Big Red
Driving from Dubai to Hatta (just before you reach the Oman border), you’ll notice a huge sand dune off on your left. Known as Big Red, this is one of the most popular off-road destinations in the UAE and often crawling with 4WDs and quad-bikers attempting to make their way to the top; many Dubai tour operators use the stretch of less elevated dunes on the other side of the road for dune-bashing excursions during their afternoon desert safaris. You can rent your own quad bike from the outlet next to the main road if you fancy a crack at the sands, or just a spin around the flat quad-bike course next to the highway.
Hatta Rock Pools
One of Hatta's major tourist attractions was until very recently the Hatta Rock Pools, around 20km from town over the border in Oman. A trip to the scenic pools, complete with a dip in the water, was for many years a popular excursion from Dubai. Sadly, the tightening of border security now means that visitors (except Emirati nationals) now need an Omani visa to access the pools – something which most visitors consider far too much hassle and expense to justify the relatively modest reward.