12 road trips across the GCC

Fancy a road trip across the GCC? From Abu Dhabi to Al Ain (one for the beginners) or Oman to Saudi Arabia, a GCC road trip is one for your bucket list.

Whether you’re looking to embark on a multi-day tour, fancy putting your driving skills to the test on a rocky mountain road or sandy dune, want to stay put in your home country or are up for travelling across three, these are some of the finest road trips across the GCC.

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Abu Dhabi to Al Ain

Driving time: 2 hours (173km)
As soon as you hit the Al Ain Road, you’ll find the mood changes; city life gives way to a sense of scenic tranquillity and everything becomes that bit greener. Well deserving of its ‘Garden City’ moniker, Al Ain boasts an abundance of natural springs and oases, palm groves and majestic mountains that not only makes this a wonderful destination for a road trip, but quite unlike anywhere else in the UAE.

From exploring historical sites (UNESCO World Heritage Site Al Ain Oasis included) to experiencing the thrills that Wadi Adventure has to offer, there’s plenty to do. If driving is your bag though, you’ll be wanting to fill up the petrol tank and snake your way around the wide bends and tight hairpins that take you some 1,249-metres up to the top of Jebel Hafeet (the route is renowned by experts as being one of the greatest driving roads in the world).

Abu Dhabi – Al Gharbia

Driving time: 2 hours 30 minutes (240km)
Fancy yourself as a skilled driver and keen for a thrilling off-road experience? This is the expedition for you. The route out to the western municipal region of Abu Dhabi is as impressive as they come, with towering sand dunes, vast stretches of unspoiled coastline dotted with pristine beaches and islands, numerous ancient forts and some of the rarest wildlife in the region.

To experience Al Gharbia at its finest, it’s well worth planning your trip around one of the area’s heritage festivals. The four-wheel focused Tel Moreeb Festival is hugely popular with desert driving fans, while adventure seekers should book mark the Al Gharbia Water Sports Festival. In July meanwhile it’s all about celebrating the nation’s most-loved fruit at the Liwa Date Festival, which will hopefully be open to the public once again this year.

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Bahrain to Kuwait City

Driving time: 4 hours 45 minutes (494km)
From a seriously spectacular Arabian sea view start heading out along the King Fahad Causeway to the smooth and sprawling desert roads that follow, this is a wonderfully calming, not-too-taxing drive; plan your playlist and prepare to enjoy.

Make sure you bring your appetite on this adventure for a culinary odyssey awaits in Kuwait City, where you’ll find everything from traditional hole-in-the-wall spots (local fish speciality fried zubaidy is a must-try) to funky modern cafés. If you’re in the mood for a spot of shopping, a jaunt around Souk Al-Mubarakiya, one of the oldest markets in the country, is always interesting and no road trip to Kuwait would be complete without snapping a selfie in front of the Kuwait Towers.

Doha – Al Zubarah Fort

Driving time: 1 hour 15 minutes (105km)
A relatively short trip this, but one not to be missed. Drive an hour or so north of Doha and you’ll come to the well-preserved Al Zubarah Fort, which sits adjacent to the ancient ruins of the town of Al Zubarah and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The impressive building (we’re talking Game of Thrones vibes) was occupied by the armed forces until around 30-years ago and is now a thriving museum with pottery and archaeology exhibits.

Doha to Bir Zekreet

Driving time: 1 hour (80km)
For a brilliant day out and one that feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, a road trip to view the prehistoric sights and stunning sand sculptures of Bir Zekreet (aka the Qatari Grand Canyon) will impress and delight in equal measure. These unique limescale escarpments have always been stirring and the appeal of visiting has only increased in recent years following the unveiling of artist Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East sculptures, which rise out of the desert landscape to breath-taking effect.

Doha to Dubai

Driving time: 7 hours 30 minutes (710km)
A lengthy expedition this one, but well worth it if you’ve got time on your hands and a desire to embark on a road trip of pretty epic proportions. The route, which involves a 100km stint through Saudi Arabia, serves up sublime views, tumultuous changing landscape and plenty of culture, as well as opportunities for exploring pretty coastal towns, vibrant cities and remote desert expanses. In short, it’s one for the bucket list. Our advice would be to plan meticulously, make a few days of it and enjoy stop-offs and mini excursions along the way.

Doha to the Inland Sea

Driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes (100km)
Leaving Doha’s futuristic skyline well behind, a road trip to the Inland Sea is memorable for many reasons: the rolling dunes are brilliant for a spot of dune bashing (providing you’re in a 4×4, of course), the salty turquoise water is fabulous for swimming (or more likely floating) and the area teams with all manner of wildlife, from turtles to migratory birds.

Dubai to Musandam

Driving time: 2-3 hours (200km)
Clocking in at around 3 hours long (border crossing time factored in), the journey from Dubai to Musandam is just far enough to feel like an adventure, without being offputtingly lengthy – perfect for a weekend adventure with the kids, you could say.

Once you arrive in Musandam, prepare to be enthralled by the utterly diverse, entirely picturesque scenery (craggy Hajar mountains to one side, twinkling turquoise sea on the other). Khasab isn’t known as the Norway of the Middle East for nothing and no visit would be complete without setting sail on a traditional dhow and enjoying a spot of swimming, snorkeling and dolphin spotting.

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Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah

7 Zipline 7 Zipline , , , Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, 10/30/2019 Photo by Jes LuisseJes Luisse/ITP Images;Zipline RAK

Driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes (150km)
Ras al Khaimah has a well-deserved reputation for being the adventure emirate – this place is home to the UAE’s highest mountain, the world’s longest zipline Jais Flight, the new Jais Sledder and a Bear Grylls Adventure Park, after all.

The roads also happen to be second to none. While the weaving coastal trails are impressive, it’s the sweeping, complex track that takes drivers to the summit of Jebel Jais that has enthusiasts waxing lyrical – think tight turns, deep switchbacks and awe-inspiring vistas.

Highway 10, Saudi Arabia

Driving time: 3 hours (256km)
Not perhaps the most enthralling of journeys, but a noteworthy one none the less. Highway 10 connects the town of Haradh with Al Batha close to the UAE border and is regarded as the world’s longest stretch of entirely straight road (not a turn or bend in sight).

The unswerving route is for the most part a barren one, so you’ll want to ensure you’re well stocked with road trip snacks and that your fellow passengers bring their best banter.

Ibri, Oman to Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Driving time: 8 hours (720km)
Thanks to the recent opening of the Empty Quarter Road (the 720km motorway connecting Oman and KSA), the journey between these two countries is no longer as lengthy as it once was (the new route is around 16 hours shorter than the original which runs across the UAE).

That said, any drive that cuts through the largest sand desert in the world should be regarded as pretty epic and requires a certain amount of pre-planning and commitment. All this will be rewarded in spades though, thanks to the sublime views, changing landscape and opportunities for exploring previously difficult to reach villages and archaeological sites.

Riyadh to AlUla

Driving time: 10 hours 30 minutes (1041km)
The lengthy yet hugely rewarding journey from cosmopolitan Riyadh to culturally rich AlUla is one for the memory bank, offering travellers an amazing opportunity to immerse themselves in layers of history and staggering natural beauty.

Careful planning is key for this trip and you’ll want to make at least one overnight stop off along the way. The historic city of Hail, with its famous A’Arif fort, traditional souks and selection of hotels and restaurants, is a good place for doing so. From Hail it’s a five-and-a-half-hour onward journey to AlUla along pretty remote roads, so fill up with petrol before you leave. Once you arrive, prepare to be seriously impressed: The World’s Masterpiece boasts wonder after wonder, from Elephant Rock to the Hidden Valley, not forgetting the Nabatean site of Hegra.