5-day holiday in UAE: Top 10 best getaways for residents

Dubai - The UAE will mark the Commemoration Day on December 1 and the National Day on December 2 and 3.

UAE residents will enjoy a five-day break in the first week of next month to mark the Commemoration Day and the National Day.

The UAE will mark the Commemoration Day on December 1 and the National Day on December 2 and 3. This will be followed by the two-day weekend taking the tally to five days. UAE residents will have plenty of options to choose from for getaways with families and friends.

Below is the list of places and experiences where the UAE residents can have a great time with their families and friends within the UAE:

Global Village

The region’s largest and first-ever multi-cultural festival park is a one-stop-shop for entertainment, shopping, dining and rides. The family entertainment destination offers over 3,500 retail and commercial outlets as well as more than 78 cultures and 26-plus pavilions. It welcomes around seven million visitors every season. The visitor will have to pay Dh15 for the entry ticket. It opens from 4pm to 12am midnight from Sunday to Wednesday. Thursday and Friday timings are from 4pm to 1am. On Saturday, it runs from 2pm to 11pm. Monday are exclusively reserved for families and ladies, except those falling on a public holiday.

Desert Safari

Known for its best desert safari in the region, no trip to Dubai is complete without a desert safari. Global online travel firm Tripadvisor recently named camel safari in Dubai as the best experience.

During the safari, visitors enjoy dune bashing, sand boarding, camel ride and falcon interaction, before a starlit barbecue-buffet dinner and live shows wrap things up. Its prices range from Dh100 and above.

Hatta Dam

Located in the mountains of Hatta, this scenic place is one of the best get-away for the residents. Located within one-and-half-an-hour drive from Dubai, this place also attracts a lot of visitors from other emirates for get-togethers. Visitors will also find huts in Hatta for night camping.

Jebel Jais

The UAE’s highest peak, located in Ras Al Khaimah, is also a popular spot for getaways as more than 2,000 people visit the peak daily and reach 35,000 during weekends. Ras Al Khaimah was building a new road to the Jebel Jais mountain at the Wadi Haqeel area as an alternative to the old Wadi Al Beeh road, which was damaged in floods earlier this year. Visitors to Jebel Jais can also opt for night camping.

Al Ain Zoo

Al Ain Zoo is a family destination, providing entertainment and learning experiences in a natural outdoor environment. Opening from 9am to 8pm daily, visitors of all ages discover the zoo's wildlife and enjoy a great day out packed with fun and adventure, and explore a large animal collection of over 4,000 animals. Entry ticket is priced at Dh28.35 for people aged 12-plus and Dh9.45 for children between three and 12 years.

Jebel Hafeet and Green Mubazzarah

For incredible sunrise and sunset photos, head to the top of Jebel Hafeet mountain. Rising to a height of 1,249 metres, this skyline-dominating peak is the UAE’s second tallest mountain. People can reach the summit by car, motorbike or if they have the stamina, bicycle.

waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com