The UAE has a lot more to offer than most people would imagine. Hiking in UAE is not usually the first reason people visit the UAE. That being said. family hikes in UAE is not an activity that usually springs to mind when booking a family holiday to Dubai. However, we have taken the opportunity over our years living in the UAE to get out and explore as much as possible. You can enjoy hiking in Dubai during your time here.
The optimum time of year to discover these places is from October to March when the weather is cooler. We would always recommend getting started early before the midday sun. Even in the cooler months, the midday temperature in the UAE doesn’t ever really get below about 22c.
Here are some of our favourite family hikes in the UAE that we have discovered. We will continue to add further to this list. Check and download maps before embarking on a hike in UAE, Wikiloc has a lot available. Often these hikes are remote and signal is minimal.
These are not hikes exclusive to families. Simply hikes we have taken our kids on. If you are looking at starting hiking in the UAE then these are some of the easy or beginner trails to start with. Get out and enjoy this beautiful country!
What to take hiking in UAE
- Suncream
- Hat / Cap
- Sensible trainers or hiking boots
- More water than you think you need
- Snacks
- Downloaded trail map (use Wikiloc)
- Camera
- Let someone know where you are before you go, there may be no phone signal
Please do let us know if there are any other hikes in the UAE you would recommend for a family.
1. Wadi Shawka
Wadi Shawka is a family hiking trail in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) which is about a 1.5hour drive from in Dubai. It is a good introduction to hiking in the UAE as there are lots of people around to follow or seek help from if needs be. The trails are simple to follow. There are beautiful rocky mountains surrounding the dam which makes for a peaceful escape from the city and a perfect outdoors activity in Dubai for kids and adults.
The Wadi Shawka trail
We usually climb the big stairs right to the top then take the well trodden path to the right. The path leads back down (a bit of scrambling) and then keep on the trail to the left. This will eventually bring you back down to the car park.
The views of the rocky, pebbly mountains are spectacular. Bring lots of water, wear shoes that don’t slip and enjoy the hike. Dylan and Elis were 6 and 5 when we first did this hike and it took us about 2hours for a circular loop. This is a firm family favourite that we keep returning to.
How to get there
It is just off the Sharjah-Kalba road, is well signposted and in Google Maps/Waze. Wadi Shawka is easily accessible with any car, you don’t need a 4×4 and there is plenty of parking. Wadi Shawka is a popular hike there are often organised groups and lots of people camping so our advice, as always, would be to arrive early.
You can read more details about our trips here.
2. Al Rafisah Dam
Al Rafisah Dam is in the Emirate of Sharjah, close to Khorfakkan city. Al Rafisah is around a 1.5hr drive from Dubai. Similar to Hatta, however not as built up, with mountains surrounding and a lovely rooftop cafe, park and toilets. There is roadside parking available at Al Rafisah, just park up and cross the bridge to the right of the cafe. You will see signs for the trail.
It is a well pathed UAE hiking trail with benches and some shaded areas along the way. The hike takes you up the mountain. We were short of time so didn’t walk up to Al Suhub Rest House but this is a perfect place to head to, eat and return.
This family hike in the UAE could easily be combined with a staycation in Aqah Beach, Fujairah; do the hike first then continue on to relax at your resort.
How to get there….
Al Rafisah is easily accessible on the Khorfakkan road, enter into Waze or Google Maps. There is lots of pay and display roadside parking available.
3. Al Dahir Hiking Trail
We have only just discovered this trail in 2023 and it is a good one. It can be done as an 8km loop however we just did a few km in and returned. This Fujairah hike is also known as the sulphur trail as there are lots of sulphur pools along the way. The Al Dhair hike is a perfect family hike through a UAE wadi. There is shade early morning and we even had a breeze! A little bit of scrambling and lots of pools to jump over. The kids loved finding frogs, lizards and swimming in the pools at the end. A great family hike in the UAE.
It is around 1.5hours drive from Dubai so could be combined with a staycation in Dibba. Our favourite is Radisson Blu Dibba. You can read our review here.
How to get there….
The drive is about 1.5hrs from Dubai and pretty straightforward off the Emirates 611 road onto the E87 road to Dibba. You will do a U-Turn on the road and then need to turn right up a hill track a few metres to park.
4. Al Rabi Hiking Trail
Al Rabi is a Khorfakkan hike in the Emirate of Sharjah which is about a 1hr 15min drive from Dubai. It is a great hike to do on the way to or from a weekend in Al Aqah beach, Fujairah.
It has a good path and is easily accessible so makes a perfect outdoors activity from Dubai and one of our favourite family hikes in UAE.
The trail starts at the Al Rabi Tower in Khorfakkan which is a reconstructed fortress and offers a good viewpoint over the city of Khorfakkan. The well signposted trail takes you round and up the mountain, there are plenty of boulders where you can stop and get some shade for a water stop.
The View by Wave is a newly opened cafe next to Al Rabi tower that is a great refreshment stop after the hike to admire the view.
At the top of the summit you will find a big UAE flag and lots of big rocks where you can sit and admire the spectacular seaview over the port of Khorfakkan and the Gulf of Oman.
Booking.com
How to get there
Just put Al Rabi Tower into Google Maps/Waze but it is an easy route on the Khorfakkan road and is signposted when you get to Khorfakkan. You can drive any car, no 4×4 needed. There is some road parking right next to the tower otherwise there is a car park further down and you just have to walk up the road to reach the trail. This took us about 3hrs up and back down when Dylan was 6 and Elis 5.
5. Jebel Jais
Jebel Jais is in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and it is the highest peak in the UAE. It is about 1.5hr drive in the north of RAK towards the Oman border. The last 30mins of the drive is snaking up the rocky mountain range with breath-taking views. Bear Grylls Explorers Camp have accommodation on the mountain with survival skills courses, if you are looking to make an a night of the hike. Another place on our wishlist.
At the top of Jebel Jais is a viewing point with toilets, food vans, picnic tables and a children’s park. We took the trail that leads up from the children’s park. The paths are wide, stable and meander up the mountain until the last part where there is a bit of clambering over some boulders until you reach the large UAE flag. There are stunning views over the Hajar mountain range and you truly are on top of the UAE.
A must-do of the family hikes in UAE, perfect to pair with a staycation in RAK. We particularly love Hilton Beach Resort and Double Tree Hilton as well as Cove Rotana which often has great deals. Long Beach glamping site is also great fun to pair with an outdoor weekend.
Read about some of our favourite RAK hotels in 11 best staycations in the UAE.
How to get there…
This is on Google Maps/Waze and clearly signposted once in RAK, it is just a turnoff off the E11. You can drive any car, no need for a 4×4 and there is plenty of parking at the viewpoint. The hike took us about 1.5-2hrs in total and we did it when Dylan was 6 and Elis 5.
Booking.com6. Wadi Abadilah
Wadi Abadilah is in the Emirate of Fujairah, we visited when on a staycation staying in Fujairah but it would take about 1.5hrs from Dubai taking the Khorfakkan road. Our favourite hotels in Fujairah are The Intercontinental and The Radisson Blu, Dibba – great all inclusive deals. However, the fairly new hotel The Address Fujairah is also on our wishlist!
It was end of March when we visited and the temperatures were heating up so we didn’t do the full hike. We just did the initial 1km through the green farm on a narrow, muddy path. After about 20mins we came to some rock pools and spent time here exploring the shady rock pools before heading back to the car. The longer hike takes you through a dry wadi and is a route that you just backtrack on rather than a circular route so you can go as far as you like. It is definitely a hike that we will return to again in cooler weather.
How to get there….
From Dubai you need to take the Khorfakkan road, make sure you put ‘Wadi Abadilah entry point into Google Maps/Waze and it will take you to a point on the main road. We missed this initially as we were looking for a right hand turn, so we had to double u-turn and try again. You need to just turn off the main road and there is a path where you might see some cars parked up, go up the path and there is a little shelter. Park there and look for steps leading down to the path.
Booking.com9. Hatta Wadi Hub
Hatta Wadi Hub is an amazing outdoors family adventure area in Dubai. It has high ropes, axe throwing, trampolines, biking, tube sliding, gel ball, mountain zorbing and water slide drop.
There are many hikes available with different coloured paths from Beginner to Advanced. Simply follow the trail colour. A popular hike is going to the Hatta sign, like the Hollywood sign! We haven’t done this yet but did have a great time on some of the beginner trails coming across goats and bugs.
Hatta also has incredible glamping experiences from Hatta Trailers to Hatta Mountain Cabins to Hatta Dome Park. There is of course also the amazing JA Hatta Fort Hotel, a firm UAE residents favourite.
How to get there….
The Hatta road is well signposted from Dubai. Take the E44 Hatta road and Hatta Wadi Hub is well signposted. It takes around 1-1.5hrs from Dubai.
6. Mleiha Cave Exploration
Mleiha is an archaeological site in Sharjah about a 1hr drive from Dubai. It has a museum and a great cafe but outside the main site there are wadi caves which are fun to explore. Mleiha is a great outdoors activity spot in Dubai. Moon Retreat by Sharjah Collection offer a fantastic glamping spot nearby with private pools. One that has been on my list for a while.
The wadi caves are outside the main entrance to the museum and signposted so very easy to find. There are boardwalks and easy paths to walk on. Information explains where human remains were found giving an insight into the way Bedouins lived. Many rocky paths lead to small numbered caves which the boys love exploring. It is isn’t a mountain hike but still a fun family hike in UAE to discover.
How to get there…..
Mleiha is a town in Sharjah so is very well signposted and is just a turnoff off the Sharjah-Kalba road (E102). There is ample parking, no need for a 4×4 and no off-roading. This is a desert place so early mornings are best before it really heats up. We spent about 1hr exploring the caves when Dylan was 5 and Elis 4. It is a short distance from Dubai so makes for a great outdoor activities in Dubai for kids.
You can read more information about our trip to Mleiha here
7. Shees Nature Trail
Shees is in the Emirate of Sharjah on the way to Khorfakkan. It is about 1hr 15mins drive from Dubai and again, is easily accessible.
This is a really short, easy trail that you would probably want to combine with something else in the area, check our list of 50 activities here for some ideas. There is roadside parking and the path is well signposted and easy to follow. It takes you through an old farming village with water running alongside the whole way, the path is secure and safe. It is well shaded with lots of trees and greenery around making for a unique family hike in UAE.
How to get there….
Just put ‘Shees Nature Trail’ into Google Maps or Waze and it will take you there. Shees is signposted off the Khorfakkan road before you get to Rafisah Dam, you get to Shees Park first but continue onto the road further down and you need to park roadside and lookout for the staircase next to the signpost for Wadi Shees. This only took about 45minutes and the boys were 6 and 5 when we did it. An ideal family hike in UAE for kids when they are young as there’s not actually too much walking.
Booking.com10. Nad Al Sheba Forest Trail
This is much more of a stroll than a hike, there is nothing strenuous about it at all! However, if you are looking for somewhere in Dubai amongst nature to get out and stretch your legs then this is perfect. Combine with something else if you are looking for a half or full day out as you will probably be here less than 1hour.
It is more of a lane, but a pretty one! There are many trees growing together creating a forest with sticks, mud and shade. The boys loved taking their footballs for a kick about and collecting the sticks and twigs.
How to get here…
I couldn’t see it on Google Maps but if you put Nad Al Sheba Forest into the Waze App it will take you there. A turn off the main road and park amongst the trees.
We hope you get to enjoy some of these family hikes in UAE during the cooler months, please let us know of any others we should check out.
If you enjoyed our post 6 Family Hikes in UAE then check out Dubai to Oman road trip for more hikes and adventures over the border in Oman. Or here to read about 50 activities in the UAE, many are outdoors. Read our everything you want to know about the UAE post where you might find some other interesting places to visit in the UAE. Check out our Destinations Page to get other family adventure and travel inspiration.
Follow us on Instagram @dubaiandbeyond_ or Twitter @dubaiandbeyond_ to keep up to date with our adventures.
Disclaimer: This post Family Hikes UAE, has affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you.
Love wadis! Such welcomed escapes out of that urban madness! Your pics of Shees nature trail and Abadilah Wadi look great!
Thank you! Always so nice to have decent escapes from the city 🙂