logo
ic_menu

Jebel Hafeet mountain

Jebel Hafeet Street, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi

Description

Jabal Hafeet (meaning "empty Mountain" and spelled with different variations) is the second highest peak in the UAE at 1,249m and is located immediately to the south of the city of Al Ain, in the Abu Dhabi emirate, at the border with Oman. With a prominence of 900m and 11.7 km of photogenic road with 60 turns, the highlights are the drive and panoramic views from the top. The Hafit Graves and Mezyad Fort are situated at the foot of the mountain and worth a quick visit as well. Trivia: the mountain is a regular feature of the UAE Tour cycling race (8% average gradient).

Access & Transport

The summit is 25km / 30mins drive away from the center of Al Ain city and 1h45 / 170km from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. There is a bus service until close to the base of the mountain (Green Mubazzarah Valley) but not inside the protected area and up to the top

Instructions & Recommendations

Considering the hot weather during the day it is best to schedule a drive up for either sunrise or a little before sunset. You may want to combine a visit there with other attractions in Al Ain such as the zoo, Al Jahili Fort and/or Al Ain Oasis.

Meta review

The mountain and the views from the top are one of the area's most popular attractions and get positive reviews, especially from Abu Dhabi residents who want to experience a little bit of mountain scenery and panoramic views. The road quality and parking facilities are regularly highlighted with the main drawbacks being the dusty atmosphere and the lack of toilet facilities.

Environmental & Social

Marginally negative from an environmental standpoint because of the transport aspect to get there. Socially neutral

Conclusion

Jebel Hafeet mountain is a nice change in topography from the rest of the Abu Dhabi emirate and makes for a great outing with superb views but, for most international travellers, it may not warrant the long drive from either Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Rather, it works perfectly well in combination with other attractions in the Al Ain area. Make sure you go up early or late in the day for the best weather and atmospheric conditions.

Key positive

Good views and enjoyable drive up the mountain

Short drive to other Al Ain attractions

Key negative

Hot and dusty during the day

Not spectacular by international standards

Suitability

Suitable for all ages and accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Not recommended for people suffering from motion sickness.

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

May 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:1h 30m

est. visit time:2h

Sunlight based

Sunrise / early morningOk

MorningOk

Lunch timeOk

AfternoonOk

Sunset / eveningOk

Night – bef. midnightNo

Night – aft. midnightNo

Pricing
Free

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. For a complete overview of all cookies used, please see MORE INFORMATION.