Jebel Hafeet: The Majestic Mountain Overlooking UAE’s Hidden Treasures

There’s a special kind of excitement that comes when you go into the sunrise, especially when it means waking up in the middle of the night for a road trip. My husband and I had been talking about visiting Jebel Hafeet and the day came. We were so excited, like two kids going away on an escapade. He planned our departure from Dubai at 1:00 AM. To reach the top before sunrise. Not only to witness the golden light shattering over the mountains, but also to experience the mystic view of city lights glowing below the summit in the quiet of the night. Something we had seen online and couldn’t stop talking about.

Jabal Hafeet is a mountain in the region of Tawam, on the border of the United Arab Emirates and Oman. It is often considered an outlier of the Hajar Mountains in Eastern Arabia due to its proximity to the main range. Wikipedia
The sole mountain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and one of the highest mountains in the country.Wikipedia

As we drove through the peaceful highways, the thrill went up. We listened to music as the stillness of the night covered us. When we passed the bottom of the mountain. The road was tranquil and lighted all the way to the top. At every turn, we could see the winding trail of lights like shining fireflies showing the way. The drive was inspiring and captivating.

We arrived at around 3:30 AM. The view took our breath away. I took out my phone to snap the view. Wow, what a scene it was. The city of Al Ain below us gleamed like a field of diamonds under a soft sky. It was stunning. We just stood there in awe. There were other people in the summit, some were camping, others sitting on picnic mats, eating snacks and soaking in the peaceful ambiance. We even saw a group playing music and dancing. It wasn’t noisy, just cheerful enough to feel warm and welcoming. We went back to the car to nap. We set an alarm for 5:30 AM. Hoping to find the ideal sunrise site in time. My husband fell asleep quickly, but I couldn’t. My thoughts were full, my heart too light. I looked at the black sky began to vanish into a gentle grey. The alarm rang, I was wide awake.

We got ourselves ready. Stepped out of the car and were greeted by the cool air. The sky was hazy. I took a photo of the view. The city lights below shine slightly through the haze, creating a calm scene. We took a few selfies.

This curved stone shared interesting facts about Jebel Hafeet. Reading the words, we felt a deeper admiration for the place. Not just the attraction but for the story it carried.

A big playground in the area. Early morning light was filled with life. Few kids were already playing, their laughter smashing the silence of dawn.

While my husband was searching for the exact sunrise view. I strolled around and took photos of the rocky landscape and limestone cliffs. I saw a unique house that stood out in the rugged landscape. I'm curious who might live there or if it was a privately owned rest house for quiet escapes. This added a sense of wonder located in the heart of nature. My husband told me that the sunrise will be in the northeast. I searched the sunrise viewpoint and there I found it. I told my husband that it's 300 meters away, downhill from where we parked. We pinned the location and drove down.

We parked our car. We made our way up to the viewpoint. Climbing the stairs that led us higher up the mountain. When we reached the top, we felt a little upset. The sun didn’t rise as expected. The sky remained hazy, hiding the golden light. Still, we waited for a few hours. Holding the hope that the sun will come out. Our eyes were drawn to the awesome rock formations around us. The layers of stone, shaped by time and wind, looked like nature’s own sculptures. Their raw, rugged beauty gave the place a majestic feel.

After 2 hours of waiting, finally the sun came out through the haze. It wasn’t the shiny, striking sunrise we had imagined. The soft light that emerged had its own kind of magic. It was a reminder that beauty doesn’t always arrive in full color, sometimes comes gently, when you’re willing to wait.

As we went down, we saw another viewing spot. We stopped for a while to see what view it would give us. We had a stunning vantage point of the winding road we had driven earlier, curving gracefully along the mountain’s edge. The city of Al Ain unfolded in the distance. We also saw unique rock formations, their rugged shapes adding fully to the already wonderful view.

As we continued, I couldn’t withstand reaching for my phone, those rock formations along the road were just too captivating to ignore. The way the rocks framed the winding road made every turn feel like a postcard moment. The drive down became a visual treat and every click was like discovering a hidden piece of Jebel Hafeet’s natural artistry.

Photos taken using S25 Ultra
Collage using Canva

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