UAE road trip: the very hot spots of the Gulf by hatchback
A road trip through the United Arab Emirates and Oman is a great way to explore the region's manybeauty spots. Words and pictures by Tim Pile.
People seem to drive even faster than usual on the E10 highway, near the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix circuit. Impatient commuters race recklessly through the traffic, battling for pole position like characters from Wacky Races. In front of me a school bus swerves across three busy lanes in a belated attempt to reach the off-ramp. I'd bubble-wrap my children before letting them anywhere near one of the bright yellow vehicles.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the starting point for my Arabian jaunt. The Gulf region is an ideal winter stopover between Hong Kong and Europe. From November to April temperatures are comfortable, car hire and petrol are inexpensive and there's no shortage of sandy wilderness for 4x4 desert adventures.
I set out from the Corniche, a sweeping promenade that hugs a crescent of white sand and sapphire seas. The burgeoning city skyline serves as a backdrop and features a waterfront big wheel, which is closed when I visit. In the early October heat, it would be like riding on a rotisserie.
The Grand Mosque is a must-see - if you can get to it. I spot the iconic structure from the highway but miss my turning and end up jockeying for position on the 27-lane Al Mafraq Bridge. Before I know it, Dubai is looming vertically on the horizon.
The obsessively irrigated emirate has an anything-is-possible aura, best appreciated with a visit to the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island of reclaimed land in the shape of a giant palm tree. The residential beachside community has the manicured feel of Discovery Bay; golf carts trundle between residents clubs and estate agents advertise newly completed developments with phrases such as "contemporary oasis" and "luxury redefined". Not everyone is living the high life, though.