The UAE is a small country: from Dubai to any neighbouring emirate is anything from half an hour to two hours, and there are no borders between the emirates on the roads. In practice a visitor needs three numbers: how many kilometres, how long with traffic, and whether the loop fits the 250 km daily allowance. All of it is in one table below.
Distance table from central Dubai
| Destination | Distance | Time on a clear road | Round trip | Toll sections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah | about 30 km | 30 to 40 minutes, an hour or more at rush hour | 60 to 80 km | Al Mamzar Salik gates on the E11 |
| Ajman | about 45 km | 40 to 50 minutes | 90 to 100 km | Al Mamzar Salik gates on the E11 |
| Umm Al Quwain | about 75 km | about an hour | about 150 km | a Salik gate when leaving Dubai |
| Ras Al Khaimah | about 110 km | an hour and a quarter | about 220 km, 330 to 350 km with Jebel Jais | a Salik gate when leaving Dubai |
| Fujairah | about 150 km | an hour and a half to two hours | about 300 km, about 350 km with the coast | a Salik gate when leaving Dubai, the tunnels are free |
| Hatta | about 130 km | about an hour and a half | about 260 km | no toll roads |
| Abu Dhabi | about 130 km | an hour and a quarter to an hour and forty minutes | 260 km, 280 to 300 km with the city | Salik and Darb |
| Al Ain | about 140 km | about an hour and a half | about 280 km, about 320 km with stops | a Salik gate when leaving Dubai |
| Muscat, Oman | about 450 km | about seven hours | separate permission to leave the country is needed | border and Omani rules |
The figures are approximate: the distance depends on where you start. From the Marina to the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is an hour and a quarter, from Deira an hour forty. At rush hour the time grows, especially leaving Dubai and approaching Sharjah.
There are no borders between the emirates
There is no border control inside the UAE: you simply drive on and the road signs change. Keep your documents with you, meaning your driving licence and the rental contract. The only real border on these routes is the one with Oman, which needs a passport, a visa and the rental company's permission to leave; more in the article on driving a rental car to Oman.
What changes when you cross from one emirate to another
- Speed tolerance. In Dubai and Sharjah a camera triggers with a 20 km/h margin over the limit, in Abu Dhabi with almost none. On the highway the Abu Dhabi boundary is about 60 kilometres from Dubai.
- Toll roads. Salik works only in Dubai, Abu Dhabi has its own Darb system, and Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah have no toll roads.
- Parking. Each emirate has its own rules, payment and free days. Read the sign in the zone.
- Alcohol and clothing. In Sharjah alcohol is banned completely and a strict dress code applies outside the beaches; in Dubai and the other emirates the rules are softer.
Matching distances to the 250 km daily allowance
If the loop in the table is under 250 km, the trip fits in one day with no extra charge. That is Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah without the mountain climb, and Hatta. If it is more, which means Abu Dhabi with the city, Al Ain, Fujairah and the coast, and Ras Al Khaimah with Jebel Jais, the extra kilometres are charged at the rate shown on the car page, or you can agree unlimited mileage when you book. For these routes unlimited mileage is usually the better deal.
How to choose a route for the day
- A short day: Sharjah or Ajman. The drive takes under an hour, leaving time for museums, waterfronts and dinner.
- A full day: Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah. It is best to set off at 7 in the morning to be back before the evening traffic.
- Two days: Fujairah and the coast, or Dubai, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai. The Al Ain and capital option is about 500 km with a night in Abu Dhabi.
- Mountains and wadis: Hatta and Jebel Jais. Both roads are paved; an SUV only helps in the wadis, which rental cars are not allowed to enter.
When it is best to set off
On weekdays the heaviest times leaving Dubai are the morning from 7:00 to 9:30 and the evening from 17:00 to 19:30. Towards Sharjah and Ajman the jams are worst in the evening heading to Sharjah and in the morning heading to Dubai. On the Abu Dhabi road the busiest times are Monday morning one way and Thursday evening the other. At night and on Friday morning the highway is at its freest. In summer set off early so that the midday heat falls on a museum or mall visit.
Fuel and small things
Fuel stations on intercity highways are every 20 to 30 kilometres; fill up before the coast or the mountains, as there are none on the mountain sections and on the S142 tunnel road. Always keep water in the car. More on fuel grades and payment in the articles on fuel stations and petrol.
