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The Wadi Shah gorge cutting through bare limestone mountains on Jebel Jais

Sahra Trail › Six UAE hikes › Route 6 of 6

Difficult

Wadi Shah Trail, Jebel Jais

Wadi Shah, on the lower Jebel Jais mountain road above Ras Al Khaimah city, starting near Jebel Jais Base Camp (Bear Grylls Explorers Camp), about 4km by straight line below Jais Viewing Deck Park.

Photo: Ciorraga, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (resized). The Wadi Shah gorge; not tagged to the marked loop

Distance11.6 km loop
Total climb753 m (the operator's "elevation" figure, read as height climbed)
Typical timeAbout 5 hours; blogs report 6 or more
ShapeLoop
Check before you goOpen status not confirmed. On 6 October 2026 the operator’s hiking page said the trails were open, while its home page still showed a seasonal pause and another source reported all trails closed. Trail works are also reported at the Hidden Oasis, the midpoint of this loop. Ring or email the operator before you travel.

Wadi Shah is an 11.6km loop near Jebel Jais Base Camp that the operator grades Challenging, with steep ascents, rocky scrambling and a stop at the Hidden Oasis. It takes about 5 hours, is thinly waymarked and needs a GPS track, so it is a route for experienced hikers in the cooler months only.

Why it is graded Difficult

Visit Jebel Jais, run by RAK Leisure, grades Wadi Shah Challenging: steep ascents, rocky scrambling and a long, demanding route for experienced hikers.

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

The route

You start near Jebel Jais Base Camp, by the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp, at about 450m above sea level. The operator says the loop begins with a steep ascent; walkers describe a gradual canyon of boulders first.

The ground turns rocky and the climb gets harder, with scrambling. The operator names the Hidden Oasis, a green patch among the cliffs, as the midpoint. Walkers advise keeping left at the first split. Waymarking is thin: stone markers and cairns only.

The loop returns to the start, so there is no turn-around point. Walkers describe a scree slope, then a steep, bouldery wadi descent and a final gravel track. The operator does not say which way round to walk.

Distance
Visit Jebel Jais gives 11.6km for the loop. Walkers and tour operators give 13km to 15km.
Climb
Visit Jebel Jais lists 'Elevation: 753 Metres' without defining it. Walkers' tracks give 700m to 783m of climbing.
Time
Visit Jebel Jais gives about 5 hours. Walkers report 6 hours, up to 10 with breaks.

Trailhead

Start
Near Jebel Jais Base Camp (Bear Grylls Explorers Camp) on the Jebel Jais road. The operator gives no exact trailhead.
Coordinates
25.89987, 56.13984
The pin comes from one walker's blog and is accurate to a few hundred metres.
Parking
Not confirmed. Walkers report parking at the camp. The operator describes no car park but says bring cash. Check with Visit Jebel Jais.
Vehicle
Not confirmed. A walker's blog says a 4x4 is not needed at the camp. Check with Visit Jebel Jais.
Getting there
Visit Jebel Jais says about 2 hours by car from Dubai, 45 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah city.
Open the trailhead in Google Maps →

When to go

Best months
November to April, says Visit Jebel Jais. Do not walk it in summer.
Start time
Start by 8am for cooler temperatures and enough daylight, as walkers advise. Finish before dark.
Shade
Little. One walker's blog mentions a tree shelter in the lower canyon; the rest is open.
Water
None reliable on the route. Do not rely on seasonal pools. Carry all you need.
Mobile signal
Unknown. Signal can be spotty in the mountains, so assume none and download an offline map.

Fees, permits, hours and closures

Fees
Visit Jebel Jais says the trails are free to walk on your own. It gives no parking charge, only to bring cash. Last checked October 2026.
Permits
The operator says you do not need a guide, and no permit for Wadi Shah is listed. Groups over 10 must register in advance with RAKTDA, the tourism authority. Last checked October 2026.
Hours
No trail hours are published. The operator's FAQ says the mountain is open 24/7, which conflicts with the seasonal pause reported. Last checked October 2026.
Closures
Not confirmed. The operator says the trails are open, but a local guide site says they are closed, with no reopening date. Trail works are reported at the Hidden Oasis, the loop's midpoint. Ask the operator (info@rakleisure.com) or the camp (+971 56 501 5831). 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

  • Do not start in or after rain. The route runs through a wadi, and water flows down days after rain.
  • Do not walk in summer. The operator says temperatures can pass 40 degrees Celsius.
  • Expect steep ascents, scrambling, scree and a narrow path with an exposed edge. You need a good head for heights.
  • Some stretches have no defined path. Load an offline GPS track before you set off.
  • Go with a companion, tell someone your route and return time, and do not rely on mobile signal.
  • Check the trail is open before you drive up. Reports disagree.

What to carry

  • At least 3 litres each; walkers advise 4
  • Rehydration drink and food
  • Offline map, compass or GPS
  • Sturdy boots with good grip
  • Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
  • First aid kit
  • Charged phone and power bank
  • Cash for parking

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 · Civil Defence 997

What we could not confirm

Sources

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

More

Difficult · route 5Al Riham Trail7.7 km (operator figure; other sources suggest this is the whole loop) Place guideJebel JaisOur guide to the place this route starts from. Sahra TrailSahra Trail Tee and 2-in-1 ShortsOur running and trail kit, designed in the UAE.

All six routes, by grade →