Day Trips and Weekend Escapes from Dubai and Abu Dhabi: December 2026

December is when the UAE opens up. The mountains turn cool, the sea on the east coast is still inviting, and a drive of an hour or two gets you to dams, wadis, oases and quiet beaches. This list covers ten escapes from Dubai and Abu Dhabi that work as a day trip or an easy weekend this month.

We picked places that suit the season, checked each one against official tourism pages or recent local reporting, and left out anything we could not confirm. Drive times are rough guides and depend on where you start and on traffic, so leave some slack, especially on weekends and public holidays.

1. Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah

The UAE’s highest peak rises to about 1,934 metres, and Visit Ras Al Khaimah says it usually runs about 10°C cooler than the rest of the emirate, so pack a real jacket. Driving up is free, and at the top you can choose between the Jais Viewing Deck Park, six hiking trails covering about 16 km, the Jais Flight zipline or lunch at 1484 by Puro.

• Where: Hajar Mountains, Ras Al Khaimah.
• Drive time: About 1 hour 45 minutes from Dubai; about 3 hours from Abu Dhabi.
• Price: Mountain access is free. The viewing deck charges a small fee, and Jais Flight and other activities are ticketed.
• Good to know: The official season runs October to April. In wet weather, check road and attraction status before you drive up. 1484 by Puro needs a confirmed reservation.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Ras Al Khaimah, Jebel Jais

2. Hatta, Dubai

Hatta is Dubai’s own mountain town, and December is the right month for it. Rent a kayak or a boat on Hatta Dam, then head to Hatta Wadi Hub for mountain biking, archery, wall climbing or ziplining. Visit Dubai also points to the local honey and the quiet mountain views, which are good reasons to stay the night.

• Where: Hatta, in the Hajar Mountains, Dubai.
• Drive time: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Dubai; about 2 hours 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi.
• Price: Depends on the activity; see visithatta.com.
• Good to know: Wadi Hub activities are booked through visithatta.com, which Visit Dubai links to.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Dubai, Hatta Wadi Hub

3. Al Ain, Abu Dhabi

Al Ain is the easy family pick. Start in Al Ain Oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 147,000 date palms over 1,200 hectares, where shaded paths keep you cool and the Eco-Centre explains traditional Emirati farming. Then visit Al Jahili Fort, which Experience Abu Dhabi calls the largest fort in the UAE, and finish on Jebel Hafit, the country’s second-highest peak, for the late afternoon view.

• Where: Al Ain, Abu Dhabi emirate.
• Drive time: About 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi, according to Experience Abu Dhabi; about 1 hour 30 minutes from Dubai.
• Price: Not listed on the official guide; check each site before you go.
• Good to know: To stay the night, Jebel Hafit Desert Park has equipped dome tents and low light pollution for stargazing; book ahead.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Abu Dhabi, Al Ain

4. Wadi Shawka, Ras Al Khaimah

For a real hike without a long drive, Wadi Shawka is a good start. Trails begin at Shawka Dam with a climb up a cement staircase, then drop over sandy and rocky paths towards natural pools that form after winter rain. Beginner loops are about 3 to 5 km and take 1.5 to 2 hours, while longer routes of about 10 km can take six hours or more.

• Where: Shawka, Hajar Mountains, Ras Al Khaimah, about 92 km from Dubai.
• Drive time: About 1 hour from Dubai, according to Gulf News; about 2 hours 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi.
• Price: Free, open all year.
• Good to know: Visit Ras Al Khaimah names November to April as the best season. Bring your own water and food, and stay out of the wadi when heavy rain is forecast, as it can flash flood.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Ras Al Khaimah, Wadi Shawka

5. Mleiha National Park, Sharjah

Mleiha is Sharjah’s desert at its best in winter. By day you can tour the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, see Fossil Rock, ride horses or try sand surfing. After dark there are guided stargazing sessions and desert glamping, and the park lists a Geminids meteor shower session around 12 to 13 December.

• Where: Mleiha, central Sharjah.
• Drive time: About 1 hour from Dubai; about 2 hours 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi.
• Opening hours: 9am to 7pm Sunday to Wednesday; 9am to 9pm Thursday to Saturday.
• Price: Not listed on the park site; see discovershurooq.ae.
• Good to know: Book glamping, stargazing and the archaeology centre on discovershurooq.ae, and Moon Retreat glamping on sharjahcollection.ae. Confirm the meteor shower date when you book.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Mleiha National Park

6. Khasab, Musandam (Oman) by road

Khasab, on Oman’s Musandam peninsula, is a weekend rather than a day trip, but it repays the paperwork. The big draw is a traditional dhow trip through the desert fjords, where dolphin sightings are common, with stops to swim in sheltered bays. Mild December days make a full day on the water comfortable.

• Where: Musandam, Oman, through the Al Darah border post in Ras Al Khaimah.
• Drive time: About 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours from Dubai, plus border time; about 4 hours 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi.
• Price: Gulf News reported in May 2026 a visa on arrival for UAE residents at 5 OMR (about Dh48) and a Dh35 UAE exit fee.
• Good to know: The same report lists your passport with six months’ validity, Emirates ID, driving licence, car registration and Oman insurance cover (an Orange Card can be bought at the border); a borrowed car needs a notarised NOC. Rules depend on nationality and can change, so check the Royal Oman Police eVisa site before you travel, and ask your rental company if the car may cross into Oman.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Royal Oman Police eVisa

7. Fujairah: Al Bidya Mosque and Snoopy Island

Make a loop of the east coast. Start early at Al Bidya Mosque, built in the 16th century and described as the oldest mosque in the UAE, then see Fujairah Fort before heading to Al Aqah, where Snoopy Island sits just offshore. Snorkelling, kayaking and diving are all on offer, with dive centres and gear rental at nearby resorts.

• Where: East coast, Fujairah.
• Drive time: About 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours from Dubai; about 3 hours from Abu Dhabi.
• Price: Snorkel and dive trips are priced by each operator.
• Good to know: Al Bidya is a working mosque, so dress modestly and visit outside prayer times. If you add Wadi Wurayah, the country’s first protected mountain wetland, go with a guided tour.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Fujairah Tourism

8. Khor Fakkan and Al Rafisah Dam, Sharjah

Al Rafisah Dam sits in the Hajar Mountains on the road to Khor Fakkan. Rent a kayak or a pedal boat on the lake, walk the 730 m walkway, or take the harder trail past Al Rabi Tower up to Al Suhub Rest, a lookout and restaurant with a view over the clouds. Then carry on down to Khor Fakkan on the coast.

• Where: On the road to Khor Fakkan, Sharjah’s east coast.
• Drive time: Under an hour from Sharjah, according to Visit Sharjah; about 1 hour 30 minutes from Dubai; about 3 hours from Abu Dhabi.
• Price: Rental and entry prices are not published on the official page.
• Good to know: Kayaks and pedal boats are rented on site. Wear proper shoes for the climb to Al Suhub Rest.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Sharjah, Al Rafisah Dam

9. Kalba mangroves and Al Hefaiyah, Sharjah

Kalba pairs a mangrove paddle with a wildlife centre. The Al Qurm reserve has mangroves along about 7 km of tidal creek, recognised under the Ramsar Convention, and it is home to the rare Arabian collared kingfisher. Nearby, Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre has around 30 species, including the Arabian leopard, Arabian wolf and Arabian tahr, seen from an air-conditioned walkway and viewing hides.

• Where: Kalba, Sharjah’s east coast.
• Drive time: About 1 hour from Sharjah city, according to Gulf News; about 1 hour 45 minutes from Dubai; about 3 hours 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi.
• Price: Kayak tour and centre prices are not published on the pages we checked.
• Good to know: Guided kayak and paddleboard tours run in the protected area; Visit Sharjah mentions trips by Absolute Adventures. Book ahead for weekends.
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Sharjah, Kalba

10. Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Sir Bani Yas is a proper weekend away. The island’s Arabian Wildlife Park has free-roaming giraffes and cheetahs, best seen on a 4×4 safari, and you can also kayak, snorkel, ride horses or explore the ruins of an ancient church. Cooler December days make a long safari much more comfortable.

• Where: Al Dhafra, by boat from Jebel Dhanna jetty, about 250 km west of Abu Dhabi.
• Drive time: About 2 hours 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi and about 3 hours 45 minutes from Dubai to the jetty, then the boat.
• Price: Depends on the resort and activities you book.
• Good to know: Plan it as an overnight stay at one of the island’s three Anantara resorts (Al Sahel, Al Yamm or Desert Islands).
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island

Leave early to beat the traffic, pack a warm layer for the mountains and a swimsuit for the coast, and check each official page the day before, as winter weather can change plans.