middle east road trip

The sparkling Dubai skyline. (Photo: Getty Images)

Road Trips

Strap in for the Ultimate Luxury Road Trip from Abu Dhabi to Oman

The United Arab Emirates is renowned for mega-cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but its geography also lends itself to incredible road tripping — especially when combined with tourist-friendly Oman next door. On your next visit, why not hop behind the wheel and hit the sand-swept highways for a slice of the real Arabian Peninsula?

Discover what to see and do on the ultimate Middle East road trip.

Starting in Style: Abu Dhabi to Dubai

It’s an oddity that most visitors to the UAE fly straight into one of the major cities — and straight out of the same place, having never enjoyed a horizon bereft of skyscrapers or any of the desert nation’s vast, open beauty. Between the two major hubs alone, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, there’s great road trip potential, and that theme continues throughout the country, not to mention across the border into the spectacular Sultanate of Oman.

The obvious place to start your engines for a UAE road trip is its capital, Abu Dhabi. Rest up for your journey with a night at the The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, where there’s no missing epic views of the city’s major landmark: The magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque — with its mind-boggling 80 snow-white domes supported by 1,000 pillars — has space for 50,000 worshippers and welcomes non-Muslim visitors.

middle east road trip
The magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. (Photo: Getty Images)

After exploring the palatial monument, drive 20 minutes east and you’ll find an extravagant pantheon of an entirely different kind: the Yas Marina Circuit, home to FORMULA 1’s climactic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Here, race fans can see how they measure up on the iconic track, contested so fiercely by the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, with driving experiences ranging from drag racing and drifting lessons to pit-stop challenges.

middle east road trip
Hit the race track. (Photo: Marriott International)

From here, you should make for the bright lights of Dubai — an easy 85 miles up the cost.

Aim to arrive in good time for a sunset cruise — one of the finest ways to see this desert metropolis in all its luminescent glory — before grabbing cocktails and a plate of juicy Dibba Bay oysters with your feet in the sand at the beachfront Palm Grill, accessible only to guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai. The oysters are a rare delicacy, farmed and harvested fresh from the Arabian Gulf waters off Fujairah.

middle east road trip
Enjoy a meal on the sands of The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai. (Photo: Marriott International)

Heading for the Hills: Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah

On paper, they might be part of the same country, but Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah (almost universally known as “RAK” in these parts) couldn’t be more different. Driving away from the packed beaches, skyscraper canyons and buzzing nightlife of the latter, the terrain swiftly empties as the urban sprawl gives way to lofty dunes and desert plains. About two hours north of Dubai, shortly after crossing into RAK, the road starts to climb into the mountains.

Follow the signs to Jebel Jais, the UAE’s tallest peak, and enjoy the dazzling views as you zigzag ever upward, passing a string of astonishing vistas on every switchback.

middle east road trip
Winding mountain roads greet drivers. (Photo: Marriott International)

Near the 6,345-foot summit, you’ll find the UAE’s most celebrated white-knuckle ride, Jebel Jais Flight, the world’s longest zip line.

Far from offering a graceful float under a forest canopy like so many of its namesakes, this particular zip line is an audacious headfirst descent down the mountain at speeds of up to 93 mph, for three minutes.

middle east road trip
See the sights via zipline. (Photo: Marriott International)

After being returned to your car, the drive back down will seem tame by comparison, but the scenery at least is better soaked in at a more sedate speed.

RAK, the UAE’s northernmost emirate, is renowned for its genteel, relaxed pace of life, and The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, spread over a beautiful 1,235-acre private reserve, is the perfect place to soak it in as you refuel in style.

Emirate to Sultanate: Ras Al Khaimah to Oman

After recharging in luxury, you’ll be ready for the longest and most rewarding drive yet: the five hours from RAK to Muscat, the capital of neighboring Oman.

The border itself falls near the adventure sports hub of Hatta, where, if you have time, you can rent a mountain bike for a blast around the mountain enclave or a kayak to explore the incredible turquoise waters of Hatta Lake — the vast body of water formed by Hatta Dam and its surrounding peaks.

middle east road trip
Find your zen on Hatta Lake. (Photo: Getty Images)

From here, it’s a straight shot across the Omani border and 200 miles southeast to Muscat, the graceful port capital wedged between coast and mountains.

As you drive, the scenery evolves again, from arid canyons and sun-bleached forts to flame-colored, dune-filled landscapes. Oman’s roads are sleek, new and notoriously empty, making them a near-perfect driving experience, as the immaculate desolation of the desert unfolds around you.

The oldest sovereign country in the Arab world, Oman is as renowned for its friendly locals as its rich history, and both are on full display in Muscat.

The opulent Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, a slice of five-star luxury in the heart of the city, is the perfect spot from which to explore the Omani capital, with highlights that include the chaotic Mutrah Souk, the grand Al Alam Palace (the ceremonial home of the Sultan) and the nearby National Museum — a newly opened, fascinating, world-class depository of Arabian history.

But after the long drive over from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, your priority is going to be rest and relaxation — and the good news is that you’re in the right place for that, too.

There are few better places to kick back and relax than the BLU beach bar, where you can sit on the sand amid the lightly swaying palm trees and reflect on your adventure while gazing out across the calm, glistening waters of the Sea of Oman.