Dubai makes a brilliant base, but the rest of the UAE is surprisingly close. Within two hours of the city, you can reach mosques, mountains, old forts and quiet beaches. The hard part is getting there. Renting a car means parking, tolls and unfamiliar roads, and buses and taxis rarely suit a day with several stops.
That is where a chauffeur service helps. A licensed driver and a car booked for the day let you plan the stops, rest in the back seat, and enjoy the view. This guide covers eight day trips from Dubai, with drive times, highlights, and a practical tip for each.
At a Glance: Eight Day Trips From Dubai
Table 1 compares the eight trips. Drive times are approximate from central Dubai and change with traffic, so allow extra time on weekday mornings and evenings.
| 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?
A day trip can go wrong in small ways. You lose time looking for parking, miss a turn on an unfamiliar highway, or find that the last bus has gone. A chauffeur service removes those problems. The driver knows the route, the car waits while you explore, and you control the pace.
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.
To be fair, a chauffeur is not always the cheapest option. If you want one destination and a straight return, a taxi can cost less. One guide puts a Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi at around Dhs 200 each way, while another says it costs about AED 250 to 300. For public options, see our guides to RTA Dubai taxi fares and the Capital Express Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus.
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.
Chauffeur tip: start early, dress modestly for the mosque, and check opening times and visitor rules on the official website before you go. With a chauffeur, the car waits at each stop, so you do not need to park between sites.
2. Sharjah: Heritage, Art and Waterfront
Drive time: about 30 minutes from central Dubai, though traffic on this commuter route can add time (ListMag).
What to see: the Heart of Sharjah heritage quarter, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation and Al Noor Island, according to Jetsetter. Families can visit the Sharjah Aquarium and Maritime Museum and shop at Souk Al Jubail, as Outlook Traveller suggests.
Chauffeur tip: Sharjah is close enough to pair with Ajman in one day. Leave outside peak commuter hours to save time on the road.
3. Ajman: Corniche, Fort and Fish Market
Drive time: about 30 minutes (Payit).
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: Ajman is the smallest emirate, so half a day is enough. Ask your driver to continue to Sharjah or Umm Al Quwain afterwards, and agree the extra stop in your 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 has fewer big attractions, so it works best as part of a northern route with Ajman. Book a driver who will wait while you take beach breaks.
5. Ras Al Khaimah: Jebel Jais and the Mountains
Drive time: about 1 hour 15 minutes, as ListMag says. It recommends driving yourself or taking a tour if Jebel Jais is your goal.
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.
Chauffeur tip: the mountain road adds time, so plan for a longer day than the drive suggests. See our Dubai to Ras al Khaimah guide for other ways to travel.
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 for kayaking, Wadi Hub for adventure activities, and the Heritage Village (Jetsetter). Kayak recommends autumn or spring, when you can spend all day outdoors without extreme heat.
Chauffeur tip: bring sun protection and water, and ask the driver to wait near the dam while you kayak.
7. Al Ain: Oasis and Jebel Hafeet
Drive time: about 1 hour 45 minutes by car (ListMag), though Jetsetter puts it closer to 90 minutes.
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, ideally by private car, according to Jetsetter.
Chauffeur tip: this is one of the longer drives, so leave early and agree a return time.
8. Fujairah: East Coast and Al Bidyah Mosque
Drive time: about 1 hour 45 minutes (ListMag).
What to see: the ancient Al Bidyah Mosque, as Outlook Traveller describes it, plus Fujairah’s Sheikh Zayed Mosque and a meal on the corniche, based on Kayak.
Chauffeur tip: this trip heads to the east coast and suits a full day. Our Dubai to Fujairah guide lists other ways to travel.
How Much Does a Chauffeur Day Trip Cost?
Prices depend on the car, the hours and the destination. Table 2 shows sample rates published by Pilot & Car at the time of writing, for travel inside Dubai. That provider quotes trips outside Dubai separately, so ask for one total for a day trip.
| 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 single point-to-point ride, and a full day is 10 hours with the car and driver. The same provider says its prices include fuel, Salik tolls, standard parking and up to 30 minutes of free waiting. For trips outside Dubai, ask about extra costs such as Darb tolls in Abu Dhabi, parking at attractions and the rate for waiting time at each stop. Pick the car by group size: one provider’s fleet list shows seven passengers for the Mercedes V-Class and five for 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 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, many companies drive to Abu Dhabi and other emirates. Rates for trips outside Dubai are often quoted separately, so ask for one total that covers fuel, tolls, parking, and waiting time. Allow about 90 minutes each way.
2. Which day trip from Dubai is shortest?
Ajman and Sharjah are the closest, at roughly 30 minutes each by car, followed by Umm Al Quwain at about 40 minutes. Traffic on the road to Sharjah can add time at peak hours.
3. Can I combine two emirates in one day?
Yes. Sharjah and Ajman work well together because they sit next to each other, and Umm Al Quwain can be added as a third stop. Long pairs such as Al Ain and Fujairah are better kept as separate days.
4. Is a chauffeur worth it compared with a taxi or bus?
It depends on the plan. A taxi or bus can cost less for one destination and a straight return. A chauffeur is better when you want several stops, flexible timing, luggage or children in the car.
5. What is the best season for day trips from Dubai?
The cooler months, from around October to April, are the most comfortable. Al Ain is best from October to April, Jebel Jais from November to February, and Hatta in autumn or spring, according to Jetsetter and Kayak.
Final Thoughts
Pick one or two trips, choose the season that suits them, and book early. With a driver handling the road, you can spend the day on the mosques, mountains, and beaches instead of the logistics.
