Best Day Trips from Dubai 2026 — Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Hatta Mountains Near Dubai

Best Day Trips from Dubai 2026

Dubai's position in the UAE makes it a natural hub for regional day trips — Abu Dhabi is just 90 minutes south on the E11 highway, Sharjah is 30 minutes north in normal traffic, and the Hajar Mountain foothills at Hatta are 1.5 hours east. The Omani exclave of Hatta and the East Coast beaches at Fujairah (2 hours) are popular escapes from Dubai's urban intensity, while Abu Dhabi's concentration of world-class museums and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque make it a consistent day trip favourite. This guide covers the best day trips from Dubai in 2026.

Top Day Trip Destinations from Dubai

• Abu Dhabi (150km southwest, 90 minutes by car): the UAE capital with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (free entry, modest dress required), the Louvre Abu Dhabi (AED 63 / AUD 26), the Qasr Al Hosn fort, and the Corniche waterfront; also Ferrari World and Yas Island's theme parks; best reached by car or public bus (E100, AED 25 / AUD 10 return); Hatta (115km east, 1.5 hours by car): a mountain enclave with Hatta Heritage Village, Hatta Dam for kayaking and paddleboarding, and the Hatta Wadi Hub for mountain biking and zip lines; entry to heritage village AED 5 (AUD 2); best in October to April; Sharjah (25km north, 30-60 minutes by car depending on traffic): the UAE's Cultural Capital with the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Blue Souk (Central Market), the Heritage Area, and Sharjah Art Foundation; alcohol-free emirate with a different character from Dubai; Fujairah and the East Coast (130km east, 2 hours by car): the East Coast of the UAE on the Gulf of Oman with Fujairah Fort, Al Aqah Beach, Snoopy Island snorkelling, and the historic Bidiyah Mosque (UAE's oldest); Al Ain (160km southeast, 1.5-2 hours by car): the UAE's UNESCO-listed oasis city with Al Ain Oasis (free), Al Ain Palace Museum, and Jebel Hafeet mountain drive

Day Trip Logistics from Dubai

• A rental car is the most flexible option for all destinations; the E100 public bus from Dubai Union Square to Abu Dhabi is affordable (AED 25 each way) but slow; taxis from Dubai to Abu Dhabi cost approximately AED 200-250 one way (AUD 80-100); RTA buses connect Dubai to Sharjah (Bus 13/E303) for AED 5 (AUD 2); no train connections currently operate between UAE cities

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