Since I did a hiking in the UAE roundup post last year, I thought I'd do the same this year with all the new places we went hiking before it got too hot.
Our first hike this season was Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, which is so famous it's one of the first places people will recommend if they find out you enjoy hiking. Unfortunately, due to an unusually heavy rainy season we saw a ton of garbage on the trail, which made it not only less safe but also less pretty. I would not recommend this trail unless it undergoes some extensive trash pickup. On the bright side, there was an awesome playground, picnic benches, and nice restrooms at the start of the trail, so the potential is definitely there for this to be a great outing for the whole family once it's cleaned up. At least we enjoyed some decent views while we tried to avoid slipping on crushed waterbottles and plastic wrappers.
After that, I went hiking with some friends from my book club to a hidden oasis in Ras Al Khaimah emirate. As soon as I heard "hidden oasis" and saw the amazing photos one of the ladies who went before shared with the group, I was in. This is one of my favorite hikes I've done in the UAE with a ton of scenic variety, very cool rock formations, a valley with an epic echo along the way, and the rewarding payoff of the hidden oasis of greenery at the end (though watch out for the goats, who were quick to try and pilfer any snacks hikers pulled out). I can't wait to do this one with the family next time.
On our way back from our Oman road trip, we did two hikes in Fujairah emirate: the Seven Summits and Wadi Saham. The Seven Summits trail was not nearly as difficult as it sounded, and I would describe this as the easiest hike we've found in the UAE and definitely kid-friendly. There's an easy path up with plenty of sitting areas to the top, and from there you can reach seven "summits" that are quite close and not too steep. (Just make sure when you park you walk to the edge of the trail by the road so you can take the proper path up. We didn't see it at first and took some less-nice stairs instead.)
Wadi Saham is another hike I consider a must for hiking enthusiasts in the UAE. It's challenging and has different paths so you can make the hike a bit longer or shorter. There is basically no shade, so be prepared for lots of sun exposure and not as many natural places to take a break. But what really makes the hike stand out is the petroglyphs near the start of the hike. (Petroglyphs are a type of rock carving where a chisel reveals the lighter layer of rock underneath the surface.) I was worried it would be one of those things that wouldn't live up to the hype online and would be barely visible in real life, but thankfully it was awesome and easy to see.
Our last hike of the season was Al Rabi trail in the Instagram-famous seaside town of Khor Fakkan. This hike was stunning, with views of the mountain on one side and the ocean on the other. There were also nice sitting areas spaced throughout. (There's a cute restaurant and cafe called The View with a gorgeous perch overlooking the ocean I recommend hitting as soon as you're done with the hike - if you can get a table! When we finished our hike, the wait was so long we opted for post-hike smoothies to go instead.)
For those who long for hikes and nature (like me) in the UAE, I hope these hikes can give you something to look forward to after summer is over. And for those who are far away, I hope posts like this show there's so much more to the UAE than just the glitz and glam of Dubai. At least for this expat, happy hiking makes for happy living!
