Driving from Dubai to Muscat (and back again!).
We decided we would give driving from Dubai to Muscat a go to at the start of our Oman road trip with kids. Primarily as we wanted to see some of the countryside and also have our car with us.
We picked up a great 4 wheel drive at Dubai airport. The rent-a-car service arranged our insurance for both the United Arab Emirates and Oman, as separate insurance is required for the latter. Also don’t forget to check your driving arrangements, including whether you need to have an international drivers license.
*AD / This post contains affiliate links and I may also have been compensated or gifted in this post. To read more please see my Disclosure Policy.
Table of Contents
Leaving Dubai
It was really exciting seeing the tall skyscrapers of Dubai give way to dusty, sandy dunes that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Pointing out mirages and camels to the children was so exciting. And spotting tiny deer foraging amongst the few desert plants, it really felt like we were setting out on an exciting adventure.
Al Madam crossing closed – Driving from Dubai to Muscat (and back again!)
We unfortunately managed to add about an hour to our journey by attempting to cross into Oman at the Al Madam crossing. Here we were sent back as it was closed.
Sharjah – Dubai Road
Ultimately we then attempted a detour where we got slightly lost before joining the E102 and the Sharjah-Dubai Road.
Here we had more confusion as we couldn’t decide which border to attempt.
Having read some reports that the Hatta crossing was also closed to tourists we decided not to risk it. Instead we headed to Kalba all the way on the E102 and the coastal route through Oman.
Had we not had this diversion it would definitely have helped as the journey began to stretch away a bit at this point.
Entering Oman from United Arab Emirates
Soon the sand of the desert gave way to the rocky, craggy mountainous area south of Fujairah. And we wound our way down to the border, keeping everything crossed we would be able to pass in to Oman here.
Customs in Oman
We were waved over to a little hut to get our visa. With flies buzzing about us we waited in line for at least half an hour with lorry drivers and other weary travellers.
Although this felt a little time-consuming it was also exciting and we looked out at the trucks laden down with bright tomatoes or Omani rugs. It was wonderful to imagine this world that was out there, bustling about every day.
We filled in the forms, paid our fee (20 OR at the time we travelled) and we were off. Across another couple of checkpoints and finally in to Oman.
Arrival – Driving from Dubai to Muscat (and back again!)
The landscape immediately looked and felt different to that of the UAE.
There were lush, green fields, a turquoise sea sparkling to the left of us and everywhere the gorgeously decorated domes of the mosques.
Stopping for supplies
We stopped in Sohar at a large LuLu hypermarket we spotted from the main road that was the perfect break.
We picked up some snacks including almond stuffed dates, some treats for the kids and some tubs of ice cream to eat in the car.
There was also a money exchange here where we got some cash out.
For some reason the last two and a half hours of the trip to Muscat felt the longest.
I think by this point we were really ready to be out of the car.
Arriving into Muscat on the drive from Dubai
Dusk started to fall as we headed in to the capital city and we were greeted by the beautiful mosques lit up in the darkness.
They looked so warm and welcoming and were so happy when the main mosque in Muscat, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque came in to view and we knew we were there. We were all immediately cheered and couldn’t wait to start exploring Muscat the following morning.
Overnight in Sohar
It felt a long journey driving from Dubai to Muscat but it was definitely worth it. Watching the countryside change and seeing the every day sights of the country pass by.
Our journey back was much more straight forward as we decided to break the journey with a night in Sohar. I would definitely recommend this. It felt so much more manageable as a drive and was the perfect journey break.
Top tips for driving from Dubai to Muscat
- Make sure you have adequate insurance to take a hire car over the border. You can organise it at customs but it’s much easier to do so beforehand.
- Make sure the border crossing is open before travelling to it.
- When you leave Oman stop to get an exit stamp, otherwise you will be sent back to get it.
- If at all possible travel in a 4 wheel drive.
- There are plenty of places to stop on the way for petrol or refreshments.
- All roads are really well maintained so it’s an easy drive.
Please let us know if you have tried driving from Dubai to Muscat and how you got on!
The best things to do in Oman (with kids but adults will love them too)
Sleeping in a nomadic camp in the Omani desert
Really exciting trip. I am planning to do the same to visit Oman for a couple of days on our next trip to Dubai next November. Interesting to know that a tourist can not cross through any border but only few are open for us. Do you know how we can find out so we will not waste any time ?
I’m really sorry I don’t know of a site for this information. We spent quite a bit of time googling it and still didn’t have a definitive answer. I’d say if you can go for the Kalba and avoid Al Madam it might be best. Sorry I can’t be of any more help. Have a great trip!