There are a lot of interesting places to visit in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, and taking a road trip is one of the best ways to see the region’s beautiful scenery.
Driving through the GCC will be one of the most exciting and amazing trips of your life because the roads are so good, the scenery is so beautiful, and there are so many different cultures to learn about.
In this post, you will learn some of the most interesting road trips you can take in the GCC. With these trips, you’ll be able to find the secret treasures and beautiful scenery of this fascinating area.
You can go through the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain (a good one for beginners) or Oman to Saudi Arabia.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is home to some of the world’s best road journeys, regardless of whether you want to embark on a multi-day tour, fancy putting your driving talents to the test on a steep mountain road or sandy dune, want to stay put in your home nation, or are up for traveling across three different countries.
Abu Dhabi to Liwa Desert
From Abu Dhabi to the Liwa Desert, you can take a road trip that will take you through the heart of the United Arab Emirates.
The Liwa Desert is a huge area with a lot of sand mounds. It is in the southern part of the country. The Empty Quarter is another name for this area.
This beautiful path in the Liwa Desert safari is the right place for an exciting safari adventure. Here is some information you will need to know if you want your safari trip from Abu Dhabi to the Liwa Desert to be fun and memorable.
- Distance and Route
It is approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Abu Dhabi to the Liwa Desert. The most usual route is to head south from Abu Dhabi on the E11 highway, also known as the Sheikh Zayed Road. This road will take travelers to the village of Madinat Zayed.
After there, you will carry on along the E45 highway, also referred to as the Liwa Road, which will bring you right into the middle of the Liwa Desert.
- Scenic Highlights
The landscape will change as you travel from Abu Dhabi to the Liwa Desert. You will go from seeing cityscapes to seeing wide views of the desert.
The ride gives you amazing views of the golden dunes, which, against the blue sky, make for a beautiful scene.
Abu Dhabi – Al Gharbia
Are you a good driver, and are you excited for an exciting off-road adventure? This is the kind of adventure you should try.
One of the most interesting trips you can take is to the western municipal area of Abu Dhabi. Along the way, visitors will see tall dunes, long stretches of unspoiled coastline with beautiful beaches and islands, dozens of old forts, and some of the rarest animals in the area.
- Distance and Route
The distance from Abu Dhabi to Al Gharbia varies based on the particular location that the traveler is going to in the region.
From the metropolis of Abu Dhabi to the center of Al Gharbia is approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) away, on average.
When traveling westward from Abu Dhabi, the E11 highway, which is also known as the Sheikh Zayed Road, is the path that is taken the most frequently.
Following this path will take you past the city’s outskirts and eventually bring you to the vast expanses of Al Gharbia.
- Scenic Highlights
The journey from Abu Dhabi to Al Gharbia is filled with beautiful sights. The trip will take you through breathtaking desert scenery with huge stretches of golden sand dunes.
There may be camel farms along the way where you can get up close and personal with these magnificent animals and ride on one.
The trip also provides stunning views of the Arabian Gulf with white sand beaches and turquoise waters.
Doha – Al Zubarah Fort
This trip is short, but you should take it. The well-preserved Al Zubarah Fort is about an hour’s drive north of Doha. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the site of the old ruins of the town of Al Zubarah.
Once used by the military, this amazing building (thinks “Game of Thrones”) is now a bustling museum with displays of pottery and archaeology.
- Distance and Route
The distance from Doha to Al Zubarah Fort is approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles). The common route from Doha is Al Shamal Road (Route 1), which goes north towards Madinat Ash Shamal.
From there, you’ll keep going along Route 67 until you reach Al Zubarah Fort. Depending on how the road is, the trip can take anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours.
- Scenic Highlights
The drive from Doha to Al Zubarah Fort offers beautiful panoramas of the Qatari countryside.
The route passes across expansive deserts along the shore, providing occasional views of the Arabian Gulf’s magnificent turquoise waters.
You might also come across some traditional Qatari villages, a great chance to learn about the country’s history and culture.
Doha to Dubai
It will be a long drive, but it will be well worth it if you’ve got some spare time on your hands and the need to go on a road trip that’s epic in scale.
Along the route, which passes through Saudi Arabia for one hundred kilometers, travelers will be treated to breathtaking vistas, a turbulently shifting landscape, and plenty of culture.
Additionally, there will be possibilities to explore charming coastal villages, dynamic cities, and isolated desert expanses.
In a nutshell, it should be on everyone’s “bucket list.” We recommend carefully planning the trip, extending it over a few days, and taking advantage of the opportunities for pit stops and little side trips along the way.
- Distance and Route:
The distance from Doha, Qatar, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is approximately 375 kilometers (233 miles).
The most common route is to take the Salwa Road (Qatar Route 55) from Doha, which leads to the Abu Samra border crossing between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
After crossing the border, continue on Saudi Route 5 until you reach the border with the United Arab Emirates. From there, join the E11 highway, also known as the Sheikh Zayed Road, which will take you directly to Dubai.
The journey typically takes 5 to 6 hours, depending on traffic conditions and border formalities.
- Scenic Highlights:
There are many beautiful sights on the road between Doha and Dubai.
The first part of the journey is spent in the Qatari desert, characterized by golden dunes and wide grasslands.
The scenery may grow more arid and rugged as you go closer to the border with Saudi Arabia.
The landscape changes as you enter the United Arab Emirates, with sophisticated cities, skyscrapers, and well-maintained motorways replacing the desert and rural landscape you left behind.
Muscat to Salalah
Take a trip from Muscat to Salalah by car to have an authentically immersed experience in Oman.
This trip will take you across the varied terrain of Oman, from the towering mountains of Jebel Akhdar to the expansive desert of the Empty Quarter.
As you travel along this route, you will come across traditional Omani villages, historic forts, and scenic wadis (valleys).
While in Salalah, make it a point to stop by the world-famous Frankincense Land Museum and experience the area’s warm hospitality and distinctive culture.
- Distance and Route
When traveling by car, the distance between Muscat, the capital city of Oman, and Salalah is approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
From Muscat, the Sultan Qaboos Highway, also known as Route 32, which travels in a southerly direction across the middle of Oman, is the most usual route.
After that, stay on the route until you reach Salalah, which is situated in the country’s southwestern region.
The trip can take 11 to 12 hours, depending on the weather, traffic, and how often you stop to rest.
- Scenic Highlights
The scenery of Oman is breathtaking, and the trip from Muscat to Salalah is no exception. The trip includes passage through both mountainous and valley landscapes, as well as stunning seaside scenery.
There is a wide variety of landscapes, bustling towns, and fascinating traditional and modern cultures in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
Every step you take reveals new wonders and breathtaking scenery, from the glistening coasts to the towering mountains, bustling souks, and tranquil oases.
These road trips are well worth considering since they will allow you to see the stunning landscapes, exhilarating activities like dune bashing and sandboarding, fascinating historic monuments and archaeological wonders, and genuine hospitality of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
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