Private discovery day · Northern Emirates
Northern Emirates Day
A private day across the quieter northern emirates, from Sharjah's heritage to Ras Al Khaimah's mountains.
Most visitors never leave Dubai, and they miss the older, slower country just up the coast. Over a full day, about nine hours, your private guide strings together the northern emirates in one route, beginning with Sharjah's heritage quarter, passing through Ajman and Umm Al Quwain and ending toward the forts and mountains of Ras Al Khaimah. It is a sampler of the quieter UAE, where the pace eases, the crowds thin and the country shows a more lived-in face.
- Sharjah's heritage quarter
- A glimpse of Ajman
- Quiet Umm Al Quwain
- Ras Al Khaimah forts and mountains
- Four emirates in one route
- 01
Morning departure
Your chauffeur collects you from your Dubai hotel for a morning start, heading north along the coast as the cities give way.
- 02
Sharjah heritage
You begin in Sharjah's restored heart, your guide reading its souqs, mosques and museums as the cultural anchor of the route.
- 03
Ajman and Umm Al Quwain
The route slips through Ajman and the gentle, time-kept emirate of Umm Al Quwain, where the lagoons and old town slow everything down.
- 04
Toward Ras Al Khaimah
You finish toward Ras Al Khaimah, where forts and the Hajar mountains lend the day a dramatic close.
- 05
Return to Dubai
Your chauffeur returns you to your hotel in the evening, having shown you four emirates beyond the one most people know.
- Private licensed guide for the day
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Chauffeured air-conditioned car
- Guided stops across the emirates
- Bottled water on board
Not included
- Admission tickets where applicable
- Meals and personal spending
- Gratuities
- It is a full day with a fair amount of driving
- Dress modestly for heritage and religious sites
- Bring sun protection and comfortable shoes
- Tell your guide which stops interest you most
- Confirm museum opening days before you travel
What does the northern emirates tour cover?
In one private route it samples Sharjah's heritage, a glimpse of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, and ends toward Ras Al Khaimah's forts and mountains, the quieter UAE beyond Dubai.
Is it a lot of driving?
There is meaningful driving, as the day links several emirates, but the car is comfortable and chauffeured and the changing scenery is part of the experience.
Can the route be tailored?
Yes. If you would rather spend longer in Sharjah, or push deeper into Ras Al Khaimah's mountains, tell your guide and the day is shaped to suit.
How long is the day?
Around nine hours door to door from Dubai, departing in the morning and returning in the evening, entirely for your group.
The Emirates Beyond Dubai: Which One to Visit, and Who Each Suits
Five quieter emirates sit within easy reach of Dubai, each with its own character. Here is how to choose between culture, heritage, nature and mountains.
Sharjah: A Guide to the UAE's Cultural Capital, From Souqs to the Mleiha Desert
Sharjah trades spectacle for substance: restored heritage quarters, serious museums, old souqs and, inland, the dunes and fossils of Mleiha. A rewarding private day.
Ready to plan Northern Emirates Day?
Tell us your dates and we'll arrange a guide, a car and the route in your language.