Dubai,from thedriver's seat.
Road trips and hidden spots around Dubai, with the real route and the real cost in dirhams. Filmed from behind the wheel, three times a week.
See the drives This week's routeThe drives
Every route is filmed in a normal sedan on tarmac, with fuel, Salik and parking added up on screen. Tap a card to watch the reel.
This week: Dubai to Hatta
The route as I drove it, with the costs. Save it, drive it, tag @dubaidrives.ae when you get there.
Leave Downtown
Fill up first. One tank covers the whole day with margin. Head out on the E44 through Al Awir.
Hatta Dam
Park at the top lot before the kayak crowd. Free. The turquoise water is at its best before 9.
Wadi Hub
Coffee, the zipline if you want it, and the walk up to the HATTA sign for the view over the town.
Heritage Village
Fifteen minutes, no fee, the old fort and falaj. Then lunch at the local cafeteria near the roundabout.
All in
Fuel AED 48, Salik AED 8 (two gates), parking AED 0, one karak AED 4.
About
I have a car, a phone and a weekend. Dubai has a thousand roads that nobody films. So I drive them and I show you the number at the end.
- Based in Dubai, filming since 2026, three reels a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
- Every drive in a normal sedan. If a route needs a 4x4, it says so.
- Every cost shown is what I actually paid that day, in AED.
- Captions in English with Arabic and Hindi lines, because that is who drives in Dubai.
Where should I drive next?
A road your uncle swears by, a beach with no name, a mountain café. Drop it here. The best suggestion each month becomes a Saturday drive, and you get the shout-out.
Questions
The things people ask in the comments, answered once.
What is the best day trip from Dubai by car?
For a first road trip, Hatta: 90 minutes each way on the E44, one tank of fuel, and the dam, the wadi hub and the heritage village are all within ten minutes of each other. Leave by 7am to have the dam to yourself.
How much does a road trip from Dubai cost?
Most drives here cost between AED 40 and AED 120 per car including fuel, Salik tolls and parking. Every reel shows the real number for that route.
Do I need a 4x4?
No. Every route on this site is filmed in a normal sedan on tarmac. Routes that need a 4x4 are marked clearly and are the exception.