The United Arab Emirates is best known for its luxury real estate Dubai and its skyline, but it also has real nature, most of it within a few hours' drive of the city. This is a quick visual tour of five places. For opening hours, ticket prices and a longer list of spots, see our full guide to the greenest places in the UAE. Dubai has a wild corner too: the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary covers 6.2 square km of mudflats, mangroves and lagoons inside the city, and flamingos and other birds gather there each winter. Three bird hides on its edge are free to enter during daylight hours. The city is also planning more green space of its own, which Dubai's green future in 2040 sets out.
Jebel Jais: The UAE’s Highest Mountain
Jebel Jais rises in Ras Al Khaimah to 1,934 metres, the highest point in the UAE. A winding road climbs to the summit, where the air is noticeably cooler than on the coast and the views run across the Hajar range. It is also home to Jais Flight, a zipline of 2.83 km that holds the record as the world’s longest.
Hatta Dam: Calm Water in the Hajar Mountains
The water behind Hatta Dam is a vivid green against bare mountain rock, and it is quiet. The usual way to see it is by kayak, paddling slowly across the reservoir. Allow about 90 minutes each way by car from Dubai.
Al Ain Oasis, Abu Dhabi: The Greenest Place in the UAE
Al Ain Oasis shows how people farmed the desert before modern pumps. A falaj, a network of channels that carries water from underground sources, still feeds more than 147,000 date palms across roughly 1,200 hectares. Shaded walkways run between the trees,. UNESCO added the oasis to its World Heritage list in 2011, and it stands as a reminder of how much Abu Dhabi has invested in keeping its green heritage.
Sir Bani Yas Island: Wildlife Park and Beach
Sir Bani Yas is the largest natural island in the UAE, 9 km off the coast of Abu Dhabi, and you reach it by boat from Jebel Dhanna. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan declared it a nature reserve in 1971. Its Arabian Wildlife Park covers 1,400 hectares and was set up to breed endangered local species such as the Arabian oryx and the sand gazelle. Visitors can see free-roaming animals, and the island also has beaches and resorts.
Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve, Abu Dhabi: Dunes Turned to Rock
The Al Wathba Fossil Dunes Reserve holds more than 1,700 fossil dunes across about 7 square km, sand formations that hardened into rock over a very long time. Photographers like the curved shapes and the low-angle light, and geologists read in them how the desert formed. The reserve sits close to Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, which is known for its flamingos, so the two combine into one day. If the desert appeals, our roundup of top things to do in Dubai's desert covers more ways to explore it.
Conclusion
These five places show how varied the UAE is outside its cities: a mountain, a reservoir, an oasis, an island and a field of fossil dunes. Each gives a quiet break from the urban pace. For timings, entry fees and more spots beyond these five, our full guide to nature places in the UAE has the details you'll want before you go. If you would rather head to the coast, our guide to Dubai's best beaches is a good next stop.
FAQ
What is the nature of the UAE?
Mostly desert, with the Hajar mountain range along the east and scattered oases in between. The contrast with the cities is sharp, and the three are often only an hour or two apart.
Which is the most beautiful best wadi in UAE?
Beauty is subjective, but Wadi Bih is often named as one of the most scenic wadis in the UAE. It is a popular spot for hiking and camping.
Where is the most green place in the UAE?
Al Ain Oasis. It is known as the greenest place in the UAE, a dense stand of date palms in the middle of the desert.
