Filled with fresh yet sunny days, the UAE’s cooler season is a precious period that deserves to be maximised to the fullest. Bringing perfect weather for hiking, beach days, camping, and all kinds of outdoor activities, it’s the time of year when we all want to spend our weekends reconnecting with nature.
So, we’ve decided to compile a list of some of the country’s best outdoor day trips and activities. Spanning everything from trekking through desert dunes to snorkelling with black reef sharks and mountain picnics, there’s plenty for those of all ages and interests, and the only difficult bit is deciding which one you should try first.
Lake: Al Qudra – Dubai

Although manmade, the Al Qudra lakes are a paradise for wildlife, and there are few better places in Dubai to get outdoors for a fix of glorious, healing nature. Set out in the vast Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, it’s always busy with visitors during the cooler months (particularly the ultra-cool heart-shaped love lakes), so it’s best to arrive early to avoid the crowds, and of course bring a picnic, too.
A great place for wildlife watching and quiet contemplation, the reserve is home to fascinating native animals such as desert foxes, wild Arabian oryx, and steppe eagles, and there’s lots of marked jogging and walking paths as well. If you’ve got any energy left, the nearby Al Qudra cycle track provides another fantastic way of further exploring Dubai’s desert landscapes, and working out in the fresh air while the weather is still at its most glorious.
Free, visitdubai.com.
Hike: Al Rabi Trail – Sharjah

Many hikes in the northern emirates can be tricky to navigate without a guide, but the Al Rabi trail is one of the exceptions. A well-marked trail that zig-zags up the mountains behind the town of Khorfakkan, the 360-degree views over the sweeping bay, blue ocean, and jagged peaks below will keep you motivated as you climb to the top, and the finishing feeling is out of this world, too. Taking you past the ancient Al Rabi tower (a historical monument that dates back to 1915), don’t forget to take a selfie with the UAE flag at the top before you meander back down.
Free, 5.3km up and down. Visitsharjah.com
Farm: Green Brunch at Emirates Bio Farm – Dubai

As the UAE’s largest organic farm, Emirates Bio Farm provides a welcome dose of fresh air, greenery, and wholesome, outdoor family fun. While visitors are welcome daily, the Sunday Green Brunch offers something extra special. Inviting you to swap the UAE’s typically lavish brunches for a nourishing spread of farm-to-table specialties, all made with delicious, colourful fruit and veg picked straight from the ground. You can conclude your feast with a relaxing stroll through the pretty fields of organic crops, while little ones enjoy lots of different farm-themed games and activities, too.
AED 120 adults, AED 80 kids under 12. Sunday 9am to 5pm. @emiratesbiofarm.
Mountain: Jebel Hafeet – Abu Dhabi

Rising to 1,249 metres, the imposing Jebel Hafeet is the highest mountain in Abu Dhabi, and the second tallest in the UAE. Found directly on the border with Oman, the hair-pin drive to the top is bound to be one of the most dramatic and spectacular journeys of your life, and it’s a popular route with cyclists, too. The summit greets you with 360-degree views over the low-rise city of Al Ain, and you easily spend an hour or two up here just picnicking outdoors and soaking up the views.
There’s a playground at the top and several restaurants and viewpoints on the way down, and at the base you’ll find the gorgeous sprawling Green Mubazzarah, a lovely green space that’s renowned for its famous natural hot springs. The ideal place to pause and soak up the peace of the UAE’s ‘Garden City’, it’s complete with outdoor BBQ stations, multiple playgrounds, a lake with kayaks to rent, and countless places to stroll and explore.
Free. visitabudhabi.ae.
Desert: Liwa desert trekking – Abu Dhabi

While trekking in the desert might sound like a feat that only extreme endurance athletes would undertake, the reality is very different when you go with friendly outdoor adventure group UAE Trekkers. Ideal for those who don’t have camping equipment, or simply anyone who likes their home comforts, the organisation’s Liwa desert trek is truly an experience to remember. Inviting you to stride through the huge red-orange dunes of Abu Dhabi’s beautiful Liwa desert, you’ll feel safe and secure under the expert care of the group’s experienced all-female guides.
Part of the Rub’ al Khali – the world’s largest uninterrupted sand desert – the star gazing opportunities are out of this world and, except for the odd roaming camel, you won’t see another soul for miles around. Each trip includes both a sunset and a sunrise hike, a BBQ dinner, evening bonfire with marshmallow toasting, and glamping-style accommodation, including an outdoor pool for a refreshing post-hike dip.
Treks run once a month. Prices start from AED 890 + VAT for private single or double rooms, AED 700 + VAT for shared rooms, and AED 500 +VAT for children. uaetrekkers.com
Beach: Mangrove Beach – Umm Al Quwain

Brimming with bright pink flamingos, leggy herons, and many other species of birds, fish and animals, Mangrove Beach in Umm Al Quwain is one of the UAE’s best kept outdoor secrets. An inspiring example of eco-tourism, the delightfully undeveloped beach is open to day trippers and campers, and the views over the lush green mangroves and calm blue waters are absolutely mesmerising. Peaceful and serene, the white sands are impossibly soft, and it’s the perfect place for walking, kayaking, or laid-back picnics. Barbecue stations, washrooms, and a couple of cafes are dotted along the long strip of sand, and it can easily be reached within less than an hour from Dubai.
Free. visituaq.ae.
Snorkel: Shark Island – Sharjah

Another outdoor activity that is far less intimidating than it sounds, Shark Island invites you to dive into the clear Arabian Gulf and snorkel with turtles, friendly blacktip reef sharks, and thousands of different fish and marine species around vibrant coral. Known for its ethereal rock formations, it receives far fewer visitors than the nearby Snoopy Island, but it’s just as beautiful. To get there, just rent masks and fins from one of the dive clubs by Khorfakkan beach, and jump in one of the waiting boats to take a short (and cheap) ride there. Surrounded by the clearest waters you’ve ever seen, it feels like discovering your own little slice of paradise.
AED 25 per person for the boat ride.