Jebel Hafeet guide: summit drive, desert park, Mubazzarah

Jebel Hafeet (officially spelled Jebel Hafit) is Abu Dhabi’s highest peak at 1,249 metres, on the edge of Al Ain near the border with Oman. You can drive to the summit, and Visit Abu Dhabi recommends it for sunrise and sunset views over Al Ain. At its foot are Jebel Hafit Desert Park and Green Mubazzarah, a park with warm springs and no entry ticket.

Jebel Hafeet at a glance

The Arabic name, جبل حفيت, means “the empty mountain”, according to Visit Abu Dhabi’s Arabic page.

Getting to Al Ain and the mountain

From Dubai

• By car: take the E66 Dubai–Al Ain Road. Al Ain Zoo, which sits in the area near Jebel Hafeet, puts the drive at around 90 minutes depending on traffic.
• By bus: intercity buses to Al Ain leave from Al Ghubaiba or Al Aweer bus stations in Dubai and take about two hours. For the return, Abu Dhabi Mobility lists route E201 from Al Ain Main Bus Station to Dubai at AED 25, with tickets sold at the station’s Customer Happiness Offices.

From Abu Dhabi

Take the E22 or E66; the drive is around one hour and 30 minutes. Visit Abu Dhabi says the Desert Park is about one and a half hours from the capital.

Once you are in Al Ain

Visit Al Ain lists taxis through TransAD (600535353) or the Abu Dhabi Taxi app. The free Al Ain shuttle bus serves places such as Al Ain Oasis, Al Ain Zoo and Al Ain Adventure, but the official pages do not list a stop on Jebel Hafeet or at Green Mubazzarah. In practice, plan on your own car or a taxi for the mountain. If you take a taxi to the summit, agree how you will get back down before it leaves.

The drive to the summit

The summit road is open to cars, motorbikes and bicycles. The official tourism pages do not publish the road’s length, a speed limit, opening hours or any fee, so we do not give them here. Follow the posted signs.

A few practical points for the drive:

• Time the climb for sunrise or sunset if views are the reason you came.
• Fill the tank and carry water before leaving Al Ain: there is a hotel near the top, but the official pages do not list a fuel station on the mountain.
• Descend in a low gear rather than riding the brakes on the way down.

Cycling up

Visit Abu Dhabi mentions cycling to the summit “if you have the stamina”. Abu Dhabi’s bicycle rules, published by the Integrated Transport Centre, require a helmet at all times, a white front light and a red rear light or reflector at night, reflective clothing after dark, and riding on the far right of the road where there is no cycle lane. Riding against the traffic is prohibited.

At the top

The summit is mainly about the view: Visit Abu Dhabi points to it for sunrise and sunset photos and wide views over Al Ain. Visit Al Ain suggests a meal at the nearby Mercure Grand Jebel Hafit Hotel. The mountain is also home, Visit Al Ain says, to some of the world’s most threatened wildlife and some of the UAE’s rarest plants, so keep to roads and marked paths.

Jebel Hafit Desert Park

Jebel Hafit Desert Park covers a nine-kilometre stretch at the base of the mountain. Visit Abu Dhabi describes it as family-friendly and lists hiking, mountain biking, and horse and camel riding.

• History on foot: the area has remains from the Neolithic period, around 8,000 years old, and the 5,000-year-old Jebel Hafit Tombs, which can be explored on guided hikes.
• Camping: bring your own gear for basic camping, stay in a fully serviced Bedouin-style tent with breakfast, or book an air-conditioned bubble glamping tent.
• Dogs: accompanied dogs may join you on hikes and camping, but not on private properties, including nearby accommodation.
• Booking and contact: jhdp.ae or +971 3 711 8362.

Visit Abu Dhabi does not publish the park’s opening hours or fees. Call the park before you set out, especially if you plan to camp.

Green Mubazzarah

Green Mubazzarah Park lies at the foot of Jebel Hafit, and Visit Al Ain says there are no tickets to enter. Warm springs rising from the mountain run through the park; Visit Al Ain notes they are most inviting in the cooler months. There are wide lawns for picnics and barbecues, and Green Mubazzarah Chalets for overnight stays.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi describes the park as covering 3.3 square kilometres, run by Al Ain Municipality since it opened in 2002. Its list of facilities includes chalets facing the mountain, a salt cave, a lake with rowing, a mountain slide, barbecue areas and children’s play areas. Those facilities may have their own charges; the official pages do not say.

Safety and timing

• Season: Visit Abu Dhabi says November to April is the most pleasant time to visit, with days around 24C, while summer highs reach around 42C. Hikes and bike climbs belong in the cooler months and the early morning.
• Water and shade: carry more water than you think you need on any hike or climb, and tell someone your route.
• Tombs and heritage: the tombs are part of a World Heritage area. Visit them on the park’s guided hikes rather than on your own.
• Springs: the water is warm, not cold. Supervise children near it.
• Night driving: if you come down after sunset, drive slowly and watch for cyclists.

A sample day

1. Early morning: a guided hike or bike ride in Jebel Hafit Desert Park (book ahead).
2. Midday: lunch in Al Ain, or a visit to Al Ain Oasis, which is free and open 9am to 7pm.
3. Afternoon: picnic and the warm springs at Green Mubazzarah.
4. Sunset: drive to the summit, then back to Al Ain or on to Dubai.

For Al Ain’s forts, the oasis and the zoo, see our Al Ain guide. To find somewhere to eat or stay, browse our Al Ain directory.

Where to check before you go

• Visit Abu Dhabi: Jebel Hafit
• Visit Abu Dhabi: Jebel Hafit Desert Park (phone +971 3 711 8362)
• Visit Al Ain: Green Mubazzarah Park
• Abu Dhabi Mobility: inter-emirates buses

Checked against the official sources listed on this page on 7 October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm on the official site before you go. See our editorial policy.