UAE's camping season begins: Top 5 spots to pitch your tent

Camping season officially kicks off this weekend across the UAE, with off-road enthusiasts shaking off the summer hibernation to re-pitch those tents at the top hotspots across the country’s varied landscape.

While Liwa and Lahbab beckon adventure enthusiasts to cross their majestic sea of dunes, Al Ain’s Al Hayer Forest and Umm Al Quwain offer a more understated, yet enjoyable, over-night stopover for the novice campers.

Of course, if the fun is in the journey and not just the destination, then the stunning vista of Wadi Wuryah serves up a rare blend for the rugged roadies.

Emirates 24|7 heads down the beaten track to serve up an adventure of a lifetime. 

The Rub Al Khali

This vast emptiness has many names, The Empty Quarter, the Rub Al Khali or simply Liwa for locals.

The world’s sandiest desert offers everything for that perfect traditional Bedouin experience, with a few VIP frills, which include a pick up and drop off for an escorted tour, a night time camel trek, a visit to a local farm, along with some modern-day adventures, including sand skiing and dune bashing.

If you were attempting Liwa on your own, we wouldn’t advise you to do so without the right safety equipment, a GPS in hand, a few cars for company and an able guide to assist you along the way.

Al Hayer Forest

This little patch of green off the beaten track on the Dubai-Al Ain highway serves as a perfect campground for those who don’t want to venture too far away from the city lights, but still look for some relative peace and quiet in the great outdoors.

The beauty of this site is its accessibility by non 4X4 cars, with a sneaky cheat track that leads you to the forest by following the border fencing between the UAE and Oman.

In case you are wondering, back in the day, this was the spot that allowed residents to cross between Oman and UAE through the desert landscape, minus the border patrols.

The forest itself is a collection of the traditional ghaf trees, which reportedly sprang up with the accumulation of underground water that runs off the Omani mountain range.

Word of advice though, even as you park yourself under the shade of the ghaf trees: the area has seen its share of scorpions, so do make sure you have checked your shoes before you put them on the morning after.

Wadi Wurayah

This is not for the faint hearted or those who don’t like to trek off the beaten track.

Wadi Wurayah is located at a turnoff from the Dibba-Khorfakkan highway, with the wadi itself stretching between Khorfakkan and Masafi.

The rocky terrain will lead you down winding ravines, leading you to a vista of picturesque waterfalls that simply take your breath away.

Word of advice though, the site does get plenty crowded over the weekends.

Umm Al Quwain Beach Camp

If you want to camp minus the frills then nothing could be easier than a beach camp in Umm Al Quwain, a mere 45-minute ride from Dubai.

The Al Rafaah area offers the ideal beach for families planning a little swim and sleep by the sea.

However, the tides can play havoc at night, so it is advisable to camp a little further from the shore for safety.

Don’t forget to pack your fishing gear if you truly want a camping experience by catching your own dinner and roasting it on a campfire after sunset.

Lahbab sands

The red sands of Lahbab serve up a night of comfort for the novice campers who like to experience the outdoors, with the city right in their backyard (Hatta and Dubai are 20-30 minutes away.)

Camp close to Fossil Rock for familiarity, with the warm weather still allowing you to skip the tent and roll out a sleeping bag to enjoy a view of the stars at night.

The place is also great for a BBQ and a boom box to keep the night revelry going.

And if you are feeling particularly adventurous, do attempt the Big Red, a 300-feet high sand dune.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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