Driving in the U.A.E

[Lordbenny]

So, I want to get a few mates together & have a drive around the Middle East. Saudi is a no-no so I want to involve the U.A.E maybe, Qatar, Yemen & Oman. Maybe a track day or two on a drive that lasts 4 or 5 days. Have any of you driven in this part of the world? Are there any 'special' roads, must see venues that a party of sports car/driving nuts should visit? I'm definately involving Dubai & Abu Dhabi. Is there more to the region than.....sand?

Edited by Lordbenny on Monday 16th February 20:58

[markCSC]

You want to go to Yemen? Really??

It's not really the safest of places. It has more guns than people!! If you go take an armed guard.

Mark

[Viper]

not really much in Dubai road wise except traffic like any major city, plenty of crap drivers though, if you crash and die it was meant to be attitude....

[MaestroDave]

To be honest I'd be inclined to agree with the above.

Drive from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, and there is one road, a busy motorway that is perfectly straight and full (and I mean full) of AWFUL drivers. View either side is sand. Lots of flat sand. Dubai and Abu Dhabi themselves are like driving around any other city centre, except it is stinking hot so you have the windows closed and the A/C on max.

[RichB]

Lordbenny said:

So, I want to get a few mates together & have a drive around the Middle East.

Used to work in the UAE and I can't imagine anything worse, what possesses you to do such a daft thing?

[Targarama]

UAE is boring as hell apart from a few hills unless you drive out to the East Coast at Fujirah. Locals can be a bit barmy, but just pretend you're driving in Bracknell and you'll do just fine.

Get out into rural Oman - I think its much more fun. We hired a Landcruiser and drove from Muscat to Sur and Salalah over Christmas. 1000km. Apart from 4-5 hours in the middle it was fun - loads to see and the landscape is so much nicer than some of the other GCC countries. We plan to drive down to Masirah Island next time - seriously non-touristy (ahem, apart from the new resort which is opening there soon - is there no escape?).

BTW, I think Oman is the nicest region of the Middle East and a majorly underrated destination. Beats Sharm to a pulp. Go now before a bunch of resort hotels arrive in a year or three and Virgin start flying there - chav holiday airlines (I say that as a Virgin Gold Card holder!)

[SM25T]

Nice mountain roads if you head east from Dubai over to the Indian Ocean.

Also - a MUST DRIVE is the new Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road, a few hours south of Dubai, near Al Ain. Wow, what a stunner. Basically a really high piece of rock in the middle of a flat desert. The road climbs to 4000 feet over 7.3 miles and has 60 bends. Beautiful smooth tarmac too. Absolutely stunning ! Hotel near the top for refreshment and great views. Don't try going any higher - private palace with lots of security !

I recall Jezza Clarkson driving up it, but not sure what programme - maybe Motorworld ?

We enjoyed driving it in a hire car a couple of years ago.