Hiking in the UAE: Trails in Dubai, RAK & Fujairah

Ras Al Khaimah has the widest choice. Visit Ras Al Khaimah describes six trails on Jebel Jais with a combined length of 16km. The Bear Grylls Explorers Camp lists guided routes from the 2.5km Upper Shepherd Walk (about two hours, beginner) to the 9.6km Hidden Oasis Loop (five to six hours, experienced hikers), and states that a guide is not required. Jebel Jais was reported closed for seasonal maintenance in September 2026; check visitjebeljais.com before going. An 80km Grand Loop is planned, with work due to begin in January, and trail rehabilitation between Wadi Khammed and Hidden Oasis was reported in September 2026. Wadi Shawka has beginner loops of 3 to 5km (1.5 to 2 hours) and longer routes of up to six hours or more over loose shale. Wadi Naqab is a harder day: the Red Wall route takes about six hours and the route to Sheri and Baqal villages about twelve, both exposed in places and about two hours from Dubai. Jebel Yanas is reached by the Wadi Naqab road and a checkpoint; the Jebel Yanas guide on this site notes that the unpaved climb is harder than the ridge walk, and that a 4x4 is strongly preferred.

Hatta, Dubai's mountain exclave, has the Hatta Wadi Hub, where the operator lists five graded hiking routes totalling 32.6km, running seasonally. Its guidance is simple: tell a friend or family member where you intend to hike, carry a trail map and the right equipment, keep your phone fully charged and follow the signage. In Sharjah, Al Rafisah Dam above Khor Fakkan is free to enter and has two trails, about 1km (paved, easy and family-friendly) and about 3.5km (a moderate climb into the Hajar with views of the lake and coast), according to ComfortDrive. The same source notes that swimming is not permitted in the reservoir. In Fujairah, Wadi Wurayah is not a walk-up wadi. Khaleej Times reported in July 2026 that it has been open through controlled group visits since January 2026, with visitors registering for an organised tour run by Fujairah Holidays, from AED 300 a person, on Saturdays, with limited places. Reports describe the tour season only loosely, so confirm dates with the operator before planning a trip around it.

Visit Ras Al Khaimah gives October to April as the best time of year for hiking and does not recommend summer hikes because of the heat; Wadi Shawka is usually put at November to April. Altitude helps but does not remove the problem: Visit Ras Al Khaimah gives daytime averages at the Jebel Jais peak of around 31°C in summer, against 35 to 38°C elsewhere in the emirate. In August 2026 the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention advised drinking water regularly, even when not thirsty, and postponing demanding exercise in the hottest hours of the day, after the country recorded 51.2°C on 5 August. There is no single UAE figure for water. Visit Jebel Jais asks for at least three litres per person on its trails; carry more for longer or hotter routes.

Wadis are flood channels. Visit Ras Al Khaimah warns that Wadi Naqab can fill with water quickly and says never to attempt the hike when rain is expected; hiking after rainfall is described as too dangerous. Visit Ras Al Khaimah makes the same point for Wadi Shawka, where wadis risk flash floods in heavy rain. During the storms of March 2026 the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued a flash flood warning for mountain areas, and Sharjah Police told people to stay away from valleys, dams and water accumulation because levels can rise rapidly, while Ras Al Khaimah Police advised staying away from flood channels during active flow. Check NCM forecasts and warnings before you leave and again that morning, and postpone if rain or an NCM warning covers the mountains. Activities on Jebel Jais can close in extreme weather, and visibility drops in heavy fog or rain. For an emergency, call 999 (police), 998 (ambulance) or 997 (civil defence).

Most trails here need no permit, but several have conditions. At Wadi Naqab, individuals need no permit, but groups of ten or more should contact Ras Al Khaimah's tourism authority in advance. On Jebel Jais, the trail operator asks that groups be limited to ten unless registered in advance with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), and the Jebel Jais FAQ says barbecuing is not permitted in open areas, with designated picnic spots at Jais Viewing Deck Park. Wadi Wurayah is by organised tour only. Wadi Shawka is free to enter, and Visit Ras Al Khaimah describes it as a popular free wild-camping spot, with flat ground near the trails and the dam and no official campsite facilities. Visit Ras Al Khaimah asks hikers to leave their route details with a trusted person. Rules, fees and opening dates change with the season, so confirm them with the operator or the tourism authority for the emirate you are visiting.

Kit advice from the sources is practical and consistent. Visit Ras Al Khaimah lists more water than you think you will need, light, breathable clothing, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, an extra layer for emergencies, and leaving your route details with a trusted person. Visit Jebel Jais adds sturdy shoes and, in winter, a jacket, as temperatures at altitude can drop sharply. Wadi Shawka's guidance asks for proper footwear and enough water, a charged phone and an early start, and Hatta Wadi Hub asks hikers to carry a trail map. Wadi Shawka's page also warns that the shale makes for uneven walking, so choose footwear for loose rock, not for the car park. A head torch, first-aid kit, snacks and a power bank or offline map are sensible additions for longer routes. Carry out all your rubbish.