Travelling By Hire Car: The Best Places To Visit In The UAE
- by XpatAthens
- Thursday, 17 July 2025

Here's a list of some amazing outdoor destinations your rented car will take you to!
Jebel Jais
It is the highest mountain in the Emirates. It is a very popular holiday destination. Most people come here on weekends. There are huge canyons, eroded landscapes, and barren rocks. There are also a lot of wild animals. You can rent a car to visit this adventure zone. There is even a ziplane to enjoy panoramic views of the mountains. Remember that the Jebel Jais zipline is the longest in the world. You can fly a distance of 2.8 kilometres at speeds up to 150 km/h.
The location can be reached by car. After that, you will have to climb the mountain on foot. The trail goes from the village of Al Hamra and up through the terrain, where you will get incredible views. You can also drive until you get down to the bottom, where the hiking starts.
Liwa Desert
If you rent a vehicle and head south from Abu Dhabi, you'll arrive at the Rub Al Khali or 'Empty Quarter' location after 1.5 hours. There are over 255,000 square miles of wilderness here. Simply put, it is the largest sandy terrain in the world. You can explore the huge dunes and mesmerising views. To drive through the desert in an off-road vehicle is to explore the mesmerising beauty of the earth. It is located on the border of 4 countries: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and UAE.
Snoopy Island
There is a small rocky island in the emirate of Fujairah. To visit it, you can hire a vehicle and go to the northern coast, which is located in the Gulf of Oman. Snoopy Island was named after 3 sections of rocks. They are towering, thus forming an image of Snoopy with a nose, belly, and legs, sitting on top of his dog box. Apart from the image of the mountain, there are also many tourist attractions - you can go scuba diving, and professional divers often visit the place. There are also plenty of quiet spots to relax and enjoy the views.
Wadi Shawka
If you want to see some incredible scenery, we recommend contacting a car rental company for an off-road vehicle that will take you to a real oasis in the Emirates desert. Wadi Shawqa is an incredible place where there are many donkeys, camels, goats and a huge number of birds. The scenery here is incredible - lots of small mountains and rolling hills. It's rare to find such a thing in the UAE. Walking along the pebble paths, you can enjoy the scenery of palm trees, natural springs, and small ponds. You can even bring your bikes, as this location is ideal for active two-wheeled travelling.
Big red dunes
Another great holiday option is to find a car rental service in the UAE to go to a location near Al Badayer. The big red dunes are perfect for quad biking or sand skiing enthusiasts. Big Red is a huge dune that is close to the city. Apart from doing sports, you can also enjoy the scenic views here. You don't have to bring motorised equipment if you want extreme sports. Near the dunes are many motorbike hire services for travelling through the sandy terrain, buggies, and quad bikes.
Kite Beach
This is a great location for kitesurfing. There is also a beach cafe, regular kayak tours, and shaded seating areas close to the sea for tourists. If you are visiting with the whole family, this is an excellent holiday destination. Another huge plus is that it is a Pet-Friendly place, so you can bring your pet with you without any problems.
Kite Beach Centre also offers surfing and kitesurfing lessons. Classes are available for students of all levels. Scuba diving and other water activities are also available.
To summarise...
Car rental service is a great way to explore the beauty of the UAE. You can move freely between different locations that you choose on your own. You can choose a comfortable sedan or a large SUV, depending on your budget and requirements. The rental time frame is also decided by you - a day, a week, a month or more. It is best to plan your route.