Dubai is a great place to stay, but there’s a lot of great stuff a short distance away in the UAE. A distance of 2 hours from the city to the mosques, mountains, old forts and quiet beaches. The difficulty lies in making the journey. When you’re renting a car, you’ll need to deal with tolls, unfamiliar roads and parking and buses and taxis won’t really work for a day with multiple stops.
This is where a chauffeur service can come in handy. A car and a driver who had a license were booked for the day, so you could plan the stops, rest in the back seat and enjoy the view. This guide includes 8 day trips from Dubai, including the travel time, the highlights and a handy tip for each day trip.
In this article
- At a glance: eight day trips
- Why use a chauffeur service for a day trip?
- Abu Dhabi
- Sharjah
- Ajman
- Umm Al Quwain
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Hatta
- Al Ain
- Fujairah
- How much does a chauffeur day trip cost?
- How do you plan the day?
- FAQs
At a Glance: Eight Day Trips From Dubai
| Trip | Drive time | Best for | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | About 90 minutes | Mosque, museums and theme parks | Cooler months |
| Sharjah | About 30 to 40 minutes | Heritage and museums | Cooler months |
| Ajman | About 30 minutes | Corniche, fort and fish market | Cooler months |
| Umm Al Quwain | About 40 minutes | Old fort and beaches | Cooler months |
| Ras Al Khaimah | About 1 hour 15 minutes | Mountains and adventure | November to February |
| Hatta | About 90 minutes | Dam, kayaking and hiking | Autumn and spring |
| Al Ain | About 90 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes | UNESCO oasis and Jebel Hafeet | October to April |
| Fujairah | About 1 hour 45 minutes | East-coast beaches and heritage | Cooler months |
Why Use a Chauffeur Service for a Day Trip?
Small things can make a day trip go wrong. You waste time searching for parking, miss a turn on a new road, or the bus you are waiting for has left. A driveway service eliminates those issues. The driver is aware of the route, waits for you to explore and lets you set the speed.
Some visitors book a chauffeur service Dubai for the whole day, so the car stays with them from hotel pickup to the drop-off in the evening. That works well for trips with several stops, such as Sharjah and Ajman together, or for families with children and bags. In summer, an air-conditioned car between stops also makes long days easier.
So, it’s not always the most cost-effective choice to hire a chauffeur. A taxi ride may be cheaper if you wish to travel from one place to another and back again. There are several guides who claim that a Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi is priced at approximately Dhs 200 per trip, whereas another one states that it costs about AED 250 to 300. If you’re travelling in public transport, our guides to RTA Dubai taxi fares and to Abu Dhabi bus service – the Capital Express Dubai – will help you.
1. Abu Dhabi: Mosque, Museums and Yas Island
Drive time: about 90 minutes via Sheikh Zayed Road, according to ListMag.
What to see: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan and the Louvre Abu Dhabi are the classic stops, based on Jetsetter. Families can add the theme parks on Yas Island, including Ferrari World and Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi, as Kayak notes.
Tips for the Chauffeur: go early in the morning, dress modestly for the mosque and consult the official website for opening hours and visitor requirements before visiting. The Car comes to each stop with a chauffeur driving, so there is no need to park between stops.
2. Sharjah: Heritage, Art and Waterfront
Distance: 30 minutes from central Dubai (but can be longer depending on traffic – ListMag).
What to see: the Ajman Corniche, the Ajman Fish Market and the Ajman Museum inside the restored Ajman Fort, which shows artefacts dating back to the Bronze Age, as Payit describes.
Chauffeur tip: Sharjah is not too far to make a one-day trip to Ajman. Avoid peak travel times to avoid rush hour traffic.
3. Ajman: Corniche, Fort and Fish Market
Drive time: about 30 minutes (Payit).
What to see: The Ajman Corniche, the Fish Market in Ajman and the Ajman Museum located inside the restored Ajman Fort that displays artefacts of the Bronze Age period, as Payit says.
Chauffeur tip: Ajman is the smallest emirate, so half a day will suffice. Request your driver to proceed to Sharjah or Umm Al Quwain after that and agree on the additional stop when booking.
4. Umm Al Quwain: Old Fort and Quiet Beaches
Drive time: about 40 minutes (Payit).
What to see: the Umm Al Quwain Fort and Museum, which dates back to 1768, plus beaches where you can go kitesurfing or kayaking, according to Visit Abu Dhabi.
Chauffeur tip: This emirate doesn’t have that many big attractions and is best for a northbound trip with Ajman. Reserve a driver to be there when you take a beach break.
5. Ras Al Khaimah: Jebel Jais and the Mountains
Drive time: approx. 1 hour 15 minutes (as described by ListMag). If you wish to visit Jebel Jais, self-driving or a tour is suggested.
What to see: Jebel Jais, home to the world’s longest zipline and the high-altitude restaurant 1484 by Puro, according to Jetsetter. Kayak says the best time to explore the mountains is the UAE winter, between November and February.
Tip to Chauffeur: The mountain drive will take longer than the length of the road indicates, so plan for a longer day than you think. For other methods of travel, see our Dubai to Ras al Khaimah guide.
6. Hatta: Dam, Kayaks and Mountain Air
Drive time: about 90 minutes from central Dubai (ListMag). Hatta is around 135 km southeast of Dubai, according to Lonely Planet.
What to see: Hatta Dam (Kayaking), Wadi Hub (Adventure) and Heritage Village (Jetsetter). Kayak says to book in the fall or spring when you’ll be able to spend the entire day outside without extreme heat.
Chauffeur tip: pack sun protection and water and request the driver to stay by the dam while you’re kayaking.
7. Al Ain: Oasis and Jebel Hafeet
Driving time: an hour and a half, depending on the vehicle (ListMag), but closer to an hour and a half according to Jetsetter.
What to see: the UNESCO-listed Al Ain Oasis, the Al Ain Palace Museum and Al Jahili Fort, built in 1891, as Lonely Planet notes. ListMag adds the drive up Jebel Hafeet for views across the desert. Families can visit Al Ain Zoo and Al Ain Adventure Park.
Best season: October to April (preferably by private car), says Jetsetter.
Chauffeur tip: one of the longer drives, so make sure you leave early and arrange a time to return.
8. Fujairah: East Coast and Al Bidyah Mosque
Drive time: 1 hour 45 minutes (ListMag).
What to see: The ancient Al Bidyah Mosque (as quoted by Outlook Traveller), Fujairah’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque and a meal on the corniche (from the Kayak website).
Chauffeur tips: This trip is on the east coast and is a full day. Other modes of travel are mentioned in our Dubai to Fujairah travel guide.
How Much Does a Chauffeur Day Trip Cost?
Costs vary by car, by number of hours and by destination. Table 2 lists sample rates as provided by Pilot & Car at the time of writing for travel within Dubai. That provider charges for trips outside Dubai, so request a day trip for the entire price.
| Car | Transfer (AED) | Full day, 10 hours (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander | 180 | 800 |
| Lexus ES350 | 200 | 800 |
| Land Cruiser | 300 | 1,000 |
| Mercedes V-Class | 300 | 1,400 |
| Cadillac Escalade | 600 | 1,800 |
| Mercedes S-Class | 500 | 2,000 |
A transfer is a one-hour point-to-point ride; a full day is 10 hours of car + driver. The same provider also claims that its rates cover fuel, Salik tolls, parking facility (standard) and up to 30 minutes of free waiting. When travelling outside Dubai, enquire about additional fees such as parking at sites, waiting time charges at each stop and DARB tolls in Abu Dhabi. Choose the car by group size: (One provider’s fleet list indicates 7 passengers on the Mercedes V-Class and 5 on the Toyota Highlander.)
How Do You Plan the Day?
- Pick one destination, or two close ones such as Sharjah and Ajman.
- Set an early start time. Early starts beat both the traffic and the heat.
- List your stops and the time you want at each one.
- Agree on the return time and the total number of hours.
- Ask for the total price in writing, including tolls, parking and waiting time.
- Check the licence. Ask for the company’s RTA licence details. The RTA issued 20,483 permits to limousine chauffeurs in 2023, based on Dubai Media Office figures.
FAQs
1. Can a chauffeur service in Dubai take me to Abu Dhabi for the day?
Yes, there are numerous companies that drive to Abu Dhabi and other emirates. The fee for trips outside Dubai is frequently quoted separately, so request one consolidated fee that includes fuel, tolls, parking and waiting. It will take around 2 hours each way.
2. Which day trip from Dubai is the nearest one?
The nearest are Ajman and Sharjah (about 30 minutes by car) and Umm Al Quwain (about 40 minutes by car). During peak hours, the road to Sharjah may be congested, adding to the travel time.
3. Can I combine two emirates in one day?
Yes. The combination of Sharjah and Ajman is good and an additional stop in Umm Al Quwain can be made. Long trips like Al Ain and Fujairah are preferable to be taken as separate days.
4. Is a chauffeur worth it compared with a taxi or bus?
This will rely on the strategy. The cost of a taxi or bus may be less for one destination and a direct return trip. A chauffeur is preferable if you are making multiple stops, if they need to be flexible with your timing, if you bring a lot of luggage with you, or if you have children with you.
5. What is the best season for day trips from Dubai?
The cooler months are from about October to April. Jetsetter and Kayak agree: Al Ain is best in the season of October to April, Jebel Jais is best from November to February and Hatta is best in autumn or spring.
Final Thoughts
Select a trip, select a season, book early! There’s a driver on the road, so you can spend the day at the mosques, mountains and beaches, rather than on the logistics.
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