Musandam Governorate is a famous tourist destination neighbouring the UAE. The Governorate has multiple spots to witness natural scenes and also offers a wide range of activities.The place is also called the Norway of the Arabian Peninsula because of its landscape. Musandam is not far from the UAE, you can complete the journey in a single day.
In this guide, we will provide you with complete details about the Musandam trip from Dubai, how to plan it properly and what to expect from the journey.
About Musandam (Oman) Trip from Dubai
One day trip to Oman from Dubai is a common pass time during weekends. Musandam is one of these tourist destinations situated nearer to the UAE. The journey from UAE to Musandam is filled with scenic views and exotic animals. Make sure that you have completed your checklist of things to check in a car before a road trip to avoid any inconvenience. You can reach Musandam through different means, we have listed all the convenient ways of reaching Musandam.
Getting to Musandam
Musandam is located at the northern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and south of the Strait of Hormuz. The distance from Dubai to Musandam is 200 km which can increase or decrease as per the starting point. If you are starting from Deira (Dubai) it is almost 200km and will take 3 hours to reach. However, if you are starting from Dubai Marina it will take 3.5 hours. The cruise ship takes almost 5 hours to reach Khasab, the capital city of Musandam. Air travel is also an option, but it will reduce the opportunity to enjoy scenic landscapes. Here we have listed all the possible options for a convenient Musandam trip from Dubai.
Requirements to Cross UAE-Oman Border
A road trip to Musandam from Dubai requires travellers to cross the UAE-Oman border. You will need a visa and passport to cross the border.
For travelling from UAE to Oman, you must also obtain a tourist vehicle certificate from UAE MOFA. This certificate allows travel, from and to the UAE, in a registered vehicle across the GCC. To obtain this certificate, you have to submit copies of the consular ID card and vehicle registration certificate.
Moreover, you need to mention the date of exit and return to the country and the purpose of the visit in the application. The application processing time is two working days.
Nevertheless, for rental cars, the driver must have a notarised NOC along with a valid driving licence, vehicle ownership certificate and car registration card.
Other than UAE nationals, the on-arrival visa facility is available to few countries. Ensure that your country (Austria, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Denmark, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Greece, Germany, Ireland, Hungary, Iceland, Japan, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Malaysia, Malta, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Portugal, Paraguay, Poland, San Marino, Romania, South Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Vatican and USA) is included in the list of on arrival visas.
If you are a UAE resident then border crossing will be a single-step procedure for others, it is a two-step procedure. See the following documents and charges required prior to crossing the border.
- Pay AED35/person for exiting UAE.
- In the next step, you will pay the entrance fee for Oman which is AED50 for a 10-day visit visa and AED200 for a 30-day visit visa.
- If you are driving a private vehicle and it is not insured in Oman, you have to buy temporary insurance which will cost you AED100/car.
- Foreigners have to leave their vehicle and go inside the visa office with their passport to get it stamped. This is the additional step that foreigners have to follow.
What to Expect from Journey
Dubai to Musandam road trip can offer a lot to adventure lovers. You can divide the whole journey into two segments, the first is from Dubai to the UAE border and the second one is from the border to Kasab (Musandam).
The journey from Dubai to the UAE border is smooth. The highways can get a bit crowded if you leave Dubai during peak traffic hours. There are not that many natural scenes to witness from the highways. However, there are many places to go on weekends from Dubai but it will extend the overall timespan for reaching the border.
Once you have crossed the border and entered Oman, there are multiple places to visit. Majority of tourists prefer reaching the capital of Musandam before starting their journey in the Norway of Arabia. Kasab is located at a distance of 40 km from the UAE-Oman border.
On the way, you can stop at Bukha to witness the heritage fort. It is an old fort with a long watchtower surrounded by a blue coloured sea. The road after the Bukha is one of its own kind, on one side are the mountain ranges of Hajjar and on the other side, there are sandy beaches. The whole journey from Bukha to Khasab is filled with splendid and breathtaking natural scenes.
Activities in Musandam
Musandam landscape naturally provides a variety of options that you can choose. Ranging from camping to off-roading all the activities are available at Musandam.
We have listed a few activities that you can consider during your Musandam trip from Dubai.
Dhow Cruise
You can cruise in traditional boats made from wood. Swimming with dolphins and fishing are the major activities that you can do while cruising. Along with this, you can sail into the turquoise blue waters surrounding Musandam. Furthermore, you can also enjoy freshly cooked sea-food in some dinner show cruises.
Camping
There are numerous camping spots in Musandam where you can witness scenic mountainous panoramas. Jebel Harim is the most famous of all where you can camp at the height of 2,087 meters. However, you may need a 4WD vehicle to travel through the gravel roads. For camping in mountains you must bring your own camping stuff. For beaches, there are a number of companies offering camping services with tents and all the necessary stuff.
Paragliding
If you are an adventure lover then Zighy bay is a suitable palace for you. It is one of the best places for paragliding and parasailing from 1000 feet. They have a specially built road that will lead you to the top of Zighy mountain, which is an appropriate place for paragliding.
Off-Roading
Hajar mountain is a naturally built off-roading track where you can trail with your 4×4 cars and trucks. Other than Hajar mountains, there are a number of other mountain ranges that can be used for off-roading. No tour guide or permission is required for camping in three areas. Though, you must have a driving license for driving in these terrain.
Beach Resorts
There are many resorts where you can enjoy scenic sand beaches. The resorts built along the coastline of Musandam are known for their freestanding villas and luxurious accommodation they offer. The most unique element of these resorts are their eco-conscience theme that blends them completely into the surrounding nature. Remember that you have to pre-book these resorts before visiting.
This was all about the Musandam trip from Dubai. The road trip has a lot to offer to adventure lovers. It is recommended to drive on four-wheel drive for enjoying every corner of Musandam. You can browse through these used cars for sale in the Dubai for considerable off-road cars.
Moreover, if you are looking for other travel destinations in the UAE, Hatta can be a viable option. Check out Dubai to Hatta bus service and plan your trip today.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information on one-day trips.
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