Many people visiting the UAE get so caught up in the glitz and glamour of Dubai & Abu Dhabi that they forget, or do not even know that the other Emirates hold so much beauty. What’s more, they should be experienced whenever you’re around. Whether you are visiting Dubai or a resident here, Masfout has to be experienced, and just an hour and a half outside of the city, can be done in a day trip.
Unexplored Ajman
An idyllic view of the mountains of Hajar, one behind the other as a well-made artistic masterpiece, Masfout or Masfut has everything that you need to escape from the bustling city life. Nestled away just 132 km from the city of Dubai, Masfout, is a favourite destination for a quiet getaway for couples and families.
Enclaved between the Al Hajar mountains, it’s generally a bit cooler, and winters are best spent here. Hajar (حَجَر) means stone in Arabic. And as the name suggests, the Al Hajar Mountains, which enclose Masfout, are predominantly rocky terrain, making it perfect for adventure seekers to go hiking and mountain biking.
Location
The centre of Masfut is 132km from the centre of Dubai which will take approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes by car. From Abu Dhabi, 268km and a 2 and a half hour drive will get you there.
How to Reach Masfout
Via Dubai-Hatta Road (E44): This route passes through the Sultanate of Oman’s borders and has an exclusive entry for GCC nationals to go through the last leg to Masfout. Depending on your location, you could always take the Dubai-Hatta road and take a detour to join Sharjah-Kalba Road midway.
Via Sharjah-Kalba Road (E102): Stretching at approx. 130 km from Dubai, the Sharjah-Kalba road is the best bet to reach Masfout without much confusion from the Oman check-post.
If you don’t have access to a vehicle then check out some other ways of getting to Masfout below:
| From | Taxi Time | Taxi Cost | Bus Time | Bus Cost |
| Dubai | 1hr 20min | 250AED | 3hr 16min | 79AED |
| Abu Dhabi | 2hr 11min | 600AED | 6hr 29min | 80AED |
Tip: Use Rome2Rio.com for all of your travel planning.
Climate
Masfout has a generally cooler climate than Dubai and Abu Dhabi. You can usually expect temperatures to be 2 or 3 Degrees Celsuis cooler than in the city. Up the Hajar Mountains you can expect temperatures to be as low as 10 degrees cooler than the city.
To give you an example of the climate in Masfout see the below table.
| Month | Dubai | Masfout |
| January | 24°C | 22°C |
| February | 25°C | 24°C |
| March | 29°C | 27°C |
| April | 33°C | 32°C |
| May | 38°C | 36°C |
| June | 40°C | 36°C |
| July | 41°C | 35°C |
| August | 41°C | 34°C |
| September | 39°C | 33°C |
| October | 35°C | 32°C |
| November | 31°C | 28°C |
| December | 26°C | 24°C |
Things to do in Masfout
With its high-quality marble and agricultural land, though scenic in itself, Masfout has many attractions nearby:
Masfout Castle
Built in the 19th century, the Masfout Castle, which was once the first line of defence against bandits from neighbouring country Oman, stands proud, taking you back in time. The castle has two rooms and a gate made of stones, mud and timber, restored in 1947 by the late ruler Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi.
Al Manama Museum/ Al Mareer Fort
While travelling from Ajman to Masfout, a minor detour via Al Dhaid Road (E88) gets you to Al Manama Museum. This fort turned museum was also built by previous ruler Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi. The Al Manama museum’s tower has lush green palm trees surrounding it, irrigated by an old irrigation system called Al Falaj. Other than the fort, the yard overlooks seven large rooms and a well.
Hiking at Hatta
Hatta is just 10 mins (9 km) away from Masfout and is famous for tourists and adventure seekers for hiking at the Hajar mountains, which has sandy patches and rocky terrain. Super cute wildlife such as the Arabian Sand Cat live in this area. Whilst at Hatta, one shouldn’t miss out on the Hatta Dam, one of the largest water bodies in Hatta, where you can also kayak, paddle-boat, canoe, and much more.
Mountain Biking
Surrounded by the mountainous terrain of the Hajar mountains, Masfout is an ideal spot for mountain bikers to have an adventurous ride. Recently, in November ’20, they had also conducted Masfout Mountain Bike Challenge. Due to the success of their first official mountain bike challenge, the Government of Ajman reportedly have proposed their vision to develop Masfout’s infrastructure more to conduct it at a larger scale. October to May is the best time for mountain biking to beat the heat. It is also recommended to have plenty of water and snacks supply and carry first aid kid prior to your ride.
Masfout Warqa Public Park
A tranquil and less crowded park that is kid-friendly and family-friendly overlooking the mountains. If you fancy cycling, the 13,500 square meter park is ideal for cyclists too. Al Warqa park has restricted entry for men twice a week on Monday and Wednesday, with exclusive access only for women only on those days.
Camping in Masfout & Hatta
Whilst you are out in the gorgeous wilderness of Masfout why not make the most of it by camping for the night? There are many camping spots close by to make the most of the amazing scenery and star lit skies. Below are a list of local camping areas for you to try. Some are obviously off the beaten track with no road names; so we have attached the Google Maps Code to help you find them!
Masfout Camping Hut – V264+GR Sayh Mudayrah, Ajman – United Arab Emirates
Hatta Kayak Camping Ground – Q4P8+3V Hatta, Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Hatta Camping Area – E44 – Sufayri – دبي – United Arab Emirates
Hatta Lake Camping Area – http://dm.gov.ae/
Hatta Tourist Camp – Q5P4+XV Hatta, Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Take the Perfect Sunset Picture at Masfout Canyon
If you’re visiting Dubai or Abu Dhabi for the first time you may be surprised to hear that much of the UAE and Oman is extremely mountainous, presenting great hiking, biking and photograph opportunities for tourists.
A must whilst in Masfout is the Masfout Canyon, as you can see from the photo above, which just does not do it enough justice!
Kayak at Hatta Lake
Another way of making the most of the gorgeous scenery is to see it from the water, kayaking! Kayaking at Hatta Lake is a great way to spend a sunny day in Masfout.
Where to Stay in Masfout
A weekend getaway to Masfout to unwind and relax or explore the area is a good idea. You could also escape the city for some fresh air and cooler evenings. Below are a few hotel choices and some guide prices too.
JA Hatta Fort Hotel
Just 10 minutes away from Masfout, JA Hatta Fort Hotel gives you the best of both worlds of mountains and water – the Hatta Water Dam and Hatta Rock Pools. A 4-star rated hotel with all amenities will not disappoint you; what better choice than a premium mountain view room with a private balcony to enjoy the majestic Al Hajar mountains!
Approx. cost per room: AED650 per night.
Sedr Trailers Resort
If you prefer a more cosy accommodation with a personal feel for your partner or family, the Sedr trailer resort is an experience you will cherish forever. The region’s first trailer hotel, Sedr Trailers Resort, gives a unique experience for its visitors to camp along the Hatta Dam banks overlooking the Al Hajar mountains of Masfut. Includes facilities from Wi-Fi to direct access to Hatta Kayak onsite and more; or even chill with some BBQ and Fire Pit.
Approx. cost per room: AED 990 per night.
Hatta Damani Lodges
Another one-of-a-kind experience where you can stay in lodges or cabins overlooking the mountains and Hatta Wadi Hub Activity Park. You feel the closest to nature, where you can hit the trail. Hatta Damani Lodges are 10.9km (11mins) from Masfut and perfect for nature lovers.
Approx. cost per room: AED 1,013 per night
Conclusion
So here ends our guide to Masfout / Masfut. Another place to visit in the UAE proving that this country has so much more to offer outside the luxury of Dubai! For everything Dubai & Abu Dhabi make sure to head back to the main site. Also, follow us on Pinterest and subscribe to our channel on Youtube too.
