Here is a gentle exploratory trip for those weekends when you just feel like going on a leisurely drive.
It is also an excellent route for newcomers to the UAE, for when you have visitors from overseas and for people who do not relish the idea of going "off-road". In fact, a saloon car will be perfectly suitable for the tarmac roads that run along the coastline of eastern UAE.
Starting from the red dunes of Sharjah, we will traverse the sharp Hajar Mountains - the highest in the eastern Arabian Peninsula - and then roll south along beaches for 100km before heading back inland in a wide, circular route.
For this trip, I'm driving one of my favourite cars, the Audi A8. And, in this case, it's the extended L model, which is basically a personal limousine. You know how most of us walk past first class as we board a plane, enviously taking note of their extra space and reclining sky-bed seats? Well, the Audi A8 L is definitely travelling in first class.
This itinerary can be covered in one day, as we did, or you can stay overnight if you prefer to spend more time at the beach or exploring the tracks that lead up into the mountains. A trip from Abu Dhabi adds an extra four hours so, for those of you based there, I would suggest it as a weekender. Your overnight options run from camping on the beach to inexpensive motels to five-star resorts.
We start from the bustling town of Al Dhaid, where the desert dunes flatten out as they hit the imposing rocky mountains, at waypoint one. You can reach Al Dhaid from Sharjah by taking the road out past the airport (E88) and from Dubai I would recommend you head directly out of the city to connect to the Outer Dubai Road (E611), which will bypass the city traffic completely and eventually meet up with the E88 that leads straight to Al Dhaid.
From Al Dhaid we will head due east on the road towards Fujairah, but taking the first roundabout left, at waypoint two, following the signposts for the east coast hotels and Ras Al Khaimah. This road takes us through some interesting terrain, such as an alluvial plain and some outcrops of harder ground that have been carved over the centuries. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you may like to explore.
At the first T-junction, waypoint three, turn right following the direction of travel and make an immediate U-turn when possible, so that you will be travelling north. This highway is fast and dangerous, so please take good care making this manoeuvre, as you will need generous acceleration to cross the fast lane to reach the U-turn lane. Fortunately, the Audi's V8 engine belts out 370hp so acceleration is rocket-like.
With the imposing Hajar Mountains on your right, keep an eye out for an intersection heading to your right, which will be signposted towards Dibba on road E87, at waypoint four. This road will head straight into the mountains.
There are a few exits from this highway that lead to little mountain villages where you will find dirt tracks leading up to wonderful lookouts. However, the dirt tracks are not always properly maintained, so stay alert.
After numerous turns you will emerge on the eastern side of the Hajar, into a plateau sandwiched between another range of coastal mountains, with a lovely view of the emerald sea in the distance. You will pass Dibba's cement factory and turn left at the T-junction, at waypoint five.
The seaside town of Dibba is ahead of you and our route skims past its right side. I would recommend a quick look around as it is a charming town that is half in the UAE and half in Oman.
If you wish a diversion into Dibba, the roundabout at waypoint six provides a good entry point. If not, please continue straight through all the roundabouts, which will take you to the coastal road. This is an old road that hugs the eastern coastline of the UAE and offers probably the finest picturesque drive in the country. The stark mountains on your right drop almost directly into the sparkling blue sea and coves of sandy beaches nestle between rocky outcrops. Within swimming range lie a couple of small, uninhabited islands, and the waves of the Gulf of Oman are generally tame. There is also a variety of underwater life and, while snorkelling, I have spotted numerous sea turtles and colourful cuttlefish.
The number of public beaches has been drastically reduced by ongoing development of resorts and beachfront villas, but there are still beaches open to the public, such as at waypoint seven.
At waypoint eight I normally pick up some fresh fruit from the roadside stalls and I can't help but feel energised by the fresh seaside air. Farther along, at waypoint nine, is a wide beach designated for families only, so you may want to picnic there if you have children with you. Down the road, at waypoint 10, you will find a road that leads directly into the mountains - the kind of detour I love. You never know what you will find if you follow it as it turns into a 4x4 track and then, ultimately, a hiking trail. As you drive along the coast, stop as often as time permits, because even if you may not have time to explore fully, it can be the starting point of a future exploratory trip.
At waypoint 11 you will come across another public beach, this one with what is known to expats as "Snoopy Island" jutting out of the calm waters. Years ago, this was the spot where one of the first beach resorts was opened, when the beaches were occupied by local fishermen and not international hotel chains. The motel is still there and still reasonably priced.
The fully developed Al Aqah beach is further down the road, at waypoint 12, and a few kilometres later you will come across the UAE's oldest mosque on your right, dating back to 1446, at waypoint 13. There is a fort built up on the escarpment and the view from up there is well worth the few steps it takes to scamper up. Al Biddiya Mosque is formed by four small domes and is still used as a place of worship.
The turn-off to Wadi Wurayah is farther down the coast, at waypoint 14, and then you reach the town of Khor Fakkan, which has a good selection of eateries along the urban corniche. At waypoint 15 there is a grassy park by the sea, with children's playgrounds and picnicking areas. In the distance you will see the operations of a large shipping port.
From here on, civilisation has claimed the coast and we drive towards the city of Fujairah. You can avoid the denser populated city streets by taking two rights, at waypoints 16 and 17 (on to Kuwait Street), which will bypass the city and take you directly to the motorway that leads back west through the mountains towards Al Dhaid, where we began the adventure.
Two more interesting places to note on the way - although if you made a day trip you are bound to be tired and will probably want to skip them - are a deep gorge formation at Dhaftah (waypoint 19) and the Friday Market at Masafi, where you will turn left at waypoint 20.
All in all, this route is a wonderful coastal circuit, with plenty to see along the way and many promising turn-offs to be explored.
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
more from Janine di Giovanni
Profile box
Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
RESULT
Bayern Munich 3 Chelsea 2
Bayern: Rafinha (6'), Muller (12', 27')
Chelsea: Alonso (45' 3), Batshuayi (85')
GRAN%20TURISMO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neill%20Blomkamp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Harbour%2C%20Orlando%20Bloom%2C%20Archie%20Madekwe%2C%20Darren%20Barnet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis
Paltan
Producer: JP Films, Zee Studios
Director: JP Dutta
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Arjun Rampal, Siddhanth Kapoor, Luv Sinha and Harshvardhan Rane
Rating: 2/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Second Test, Day 2:
South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
The specs
Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
