The northernmost emirate and the only one with real mountains. Jebel Jais rises to 1,934 metres and is the one place in the country where winter temperatures approach zero. That drive is the reason people come here by car.
The Jebel Jais road
A thirty-kilometre mountain road with perfect asphalt and viewing platforms. The climb is steep, so a weak engine works at its limit, especially with the air conditioning on and a full car. A crossover or saloon with 200 hp or more is the sensible choice.
At the summit are the world's longest zipline and a restaurant with a view. There are no petrol stations on the climb, so fill up at the bottom.
What else to see
The abandoned village of Al Jazirah Al Hamra, Dhayah Fort, the Khatt hot springs and long empty beaches along the coast. Distances are large and everything assumes a car.
About the roads
There are no toll roads in the emirate; neither Salik nor Darb operates here. The road from Dubai passes through Umm Al Quwain and is usually clear, except on Friday evenings.
