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Sahra Trail › Six UAE hikes › Route 5 of 6

Difficult

Al Riham Trail

Wadi Saham, in the Hajar Mountains about 15 to 20 km southwest of Fujairah City, Fujairah emirate. The route climbs Jebel Riham (also spelt Raham).

Distance7.7 km (operator figure; other sources suggest this is the whole loop)
Total climbAbout 450 m (from a third-party report, not the operator)
Typical time2 to 3 hours (operator figure)
ShapeLoop, according to one tour operator
Check before you goFujairah trails are open only in the official hiking season, which the operator announces each year. The 2026 to 2027 season opened on 25 September 2026 (Khaleej Times, 1 October 2026). The trailhead and parking for this route are not confirmed by the operator: read the trailhead notes below and confirm with Fujairah Adventures before you travel.

Al Riham Trail climbs Jebel Riham from Wadi Saham, southwest of Fujairah City, and is the one route Fujairah Adventures Centre grades Hard. The operator lists 7.71 km and 2 to 3 hours, and third parties report about 450 m of climbing.

Why it is graded Difficult

Fujairah Adventures Centre, the emirate's official trail operator, grades it Hard, the only one of its 14 trails with that grade. ECC Adventures, a guide company, rates its guided ascent Intermediate (6/10) and warns of steep grades, loose rocks and heights.

We use one scale across all six routes: how we grade.

The route

You start in Wadi Saham, southwest of Fujairah City, along a winding mountain road. The operator says the trail passes water springs and climbs towards the top of Jebel Riham. Expect steep grades from the start.

ECC Adventures describes loose rocks, exposure to heights and full sun. Along the way are archaeological sites, the 'Jameel' Rock and petroglyphs, with views of mainland Fujairah and the sea. Waymarking is not described, so download the route first.

The operator does not say where the route turns round or finishes. ECC describes a loop, and 7.71 km is most likely the whole route, but this is not confirmed. Follow the operator's map.

Distance
Fujairah Adventures Centre gives 7.71 km but does not say whether that is one way or the whole route. Two other sources give about 7 km.
Climb
Fujairah Adventures Centre gives no climb figure. MissionsOffroad (2023) reports about 450 m and ECC Adventures gives 470 m, so treat it as approximate.
Time
Fujairah Adventures Centre gives 2 to 3 hours. ECC Adventures quotes a guided group 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the same mountain.

Trailhead

Start
Wadi Saham, southwest of Fujairah City. Two start points are published, about 1.3 km apart, and they have not been reconciled.
Coordinates
25.11082, 56.22362
Operator's Google Maps place for Al Riham Trail. MissionsOffroad gives a different start 1.3 km west; the two are not reconciled.
Parking
Not confirmed. No source describes the car park. Check with Fujairah Adventures Centre before you go.
Vehicle
Not confirmed. No source describes the road surface to the trailhead. Check with Fujairah Adventures Centre.
Open the trailhead in Google Maps →

When to go

Best months
December to March (ECC Adventures). April, October and November only with an early start.
Start time
Start early. ECC Adventures starts walking at 7:45 am. No official start time is given.
Shade
Little, according to ECC Adventures, which lists sun exposure as a challenge. The operator gives no shade information.
Water
Unknown if the springs near the start flow or are drinkable. Assume none. ECC advises 1 to 2 litres December to March.
Mobile signal
Unknown. No source gives mobile coverage for this trail. Assume none and download the route before you go.

Fees, permits, hours and closures

Fees
No walker fee was found on the Fujairah Adventures Centre website. Its permit services are for companies, event organisers and guides. Last checked October 2026.
Permits
No walker permit was found. Hiking is allowed only during the official adventure season, announced each year on Fujairah Adventures' social media. No group-size rule was found. Last checked October 2026.
Hours
No opening hours were found for this trail. Hiking is allowed only in the official season, which opened on 25 September 2026. Last checked October 2026.
Closures
Open status is not confirmed. Fujairah reopened its officially approved trails on 25 September 2026, but reports do not name Al Riham. When Wadi Saham fills with water, the village road can be cut off. Last checked October 2026.

Checked on 6 October 2026. Rules and closures change, above all after rain: check the source pages below on the day.

Safety

  • Wadi Saham fills with water after rain and the road can be cut off. Avoid the wadi if rain has fallen or is forecast.
  • Steep grades from the start, loose rocks and exposure to heights. ECC advises against it with vertigo or a fear of heights.
  • Little shade and full sun. Start early and carry more water than you expect to need.
  • Tell someone your route and return time, check the weather, and download the route.
  • Hiking is allowed only in the official season. Check Fujairah Adventures' social media first.
  • Do not touch or move petroglyphs or archaeological sites.

What to carry

  • Water, 1 to 2 litres December to March
  • Water, 2 to 3 litres in other months
  • Sturdy hiking shoes
  • Hat and sun protection
  • Phone with route downloaded offline
  • Basic first aid kit

Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back. Turn around if the weather, the heat or the time is against you. We describe this route from published sources; we have not surveyed it, and nothing here is a statement that it is safe for you on the day.

In an emergency
Police 999 · Ambulance 998 · Fire and Civil Defence 997

What we could not confirm

Sources

Last checked 6 October 2026 · Route 5 of 6 · www.sahraandbeyond.ae/h/5

More

Difficult · route 6Wadi Shah Trail, Jebel Jais11.6 km loop GuideHiking in the UAESeason, heat, water and rules by emirate. Sahra TrailSahra Trail Tee and 2-in-1 ShortsOur running and trail kit, designed in the UAE.

All six routes, by grade →