Shuweihat Island in Abu Dhabi is one of the most beautiful hidden treasures of the United Arab Emirates. It is all because of the unique landscape of orange sandstone cliffs and white sand beaches, shallow and crystal clear water stretching for miles and miles into horizon and a perfect atmosphere to chill by the sunset.
THE DECEIVING SALT FLATS
The landscape on the way from Abu Dhabi towards the border with Saudi Arabia is so much different than the rest of the United Arab Emirates. You will notice huge salt flats(in Arabic: sabkha) covering the fields that actually look like snow. If you stop by, there is a sea fragrance lingering in the air, although to no avail you would set your sight for the sea coast. Be careful diverting to explore the side ways of the highway and don’t make the same mistake like me! The salt flats looking firm are actually only a cover to muddy and slimy ground, creating perfect circumstances to get stuck in your car.
IS THE LONG DRIVE WORTH IT?
To reach Shuweihat Island from Dubai you will need approximately 4 hours. Thanks to speed limit 160 km/h on a highway towards Al Ruwais the journey is smooth and definitely worth driving for so long. The island is connected with the main land by the paved road, and the entrance point is here: 24°05’31.2″N 52°27’23.1″E. Google Maps will precisely lead you through the roads on the island, that are quite firm but not tarmac. 4×4 wheel car is recommended however you can visit this place in sedan car as well – you will just not be able to access all the places on the island. Shuweihat Island is quite small in size so walking is not a problem.
You should take into account that there is army base nearby. Petrol station and cafeteria can be found by the roundabout by the entrance to the road leading to the island. There are no shops or public washrooms, so you should plan your trip well before you arrive. You may spot a few houses, cottages or simply old ruins of building. I don’t think owners live there permanently, however those areas are private and forbidden to enter. Be careful not to set up your camp on one of these private lands.
PERFECT GATEWAY – SHUWEIHAT ISLAND
When I think about perfect place to have an afternoon picnic or to spend a night camping under the night full of stars – I find Shuweihat Island so perfect. Not only because of spectacular views but the whole ambience is just so calming, serene and relaxing. And taking into consideration it is quite far from where I live – the whole experience of traveling makes me feel like I actually travel to unknown world. Additionally, it’s also good location for stand-up paddleboarding.
GEM COVERED WITH TRASH
Shuweihat Island tends to be visited mostly on weekends. Sadly, the whole island is covered by trash left by people camping there, which is so hard to understand. People find a space in the cars to bring all those things but cannot make space take them back with them? Especially that there are so many bins to drop the trash on the island. When I visited the island a few years ago it was in better condition than I found it now, in year 2020. I really would like to present this place to you in the most beautiful photos of landscapes however, honestly, it was so difficult to take a picture without the trash to be seen.
And if you would like to watch a video I made from my camping trip to Shuweihat Island, you can find it below:
UAE OFF-ROADER GUIDE
If you are looking for more off-road trails to discover about United Arab Emirates, I can recommend this ultimate guide that is packed with many routes, giving very detailed information and answering all questions you could have.
You can get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UrKZdo
