Dubai to Oman by road (2024) - Hopping countries and a road-trip!

Many believe Europe is perfect for hopping countries but forget that the Middle East and Africa can be too, depending on visa requirements and distance. Read on to know how to have a great road trip and visit 2 favorite destinations in the Middle-East; Dubai and Oman and for details on how to get from Dubai to Oman by road.

You don’t need to choose to be a beach or mountain person in Oman. Desert, beach, mountains, fjords – there’s everything in Oman (quite similar to Morocco!)

Oman, known for its forts, wadis, beaches and magnificent Musandam fjords, is a popular road trip destination for Emiratis. For international travellers who visit the UAE, Oman is a must-visit for its history, natural beauty and peace.

Dubai to Oman distance by road is 545 km.

Muscat to Dubai distance by road is 452-472 km away from Dubai, depending on your route. Dubai to Muscat by car should take around 5 hours.

The Dubai to Muscat road trip can take 6-7 hours depending on the stops you take, traffic in Dubai and queues at the border crossings. Some travellers have reported spending an hour or more at the border due to long queues, but this is likely only during weekends or festivals.

Dubai to Oman by Road

Dubai to Oman by Car

If you are travelling by car, there are three routes you can take –

i) Wadi Hatta Al Wajajah

Entering the country via the Hatta Border post is the most common route for tourists travelling from UAE to Oman by road.

Ensure not to drive to Al Madam to cross into Oman as this post is only open for GCC residents. Instead, take the E102 route to reach the Hatta Border – add the Dubai Custom as a stop in your navigation app between your destination to Oman to ensure you don’t take the wrong route.

The Hatta Border post is a kilometre away from the Dubai Custom.

ii) Meyzad – Hafeet border  

If you plan to start your Oman itinerary with Jebel Shams, Nizwa or other places in Central/South Oman, then take the route through E22 (from Abu Dhabi)/E66 from Dubai) to reach the Meyzad Border.

You’ll pass through Al-Ain, the garden city if you take this route. Take this route to travel from UAE to Oman by road if you start from Abu Dhabi, as this border is closer to Abu Dhabi.

iii) Khatm Al Shiklah border crossing

The border post is also close to Al-Ain. The difference between this crossing and the Meyzad one is that once you are stamped out of UAE, the Oman border post is about 30 km away. So this route can be confusing for those travelling for the first time from UAE to Oman by road.

This border post is less commonly used for travelling from Dubai to Oman by car. So there are shorter queues here if you travel during the weekend or before a festival.

All car companies will not allow taking the car from UAE to Oman by road. So double-check before renting and collect the car’s certificate and insurance before your trip.

You can rent cars through companies like Ejarcar, Once Click Drive or Dollar Rental. Better still, find your options from a comparison platform like Discovercars or Final rentals, get in touch with the operator and bargain to get a good deal.

Renting a car for getting around in Oman is a must, as the country is not well connected by public transport other than a few city areas. Rent a 4×4 for Oman only if you plan on off-roading.

Crossing the border: Fee and document requirements

To travel from UAE to Oman by road, you need to apply for a tourist visa in advance. You can apply for an Oman E-visa and all it takes is a few minutes to make an application.

Check here to see which visa you need to enter Oman. Apply for the e-visa at least four days before your visit. Visa costs in the range of 5-50 OMR depending on the number of entries in the country and period of stay.

For entry through any of the land borders, you would need –

• A copy/electronic copy of the visa

• Passport with a minimum of six months of validity

• Proof of ownership of the vehicle (Mulkiya/certificate). If it’s a rented/borrowed car, you must have a no-objection certificate from the rental company or person you have borrowed the car from

• A valid driving license if you are driving

• Insurance for the car in UAE and Oman (You can buy insurance from the rental company or a third party insurance provider)

At the UAE border, you’ll have to pay an exit fee of AED 35.

You can pay by card. There are ATMs at the crossings, but it’s good to carry cash.

October to May is suitable to travel from UAE to Oman by road. The humidity levels and temperatures vary, but as long as you skip the scorching hot months between June and August, the country has a warm climate and light showers that make it suitable for travel for most of the year.

December-February (winter) is an excellent time for a Dubai to Oman road trip as the temperature is pleasant in Oman – between 23 °C to 26 °C during the daytime and 13 °C to 17 °C at night.

Oman to Dubai by bus

MWASALAT runs three buses a day to Dubai. You can take a bus at 6:20 am/3:20 pm/11:20 pm from the Al Azaiba station. Buy tickets in advance from the Mwasalat – ONTC Office nearby.

The fare is around 6 OMR for a one way trip from Muscat to Dubai by road and 9.5 OMR for a two-way trip.

The MWSALAT buses are not functioning temporarily due to covid. You can travel by Al Khanjry, which runs two buses from Muscat to Dubai every day. Book tickets in advance from their office near Ruwi Bus Station.

For the Muscat-Dubai road trip, they are willing to provide tickets over WhatsApp/email. Contact them on the number available here.

Best time for travelling from Oman to Dubai by Road

Visit Dubai between November- March as the temperature ranges between moderate to slightly cold during peak winter in December. December-February is the peak season for Dubai, so book in advance if you plan on visiting during this period.

From June to August (summer), the daytime temperature crosses 40°C, which would be too hot and uncomfortable for sightseeing. Visiting Dubai in April- May and September-October is not ideal as well, since daytime temperatures are high – in the range of 34°C to 39°C.

Tips for travelling from UAE to Oman by road and Muscat to Dubai by road

Here are some tips for your road trip :

• The Internet can be patchy when you’re away from the city. Ensure you have an offline map or GPS that can guide you.

• Your luggage will be checked at the border. Do not carry alcohol, pork or any such prohibited items.

• Adhere to speed limits and road rules while driving in Oman and UAE. There are heavy fines for flouting them.

• Pay attention to taking the right exits on the Oman Highway. They are far apart, and if you miss one, you’ll have to drive for long until you reach another exit.

• Carry cash so that you have to spend less time at the border crossing.

People tend to avoid the Middle-East as they assume it’ll be hectic and they won’t be able to see much which is far from the truth! Irrespective of the type of travel you opt for, both Dubai and Oman will leave you spellbound and asking for more!