Five Drives From Dubai Worth a Supercar

Dubai's roads are wide, smooth and well lit, but the city itself is often traffic. The drives that make a rented supercar worth it start when you leave the centre. Here are five, from a short sunset run to a full mountain day, with the car from MJM Motors' fleet that suits each one.

1. Jumeirah Beach Road and the Palm crescent (1–2 hours)

The classic evening loop. Start on Jumeirah Beach Road near La Mer, follow the coast past Jumeirah public beaches and the Burj Al Arab, then cross to the Palm Jumeirah and drive the trunk out to the crescent. Speeds are low, so this is a drive for being seen and for the light rather than for performance.

Best time: the hour before sunset, October to April.

Car: an open top — the Corvette C8 Convertible is relaxed in traffic, the Huracán EVO Spyder is the full show.

2. Hatta and the Hajar foothills (half a day)

Hatta is Dubai's mountain enclave, about 130 km from the city along the E44. The road leaves the dunes behind and climbs into rocky foothills; once there, the dam lake, the kayaks and the heritage village make a good stop. Respect the limits on the curving sections near the border area and watch for camels near the desert stretch.

Best time: leave at 7 am in the cooler months.

Car: a Mercedes-AMG G 63 for comfort and presence, or a McLaren Artura if it is just two of you.

3. Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah (full day)

The UAE's highest mountain road climbs Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours from Dubai. About thirty kilometres of switchbacks lead to viewing decks more than 1,000 metres up, where the air is noticeably cooler. It is a serious road: steep gradients, sharp hairpins, frequent speed cameras and, at weekends, a lot of traffic. Drive up early, come down slowly to protect the brakes.

Best time: weekday mornings, November to March.

Car: the Lamborghini Urus — four-wheel drive, big brakes and room for a picnic.

4. Abu Dhabi: Grand Mosque and Yas Island (full day)

An easy motorway run of around 1 hour 30 minutes on the E11 brings you to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (dress code applies; check visiting hours) and on to Yas Island with Yas Marina Circuit and Ferrari World. The road is long and straight with fixed limits and many cameras, so this is a comfort drive. Salik gates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi's own Darb toll system both apply.

Best time: any day; arrive at Yas for the evening.

Car: the Range Rover Sport SVR — supercharged V8, quiet cabin, big boot.

5. Al Qudra and the desert edge (2–3 hours)

South of the city, Al Qudra Road runs into the desert towards the Al Qudra lakes, where flamingos and other birds gather and families camp at weekends. The road is straight and quiet early in the morning; the lakes are reached by smaller tracks, so stay on tarmac with a low supercar. Never drive onto sand with a rental unless the company has agreed — and with these cars, it will not.

Best time: sunrise, cooler months.

Car: the G 63 Brabus for photographs against the dunes from the paved car parks.

Practical notes for every route

Fuel: stations are frequent on main roads but sparse in the mountains; leave full.
Heat: from May to September plan drives for early morning or evening and carry water.
Tolls and fines: read our guide to Salik and fines before you go.
Photos: stop only where stopping is allowed; hard shoulders are for emergencies.

Packing for a drive day

Water and sunglasses, even in winter.
A phone holder and charging cable for navigation.
Light layers for Jebel Jais, where the summit can be more than ten degrees cooler than the coast.
A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase if you are in a two-seater; front compartments are small.
Your licence, passport or Emirates ID, and the rental agreement or chat on your phone.

Pick the route first, then the car. Browse the fleet and send MJM Motors your plan by DM — they will tell you which car is available for the day.