Dubai makes a superb base for exploring the wider Emirates and beyond. Within a couple of hours you can stand inside the breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, kayak a turquoise dam in the Hatta mountains, wander the palm oases of Al Ain, dive into the cultural heritage of Sharjah, cruise the fjords of Musandam across the Oman border, or snorkel the clearer east-coast waters at Fujairah. Here are the six best excursions, with travel times, costs and tips.
Tour ~$65Abu Dhabi & Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Area
150 km southwest
Distance
1.5 hours
“The UAE capital pairs the breathtaking white-marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (free, but strict dress code) with Louvre Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World. Go on an organised tour to fit it all into one day.”
FreeHatta
Area
130 km east
Distance
1.5 hours
“A mountain enclave in the Hajar range — kayak the turquoise Hatta Dam, mountain-bike the trails and see the restored heritage village. Cooler than the city and a total change of scene; bring your passport (route may skirt Oman).”
Mostly freeAl Ain — the Garden City
Area
160 km southeast
Distance
1.5–2 hours
“The UAE's greenest, most traditional city — a UNESCO oasis of date palms, the Al Jahili Fort and camel market, plus the Jebel Hafeet mountain road for sunset. A window into Emirati heritage.”
Mostly freeSharjah — the cultural capital
Area
30 km northeast
Distance
40 min
“The UAE's UNESCO-designated cultural capital, right next to Dubai — the Blue Souk, Islamic Civilisation museum and the restored Heart of Sharjah. Note it's a 'dry' emirate with no alcohol; avoid rush-hour traffic.”
Tour ~$95Musandam, Oman — the 'Norway of Arabia'
Area
180 km north (Oman)
Distance
2–2.5 hours
“A dramatic peninsula of fjord-like inlets across the Oman border — traditional dhow cruises glide past cliffs with dolphins and snorkelling stops. You'll cross an international border, so bring your passport.”
FreeFujairah & the East Coast
Area
130 km east
Distance
1.5–2 hours
“The UAE's only emirate on the Gulf of Oman — mountains, the oldest mosque in the country (Al Bidyah) and clear waters for diving and snorkelling at Snoopy Island. A greener, calmer coast than Dubai's.”
Day trips from Dubai in detail
1.Abu Dhabi & Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, lies around 90 minutes south-west of Dubai and makes one of the most rewarding full-day trips in the region. Its unmissable highlight is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world — a vision of gleaming white marble, 82 domes, reflective pools and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet, able to hold over 40,000 worshippers. Entry is free and, unlike most Gulf mosques, it welcomes non-Muslim visitors, but the dress code is strict (shoulders, knees and, for women, hair must be covered; abayas can be borrowed). Beyond the mosque, Abu Dhabi offers the stunning Louvre Abu Dhabi, a Jean Nouvel-designed museum under a vast latticework dome that 'rains' light; the adrenaline of Ferrari World and Warner Bros. World on Yas Island; the presidential palace Qasr Al Watan; and the corniche waterfront. Because there's far too much to see in a day, many visitors take an organised tour (around sixty-five dollars with hotel pickup) that bundles the mosque with a couple of other sights and handles the driving. If going independently, hire a car or take the intercity bus, and start early. Dress respectfully for the mosque, and give the whole day to it.
Hours
Mosque Sat–Thu ~09:00–22:00, Fri from ~16:30 (free)
Price
Mosque free; Louvre ~$17; day tours ~$65
Getting there
Drive or bus ~1.5h from Dubai; or an organised day tour with hotel pickup
Insider tip: The UAE capital pairs the breathtaking white-marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (free, but strict dress code) with Louvre Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World. Go on an organised tour to fit it all into one day.
2.Hatta
Hatta is a mountain exclave of the Emirate of Dubai, tucked into the rugged Hajar Mountains around 90 minutes' drive east of the city, and it offers a complete change of scenery and climate from the coastal metropolis — cooler air, dramatic rocky peaks and a real sense of the old Emirates. Its centrepiece is the Hatta Dam, whose startlingly turquoise reservoir sits between the mountains and can be explored by kayak, pedal boat or stand-up paddleboard, the calm jade-green water framed by bare ochre rock making for spectacular photos. The wider area has become an adventure hub, with graded mountain-biking and hiking trails, a via ferrata, zip-lines, a Wadi Hub activity centre and the Hatta Wadi Hub, plus the restored Hatta Heritage Village, which recreates a traditional mountain settlement with stone houses, a fort and falaj irrigation channels. There are places to camp and glamp, and the drive itself, winding up into the mountains, is part of the appeal. Note that some routes to Hatta historically clipped the edge of Omani territory, so carry your passport, though a fully-in-UAE road now exists. Bring water, sun protection and good shoes, hire a car for flexibility, and go for a full day to combine the dam, a trail or two and the heritage village. It's Dubai's best mountain-and-nature escape.
Hours
Always accessible; kayak/bike hire daytime
Price
Free to visit; kayak hire ~$16/hour
Getting there
Drive ~1.5h east from Dubai on the E44 (route may pass near the Oman border — carry ID)
Insider tip: A mountain enclave in the Hajar range — kayak the turquoise Hatta Dam, mountain-bike the trails and see the restored heritage village. Cooler than the city and a total change of scene; bring your passport (route may skirt Oman).
3.Al Ain — the Garden City
Al Ain, inland on the border with Oman about two hours from Dubai, is the UAE's fourth-largest city and its cultural and historical heart — the birthplace of the nation's founding father, Sheikh Zayed, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nicknamed the 'Garden City' for its greenery and abundant date palms, it feels a world away from coastal Dubai: lower-rise, more traditional and refreshingly authentic. Its highlights are led by the Al Ain Oasis, a vast, atmospheric palm grove of 147,000 date palms watered by the ancient falaj irrigation system, cool and shaded to walk through, with an eco-centre explaining the 4,000-year-old farming heritage. Around it lie a cluster of historic mud-brick forts — Al Jahili Fort chief among them — the excellent Al Ain National Museum, the archaeological sites of Hili, and the lively, traditional camel market where livestock is still traded. Looming over the city is Jebel Hafeet, a 1,240-metre mountain whose serpentine road (often called one of the world's great driving roads) climbs to a summit with sweeping views, best at sunset. Most sights are free or cost only a few dirhams, making it a very affordable day out. Hire a car for the flexibility to reach the mountain and the spread-out sights, bring sun protection, and go for a full day to experience the greener, more traditional side of the Emirates.
Hours
Oasis & forts daytime; most sites free or a few dollars
Price
Most sights free; small museum fees
Getting there
Drive ~1.5–2h from Dubai; or intercity bus to Al Ain
Insider tip: The UAE's greenest, most traditional city — a UNESCO oasis of date palms, the Al Jahili Fort and camel market, plus the Jebel Hafeet mountain road for sunset. A window into Emirati heritage.
5.Musandam, Oman — the 'Norway of Arabia'
The Musandam Peninsula, an exclave of Oman jutting into the Strait of Hormuz north of the UAE, is one of the most scenically spectacular day trips within reach of Dubai — a landscape of sheer rock mountains plunging into turquoise inlets that has earned it the nickname the 'Norway of Arabia'. The classic way to experience it is a traditional wooden dhow cruise from the port town of Khasab, gliding through the fjord-like khors past towering cliffs and tiny fishing villages, with pods of dolphins often riding the bow wave, stops for snorkelling in clear water among reefs and fish, and a lazy lunch served on board. The scenery is genuinely breathtaking and utterly different from Dubai's flat coast and desert. Because Musandam is Omani territory, reaching it involves crossing an international border, so you'll need your passport and, depending on nationality, possibly an Oman visa — which is why many visitors opt for an organised day tour from Dubai (from around ninety-five dollars) that handles the roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive, the border formalities and the dhow cruise in one package. Independent travellers can drive to Khasab and book a cruise there. It's a long but hugely rewarding day; bring your passport, sun protection, swimwear and a camera, and prepare for some of the finest coastal scenery in the entire Gulf.
Hours
Full-day dhow cruises depart ~09:00 from Khasab
Price
Day tours from Dubai ~$95 incl. transfers & cruise
Getting there
Drive ~2–2.5h north to Khasab (Oman) via the border; or an organised tour handling the crossing
Insider tip: A dramatic peninsula of fjord-like inlets across the Oman border — traditional dhow cruises glide past cliffs with dolphins and snorkelling stops. You'll cross an international border, so bring your passport.
6.Fujairah & the East Coast
Fujairah is the only one of the seven emirates that lies entirely on the east coast, facing the Gulf of Oman rather than the Arabian Gulf, and reaching it means a scenic drive of around 90 minutes to two hours east from Dubai over the rugged Hajar Mountains — a dramatic journey in itself. The reward is a coastline and landscape quite different from Dubai's: greener mountain wadis, historic sites and clearer, more marine-rich waters. History buffs can visit Fujairah Fort, the oldest in the UAE, and the Al Bidyah Mosque, the country's oldest, a tiny, atmospheric 15th-century mud-and-stone structure with four small domes. But many come for the sea: the east-coast waters are prized for diving and snorkelling, with the best-known spot being Snoopy Island off Al Aqah beach, a rocky islet surrounded by coral, reef fish, turtles and rays that you can snorkel to from the shore, with dive centres and beach resorts clustered nearby. The mountain wadis, hot springs at Ain Al Madhab, and the Friday market on the mountain road add further interest. It's free to explore beyond any activities you book, and the calmer, more natural coast makes a refreshing contrast to the city. Hire a car for the flexibility, bring swimwear and snorkelling gear, and make a full day of the drive, the sea and a mountain stop or two.
Hours
Beaches always open; forts & sites daytime
Price
Free to explore; dive/snorkel trips extra
Getting there
Drive ~1.5–2h east from Dubai over the Hajar Mountains to the Gulf of Oman coast
Insider tip: The UAE's only emirate on the Gulf of Oman — mountains, the oldest mosque in the country (Al Bidyah) and clear waters for diving and snorkelling at Snoopy Island. A greener, calmer coast than Dubai's.