UAE Road Trip Loop
Depart from Dubai and drive a loop covering Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, the East Coast, and Ras Al Khaimah.
This loop is featured in many self-drive guides, offering a week to see cities, oases, mountains, seas, and ancient forts. You will change bases every day, which keeps the pace tight, but most driving segments are under three hours. It is perfect for those who love driving and want to see the UAE beyond Dubai. The trade-off is staying only one night in each location, leaving little time for beach relaxation, with Sharjah visited on the final day on the way back.
Temperatures are high from May to September; mountain roads and outdoor segments should not be scheduled during the day.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Downtown Dubai
Dubai（Dubai Mall / Dubai Fountain、Burj Khalifa）
Take the metro or a taxi from the airport to Downtown (about 30 minutes); do not pick up your rental car on the first day.
Stay: Downtown Dubai
Day 2 · Half-Day Old Town & Desert Evening
Dubai（Al Fahidi Historical District、Dubai Creek Abra Ride、Deira Gold Souk、Desert Safari (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve)）
Explore the Old Town by metro and ferry in the morning, and join a desert tour in the afternoon, taking about 5–6 hours.
Stay: Downtown Dubai
Day 3 · Drive West to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi City（Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque、Louvre Abu Dhabi、Abu Dhabi Corniche）
Pick up your car and drive along Sheikh Zayed Road (about 140 km, 1.5 hours); parking is convenient in the city.
Confirm the daily mileage limit of your rental car, as this loop can easily exceed it.
Stay: Corniche and Downtown
Day 4 · Oasis Forts & Mountain Sunset
Al Ain（Al Ain Oasis、Al Jahili Fort、Jebel Hafeet）
Drive from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain (about 160 km, 2 hours), and drive up the mountain in the evening (about 1.5 hours round trip).
Reported opening hours for Al Jahili Fort vary; avoid scheduling visits on Monday and Friday mornings.
Stay: Al Ain City Centre
Day 5 · Cross Hatta to the East Coast
Dubai（Hatta） → Fujairah（Kalba Fort & Bait Sheikh Saeed、Sheikh Zayed Mosque Fujairah、Fujairah Fort & Heritage Village）
Drive to Fujairah via Hatta and Kalba (about 265 km, 3 hours), taking the E102 for the latter section.
Some roads around Hatta briefly enter Oman; bring your passport and follow the road signs.
Stay: Fujairah City
Day 6 · Coastal Mosque & Mountain Road
Fujairah（Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre & Waterfall、Al Bidya Mosque） → Ras Al Khaimah（Jebel Jais）
Drive north along the coast to Al Badiyah (about 40 minutes), cross the mountains to Ras Al Khaimah (about 1.5 hours), and drive up the mountain (about 1 hour).
The mountain peak is about 10 degrees cooler than the city; bring a jacket, and note that gas stations are scarce in the mountains.
Stay: Corniche and Old Town
Day 7 · Pearl Village & Sharjah Finale
Ras Al Khaimah（Al Jazirah Al Hamra） → Dubai（Heart of Sharjah & Museum of Islamic Civilization）
Drive south along the E11 to Sharjah (about 1.5 hours), then to Dubai (about 30 minutes), avoiding the evening rush hour.
The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is closed on Friday mornings; allow plenty of time for car return.