Why explore the UAE by 4Ć4 ?
Dubai and Abu DhabiĀ megacities aside, United Arab Emirates offers great spaces to be explored. Notice to lovers of sand-driving and desert landscapes! Indeed, almost the entire territory is a sandy desert, featuring a mountainous region in the north and some oasis such those of Al-Ain and Liwa. Sunsets in the desert of Rub Al-Khali offer magnificent lights. In addition, you can admire the milky way with no light pollution and you may have the chance to come across an Arabian Oryx. Do not forget to attend a camel race!
On the map below, we have mapped our itinerary over 12 days. Of course, this is not the optimal route since it is always better to improvised! Our itinerary was inspired by the āUAE Off Roadā book.
Our itinerary inspired by the book UAE Off-Road
We recommend you to buy theĀ UAE Off ROAD bookĀ to plan your route. You donāt have to drive all tracks, but it is a good base to plan your own road trip. Warning: it is better to avoid big cities outskirts, which are often polluted and dotted with plants.
Schould you want to get out of the paved or marked traffic lanes, it is mandatory to use a powerful 4Ć4 (see articleĀ what 4Ć4 to choose). In addition, we recommend you to have some basic knowledge of sand-driving or to split the team in two cars (which will allow you to quickly get out of sand in case of trouble).
The desert climate requires you to have your trip scheduled between October and May, because during the rest of the year, temperatures can reachĀ 122Ā°F.
Our off road UAE GPS routes
Practical info for your road-trip to the Emirates
spoken languages
Arabic and English
visa
No visa required if staying less than 90 days
Flight tickets
From Paris : ā¬ 300 ā 400 round trip
Season: from October to May During the rest of the year, temperature may reach 122Ā°F.
cost of living
ā Food: ā¬7 ā 10 for a hearty meal in an Indian restaurant. Expect way higher prices in tourist restaurants in big cities.
ā Airbnb: at least 25 euros/person. If you are a numerous group, we recommend you rent an entire apartment in a Dubai or Abu Dhabi tower for a night.
ā Wild camping allowed throughout the country
4×4 rental
MAY 2018 ā EUROPCAR ā SHARJAH AIRPORT
ā Toyota Prado automatic, 12 days rental, 57 euros/day
ā Toyota Land Cruiser V8 automatic, 12 daysĀ rental, 68 euros/days
We find our 4×4 at the best price on Rental CarĀ Rental Car comparator.
Moto rental
We tried to rent a motocross bike (and even a buggy) by sending emails to different agencies in the country. Impossible to find one for a reasonable price.
Nevertheless, you can rent a buggy (4 people) : hourly rate arround 80ā¬/hour
Our budget for a road-trip to the UAE
Budget for a group of 9 people ā Ā 12 days with two 4wd vehicles ā 2 days in DubaĆÆ (February 2018)
| Price | Days | Group Total | Indiv Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental 4x4 (Toyota LandCruiser) | 68 ā¬ /day | 12 | 816ā¬ | 90,6ā¬ |
| 4Ć4 Rental (Toyota Prado) | 57 ā¬ /day | 12 | 684ā¬ | 76ā¬ |
| Accommodation DubaĆÆ (flat on 72th floor) | 250 ā¬ /night | 2 | 380 ā¬ | 42,2 ā¬ |
| Food (including 6 restaurants) | 90 ā¬ /day | 15 | 1350 ā¬ | 150 ā¬ |
| Fuel | 55 ā¬ /day | 12 | 660 ā¬ | 73,3 ā¬ |
| Vehicle repairs | 140 ā¬ | - | 140ā¬ | 15,56ā¬ |
| Flight tickets | 380 ā¬ | - | 3420 ā¬ | 380 ā¬ |
| Boat tour to the mangrove | 100 ā¬ | - | 100 ā¬ | 11 ā¬ |
| Others (camping equipment, taxi) | 250 ā¬ | - | 250 ā¬ | 27,7 ā¬ |
| UAE Off Road Book | 33 ā¬ | - | 33 ā¬ | 3,7 ā¬ |
| TOTAL | 7833 ā¬ | 870 ā¬/pers |
Our favorite places in the United Arab Emirates
Rub Al-Khali Sands
The genuine desert! Rub Al Khali isĀ the largest desert in the world, it crosses part of the country, and there it is better preserved. To be discovered: for the pleasure of waking up in the middle of the dunes, and enjoying a blazing sunset or a starry sky. Please ensure that one member of the team masterĀ sand-drivingĀ and split the group in two vehicles (which will allow you to quickly get out of sand, in case in trouble).
Off-Roading between Liwa and Al-Ain
There is a small āsecretā trail that runs from Liwa to Al Ain along the borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman. Dunes with peach tones, a real playground forĀ sand-driving. We were also lucky to be able to watch wildlife which is difficult elsewhere in the Emirates (Arabian Oryx ā¦). Before you head off on this track, ensure you have a suitable supply of water (minimum 4 liters per person a day).
āStairway to Heavenā hike
AĀ hikeĀ through the northern mountains of the country, with more than 1500 meters height difference in 15 kms: a beautiful challenge rewarded by amazing rocky landscapes and a breathtaking view over the canyon! Itās different from the desert, which covers almost the whole country! Warning: good physical condition required.
Camel Race
Not to be missed under any circumstances! Between September and March,Ā early in the morning around 7:30 am (at 8:30 am the show is already over),Ā camel races take place three to four times a week. Hundreds of camels galloping on the tracks at a crazy speed. They carry on their backsĀ remotely controlledĀ tiny robot jockeys . Races are moments of intense emotional release. Owners of the animals drive their 4Ć4, follow their camels on parallel tracks, honk and howl to encourage them. Ambianceā¦
Any questions? Join our discussion group!
We will be happy to answer all your questions (4×4 location4×4 rental4Ć4 rental, itinerary, camping recommendation, etc.)! You can ask your questions and/or your feedback as a comment at the end of this article, or directly onĀ ourĀ facebook groupĀ !
Donāt hesitate to join our group for more information! And donāt forget to download our GPS tracks and our practical sheet for driving on the sand before you leave! Have a nice trip !
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