Not every scenic route near Dubai needs an SUV and a dune drive. The three places below, Al Qudra Lakes, the Last Exit food truck stops, and Jebel Hafeet mountain, are all reachable on paved roads in a regular car, and they deliver just as many good photos as a full desert safari.
Al Qudra Lakes: a desert oasis half an hour from the city
Al Qudra, more precisely the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, is a chain of man-made lakes set in the sand southeast of Dubai, along Al Qudra Road. The place grew somewhat by accident: the lakes started as part of a desert greening programme, vegetation filled in around them over time, and today migratory birds stop here, with flamingos occasionally visible near the water, especially early in the morning.
A network of paved cycling tracks loops around the lakes, one of the most popular cycling routes in the UAE, and on weekends you will find plenty of cyclists, families picnicking, and photographers chasing sunset shots against the water and dunes. Entry is free, no ticket needed. Designated camping and picnic spots line the road, and some stretches around the lakes are officially closed to cars to protect the birds and cyclists, so stick to the marked roads and parking areas.
The best time to visit is early morning or close to sunset: during the day, especially in summer, the open desert heats up fast, and the midday sun gives a harsh light that is not great for photos. Bring water, and if you plan to stay until dark, a torch, since lighting around the lakes is minimal.
Last Exit: food trucks right off the highway
Last Exit is a chain of food truck stops along major highways, notably the E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi) and the E44 (the Dubai to Hatta road). The format is simple: a few dozen food trucks and kiosks, shared seating areas, toilets and parking, all styled to be fairly photogenic, with neon signage and shipping-container design, which is why it is popular with travellers carrying a camera.
The idea is to break up a long drive with a food and coffee stop without leaving the highway for the city. They stay open late, which is handy if you are driving back from Abu Dhabi or the mountains in the evening and do not feel like cooking after a long day behind the wheel. The menu varies from stop to stop, from burgers and Asian noodles to desserts and coffee to go, but the exact line-up of trucks at any given stop can change, so treat it as a pleasant surprise along the way rather than plan around a specific vendor.
Jebel Hafeet: the switchback for the view, not the drive itself
Jebel Hafeet mountain near the city of Al Ain rises to about 1,240 metres, and one of the region's best-known mountain roads climbs to the summit, dozens of switchback turns on a well-paved, well-maintained surface. We cover the drive itself, the climb and what to see in Al Ain at the foot of the mountain, in a separate guide to driving from Dubai to Al Ain; here we focus specifically on the viewpoints and the shots.
Several viewpoints line the way up, looking out over the plain and the city of Al Ain below, and the summit opens up a panorama that is especially striking at sunset, as the city below gradually lights up and the mountains take on warm tones. Sunrise is popular here too, but it means leaving Dubai in the dark, since the drive one way takes about an hour and a half. Traffic on the road is usually light, especially on weekdays, making it one of the few mountain roads in the region where you can genuinely enjoy the drive rather than just get from A to B.
Which car suits each route
None of the three routes needs four-wheel drive: the roads around Al Qudra Lakes, the Last Exit stops, and the Jebel Hafeet switchback are fully paved. A regular sedan or crossover is enough; an SUV only adds a bit more confidence on the switchback thanks to its weight distribution, but it is not a requirement. The exception is if you plan to leave the road for the dunes near Al Qudra itself, which calls for a real off-roader and proper preparation, a separate topic we cover in our desert driving guide.
| Route | Distance from Dubai | Road type | SUV needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Qudra Lakes | about 40 to 50 km | paved up to the parking areas | no |
| Last Exit on E11 / E44 | from 20 km, depends on the stop | paved, right off the highway | no |
| Jebel Hafeet (Al Ain) | about 130 km | paved switchback road | no |
Practical tips
- Fill up before you go: there are no petrol stations at Al Qudra Lakes or on the Jebel Hafeet switchback, the nearest ones are on the highway or in Al Ain.
- For sunset at Jebel Hafeet, leave Dubai with at least two hours to spare before the moment you want, the drive one way takes about an hour and a half, plus time to climb to the top.
- Cars cannot stop on the Al Qudra cycling tracks, parking areas are marked separately, only leave the car in a designated spot.
- Bring water and sunscreen even for an evening trip, there is almost no shade in the desert or at the viewpoints.
Season and convertibles
From November to March, when Dubai is cooler and sunny almost every day, all three routes are twice as good: both the Jebel Hafeet switchback and Al Qudra Lakes are pleasant to linger around for that extra shot. It is also the season many people pick for a convertible: with the roof down, the views on the switchback or by the water at Al Qudra open up in a completely different way than through a windscreen. In summer, from June to September, plan for early morning or close to sunset and do not stay out in the sun for long.
