taxi to Bluewaters
  • JBR (via the blue pedestrian bridge to Bluewaters, where the giant Ferris wheel is located), La Mer Beach, Jumeirah Beach, or Palm West Beach (all great areas with restaurants)

Day 3: Desert safari

  • Morning: early wake up call for a beautiful desert tour with Heritage Platinum
  • Afternoon: relax at the hotel, or take a walk around the Burj Khalifa area 
  • Evening: Iftar (dinner) with a local family

Day 4: Educational day

  • Visit to Florius International FZCO
  • Farm tour of a vertical farming facility 
  • Guided tour of The Sustainable City: explanation of sustainable systems, green technology, and the community-based urban design (this “city” features multiple biodome greenhouses and urban farming practices)
  • Check in hotel
  • Sunset & BBQ dinner

Day 5: Heading to Abu Dhabi

Rental car delivered to the hotel

  • Drive to Abu Dhabi
  • Visit Jubail Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi (Al Jubail Island)
  • Visit Louvre Abu Dhabi (Saadiyat Island)
  • Lunch at Mangrove Park or Louvre (or elsewhere along the way)
  • And/or (if time/interest allows): Abrahamic House (three religions in one location, very special)
  • Check-in at hotel & dinner
  • Optional: boat ride near the hotel

Day 6: Heading to Al Ain --> desert night

  • Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (from 09:00)
  • Continue the road trip to Al Ain
  • Al Ain Oasis: cycling among the date palm plantations (over 147,000 date palms and other fruit trees)
  • Lunch
  • Visit the Al Ain Camel Market (open 06:00–19:00; can also be done next morning)
  • Check in glamping retreat near the Oman border (eco-retreat with optional evening activities)
  • Dinner in the desert

Day 7: Heading to Oman

  • Optional: visit the Al Ain Camel Market (open 06:00–19:00)
  • Continue road trip → Oman (border crossing at Al Ain – Al Mezyat; visa-free for 14 days for Schengen passport holders)
  • Afternoon: road trip to Jebel Shams & Wadi Ghul, the Omani Grand Canyon, and optionally: balcony walk 
  • Check in Hotel Misfah
  • Evening: Misfah Al Abriyeen; traditional Omani mountain village largely preserved, with stone and clay houses on terraces along the mountainside

Day 8: Exploring Oman with a guide

  • Optional morning walk through Misfah (very beautiful

Continue sightseeing in Oman:

  • Meet with local guide; tour of Nizwa. Highlights:
    • Nizwa Fort – history, tower panorama
    • Old Market – spices, dates, traditional goods
    • Omani sweets & food market – try local delicacies
    • Lunch: in the souq or at a local restaurant
  • Guide accompanies you to Birkat Al Mouz:
    • UNESCO falaj, palm gardens, old village
    • Stroll through the abandoned village (partly with guide, partly on your own)
  • Return to Nizwa:

Day 9: Back to UAE and heading to Fujairah

  • Return to UAE via the Al Ain – Al Mezyat border (long drive, 4–5 hours)
  • Tour Emirates Bio Farm (self-guided tour available from 09:00–17:00)
  • Road trip towards: optional visit to Khor Kalba Mangrove Centre (open until 18:30)
  • Continue route towards Fujairah, stopping along the way for coffee or ice cream at Rumailah Café (drive-through with cow-themed art)
  • Check in hotel Fujairah & dinner

Day 10: Heading to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK)

Morning:

  • Tour & breakfast at Rumailah Farm; an agritourism experience at a working dairy farm, especially known for its Jersey cows and dairy production in Fujairah.
  • Optional: visit Fujairah Fort (open from 08:00)

Afternoon: 

  • Continue road trip to Ras Al Khaimah (approx. 1 hour 45 minutes drive)
  • Stop en route for lunch, e.g., at Rafisa Dam Restaurant (beautiful location by a mountain stream)
  • 15:30: Excursion to a pearl farm: Suwaidi Pearls Farm RAK + House of Pearls
  • Check in hotel RAK & dinner 

Day 11: Heading back to Dubai

  • Optional: Visit Al Jazeerah Village (historic heritage village and old settlement in Ras Al Khaimah; one of the few remaining traditional pearl- and fishing villages in the Arabian Gulf) (open 10:00–18:00)
  • Continue road trip back to Dubai
  • Check-in hotel at the final destination of the trip (3 nights)
  • Friday evening: horse races at Meydan from 17:00

Rental car will be collected from the hotel

Day 12 t/m 14: Relaxing in Dubai

Relax and enjoy the option of various excursions (see options below)

  • Including: Tour of the old city with guide (with local guide/abra across the creek → gold/silver/spice souks) 

Short excursions during the last days

  • Atlantis The Palm 
  • Palm West Beach
  • Souk Madinat: nice dining options with views of Burj Al Arab, and you can take a boat to Burj Al Arab
  • Cycling through the Marina: approx. 5 km route to explore Dubai Marina
    Dubai Marina track is a dynamic 5 km cycling loop, crossing two bridges. It’s an ideal way to explore Dubai Marina by bike. Start at Dubai Marina Mall; there is a Careem Bike Station near Nova Restaurant and Lounge on Al Marsa Street.
  • Cycling along Kite Beach:
    The “beach cycling route” or Jumeirah Street track is approx. 16 km long, running from Jumeirah 325 Road / Umm Suqeim Park to Al Mina Docks, passing all the major beaches of Dubai. It is not a loop, so you need to cycle back along the same route to the starting point (or leave the bike at a Careem Bike Station and take a taxi back). The turnaround point is at Al Mina Docks. Plenty of opportunities along the way to rest or grab food and drinks.
  • Visit Kamel Ushi: Ursula “Uschi” Musch is a German lady who runs a desert camel farm, known as Cameluschi. She has lived for years in the UAE desert and welcomes guests.
  • Visit View at The Palm: 240-meter tower with views of the Palm Island, developed with Dutch expertise (Van Oort).
  • Guided tour of Burj Al Arab
  • Water taxi from the Marina to Bluewaters (with the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel)
  • JBR Beach and walk over the blue bridge to Bluewaters
  • Yellow Boats in Marina
  • Dubai Frame
  • Topgolf Dubai (sporty outing!)
  • And many more…