When most people think of the Middle East, road trips are rarely the first thing that comes to mind. But this region, stretching from the shores of the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, contains some of the most visually striking and culturally rich driving routes anywhere in the world. Ancient trade routes, dramatic desert canyons, mountain roads above the clouds, and coastal highways along turquoise waters are all here, often with far fewer tourists than their European or American counterparts. Here are seven drives that might just change how you think about the Middle East.
1. Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Jebel Hafeet is a 1,249-metre mountain on the border between Abu Dhabi and Oman, and the road to its summit is widely regarded as one of the finest driving roads in the world. The 11.7-kilometre ascent features three lanes of immaculate tarmac sweeping through 60 corners, with a gradient that never becomes punishing but rarely lets up. The road was designed with driving pleasure in mind, and it shows in every curve.
The summit offers panoramic views over the Al Ain oasis (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the vast Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert stretching into Saudi Arabia, and, on clear days, the Hajar Mountains extending into Oman. At night, the road is illuminated by embedded LED lights that trace its curves up the mountain face, creating a ribbon of light visible for miles across the desert.
Pro tip: Drive Jebel Hafeet at sunset for the best experience. Start the ascent around 45 minutes before sundown so you reach the summit as the desert turns gold and orange, then descend in the dark with the LED-lit road stretching ahead. The summit has parking, viewpoints, and the Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel with a terrace restaurant perfect for a post-drive meal.
Jebel Hafeet is a 90-minute drive from Dubai, making it an easy day trip or part of a longer UAE road adventure. Plan this trip to include it in your itinerary.
2. Dead Sea Highway, Jordan
The Dead Sea Highway (Route 65) runs approximately 110 kilometres along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth at 430 metres below sea level. The road connects the northern tip of the Dead Sea near the Baptism Site of Jesus (Al-Maghtas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to the dramatic landscape around Lot's Cave and the southern chemical extraction pools.
Driving along this road is a surreal experience. The turquoise and emerald waters of the Dead Sea shimmer to your right, the barren mountains of the Jordan Rift Valley rise to your left, and the air itself feels heavy and warm due to the extraordinary atmospheric pressure at this depth. The landscape is almost lunar in its stark beauty, with salt formations, dried wadis, and occasional patches of impossible green where springs emerge from the desert.
Must-see stops on the Dead Sea Highway
- Al-Maghtas (Bethany Beyond the Jordan) - The UNESCO-listed Baptism Site, with archaeological remains from the Roman and Byzantine periods
- Wadi Mujib - Jordan's Grand Canyon, a 500-metre-deep gorge that can be hiked through water during summer months
- Dead Sea beaches - Several resorts and public beaches where you can float in the hypersaline water (33.7% salinity)
- Lot's Cave - A Byzantine church and cave associated with the biblical story of Lot, overlooking the southern Dead Sea
The Dead Sea Highway is easily reached from Amman, just 60 kilometres to the east and 1,000 metres higher in elevation. The descent from Amman to the Dead Sea in itself is a remarkable drive, dropping over 1,400 metres in under an hour. Plan this trip to combine the Dead Sea with Petra and Wadi Rum.
3. Musandam Peninsula, Oman
The Musandam Peninsula is an exclave of Oman separated from the rest of the country by the UAE, jutting into the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Often called the "Norway of Arabia" for its deep fjord-like inlets (known as khors), the peninsula is one of the most geographically dramatic places in the entire Middle East.
The main driving route runs from Khasab, the regional capital, south through the mountains via a newly paved road to Dibba on the east coast, covering roughly 130 kilometres. The road climbs through the Hajar Mountains to over 1,000 metres, with hairpin bends offering views down into deep wadis and out to the turquoise waters of the Strait of Hormuz. At certain viewpoints, you can see Iran across the water, just 55 kilometres away.
Pro tip: Combine the drive with a traditional dhow cruise from Khasab into the khors (fjords). These half-day boat trips pass through Telegraph Island, where a British telegraph cable relay station operated in the 1860s, and dolphins are almost guaranteed. The phrase "going round the bend," referring to going mad, is said to originate from the British telegraph operators stationed here who were driven to distraction by the isolation and heat.
Access the Musandam from Dubai, a 3-hour drive north via Ras al Khaimah, or from Muscat by a short flight to Khasab.
4. King's Highway, Jordan
The King's Highway (Route 35) is one of the oldest continuously used roads in the world, mentioned in the Book of Numbers in the Bible and used as a trade route for over 5,000 years. The modern road runs 335 kilometres from Amman to Aqaba on the Red Sea, passing through some of Jordan's most significant historical and natural sites.
Unlike the faster Desert Highway that runs parallel to the east, the King's Highway twists and climbs through a series of deep wadis and high plateaux, making it a far more engaging and scenic drive. The route passes the mosaic masterpiece of Madaba (home to the oldest known map of the Holy Land, dating to the 6th century), the Crusader castle of Kerak (built in 1142), and the entrance to the Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan's largest protected area.
Historical timeline along the King's Highway
- 3000 BCE - Used as a trade route between Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the spice lands of Arabia
- 1000 BCE - Part of the Nabataean trade network, connecting Petra to Damascus
- 106 CE - Incorporated into the Roman Via Nova Traiana by Emperor Trajan
- 1142 CE - Kerak Castle built by Crusader lord Paganus the Butler
- 1812 CE - Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt "rediscovered" Petra while travelling the route
5. Jebel Akhdar Road, Oman
Jebel Akhdar (The Green Mountain) rises to 2,980 metres in the Al Hajar mountain range of northern Oman. The road from the town of Birkat al Mauz to the summit plateau is one of the most dramatic mountain drives in the Arabian Peninsula, climbing over 2,000 metres through a landscape of terraced rose gardens, ancient villages clinging to cliff edges, and deep wadis carved into limestone.
The mountain earned its name from the surprising abundance of agriculture on its terraced slopes. Pomegranates, walnuts, apricots, and the famous Jebel Akhdar roses (used to produce rosewater) thrive in the cooler mountain climate, creating patches of vivid green against the honey-coloured rock. The villages of Wadi Bani Habib and Al Ayn are particularly atmospheric, with centuries-old stone houses built into the cliff face.
A 4WD vehicle is legally required to drive the Jebel Akhdar road; police at a checkpoint at the base will turn back any 2WD vehicle. The road itself is well-paved and maintained, but the regulation exists due to the steep gradients involved.
Start your Omani mountain adventure from Muscat, approximately two hours northeast. Plan this trip for a route combining Jebel Akhdar with Nizwa and the wider Omani interior.
6. Wadi Rum to Aqaba, Jordan
The drive from Wadi Rum to Aqaba covers only 70 kilometres, but it's a journey between two completely different worlds. Wadi Rum is a vast desert valley of red sand and towering sandstone pillars made famous by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and the 1962 David Lean film. The landscape is so otherworldly that it has doubled for Mars in multiple Hollywood productions, including The Martian (2015) and Dune (2021).
The drive south from Wadi Rum village descends gradually through increasingly barren desert before the Red Sea suddenly appears ahead, an impossibly blue line between the red desert and the pale sky. Aqaba, Jordan's only coastal city, sits on the Gulf of Aqaba with views across to Saudi Arabia, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, and Israel, all visible simultaneously from the city's corniche.
Extending the adventure
- Wadi Rum desert camp - Spend a night in a Bedouin camp before the drive; stargazing in Wadi Rum is world-class due to minimal light pollution
- Aqaba diving - The Red Sea coral reefs off Aqaba are among the most pristine in the world, with visibility often exceeding 30 metres
- Aqaba to Eilat border crossing - The Wadi Araba crossing connects to Israel's Eilat, making a cross-border road trip possible
- South Beach - Aqaba's best beach area, with views across the gulf to four countries
7. Hajar Mountains Circuit, UAE and Oman
The Hajar Mountains form the geological backbone of the eastern Arabian Peninsula, running from the Musandam in the north to Ras al Hadd in the southeast. A circuit drive through the UAE and Omani sections of the range, starting and finishing in Dubai, covers roughly 600 kilometres and takes in some of the most varied scenery in the Gulf region.
From Dubai, the route heads east through the UAE's Hatta exclave, where the Hatta Dam sits in a narrow gorge of turquoise water flanked by rust-coloured mountains. Crossing into Oman, the road climbs through the Hajar range to the town of Nizwa, once the capital of the Omani interior and home to a magnificent 17th-century fort and a Friday goat market that has operated continuously for centuries.
The return via the coast passes through fishing villages, turtle-nesting beaches, and the dramatic wadis that cut through the eastern Hajar. Wadi Shab, accessible via a 45-minute walk and a swim through a narrow gorge, ends at a hidden waterfall inside a cave, and is one of the most rewarding short hikes in the entire region.
Pro tip: Carry your passport if you're planning to cross between the UAE and Oman. Border crossings are generally straightforward, but you may need a visa for Oman depending on your nationality. GCC residents can cross freely. Check current requirements before you travel, as regulations change frequently.
Practical Tips for Middle East Road Trips
Driving in the Middle East is generally straightforward, but there are some important considerations:
- Carry water. Always have at least 5 litres of water per person in the vehicle, especially when driving through desert areas. Breakdowns in extreme heat can become dangerous quickly.
- Respect speed cameras. The UAE and Oman have extensive speed camera networks with heavy fines. Jordan's highway police are also active. Use a GPS navigation app that shows camera locations.
- Fuel is cheap. Petrol in the Gulf states is among the cheapest in the world. In Jordan, prices are higher but still reasonable by European standards. Fill up before entering remote areas.
- Desert driving requires preparation. If you plan to go off-road in Wadi Rum, the Rub al Khali, or other desert areas, reduce tyre pressure, carry recovery equipment, and ideally travel with at least one other vehicle.
- Avoid driving during Ramadan evenings. In the hour before iftar (the breaking of the fast at sunset), roads can be unusually dangerous as fasting drivers rush to get home. Plan to be off the road during this period.
- Summer heat is extreme. Temperatures in the Gulf states and Jordan regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius from June to September. Road trips are best planned for October to April, when temperatures are pleasant and daylight hours are reasonable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to drive in the Middle East as a tourist?
The countries featured in this article, the UAE, Oman, and Jordan, are all very safe for tourists and have well-maintained road networks. The UAE has modern highways with excellent signage in Arabic and English. Oman is consistently rated one of the safest countries in the world, with friendly locals and minimal crime. Jordan is welcoming to visitors and has a well-established tourism infrastructure. Standard road safety precautions apply everywhere: wear seatbelts, don't use your phone while driving, and be cautious on mountain roads. The biggest driving hazard in the region is speed; other drivers in the Gulf states can be aggressive, particularly on highways.
Do I need a 4WD for Middle East road trips?
For the paved routes described in this article, a standard 2WD car is sufficient for most drives. The exceptions are Jebel Akhdar in Oman (where 4WD is legally required) and any desert driving off paved roads, such as exploring Wadi Rum's interior. The Musandam Peninsula road and the Hajar Mountains circuit are now fully paved and can be driven in a standard car, though a vehicle with good ground clearance is more comfortable on the mountain sections. If you want flexibility to explore wadis and desert tracks, renting a 4WD is highly recommended.
What is the best Middle East road trip for a first-time visitor?
For first-timers, a Jordan loop combining the Dead Sea Highway, King's Highway, Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba is hard to beat. It can be completed in 5-7 days from Amman, covers an extraordinary range of landscapes and historical sites, and the driving is straightforward with well-signed roads. Alternatively, a long weekend based in Dubai with day trips to Jebel Hafeet and the Hatta Mountains gives a taste of Gulf driving with the convenience of a major international hub.
