Wadi Zikt is located in the area of Dadnah—a village in Fujairah, on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates. Some of you may associate Wadi Zikt with an artificial reservoir of impressive size (three million cubic meters) that fills up with water after rainfall. Nature then, like a skillful artist, paints majestic lake embraced in the arms of tall mountains standing in silence and dignity.
Clouds soaring, a blade of sunny grass, a tree blossom—magic may be found in the simplest of things. And we are only passing through, full of admiration of nature’s magic.
WADI ZIKT DAM
Although it has lately rained, it appears that the water in the Wadi Zikt dam does not remain for long. When I arrived, the reservoir was nearly empty, with only a small amount of water. When the dam is dry, you can easily drive on its bottom, provided that you are equipped with an off-road vehicle. You will be able to spot several roads that will lead you to more or less secluded places in the nearby mountains that surround Wadi Zikt dam.
There are no guardrails or obstacles on the dirt road climbing uphill to the flat surface overlooking Wadi Zikt dam, so drive carefully. A second of inattention can result in falling off the slope. Camping in close proximity to the Wadi Zikt dam is prohibited, which is confirmed by the sign listing restrictions. Other dams in the United Arab Emirates are subject to similar restrictions.
The asphalt road becomes a gravel road around 1 kilometer before the Wadi Zikt dam. Due to the damage caused by rain right on the dam’s driveway, sedan cars might find it a little bit challenging to pass. Other roads in the area, particularly in the mountains, are in good condition, but it does not change the fact that you would like to explore the entire area by off-road vehicle.
LET YOURSELF WANDER IN THE MOUNTAINS
I would like to concentrate on the off-road road that runs alongside the Wadi Zikt dam (25.507521, 56.309872) and leads deep into the mountain valleys. This path was absolutely unique to me. Perhaps it was the bronze of these mountains that makes Wadi Zikt so special. The sight of a stone road with layers of colorful mountains in the distant background certainly evokes a strong sense of wanderlust inside you.
Right at the beginning of the valley, you will pass by the Wadi Wurayah National Park sign, and this is where you will start to lose the signal on your phone.
The main off-road road will split in several spots, and it is up to you which road to take. I will not go over every possible option here, but what is worth mentioning is a small valley that you can reach by taking the left turn at this point: 25.499994, 56.312149. The mountains are still low here in height, but what struck my eye were many dry creek valleys lushly covered with diverse plants. Wadi Wurayah, which supplies Wadi Zikt in water, is one of the few permanent freshwater sources in the United Arab Emirates and this valley with multiple brooks is pure evidence.
You have the option of driving around this small area to get deeper into the mountains and perhaps set up your campsite or returning to the main road.
Roaming through the main road I had the irresistible impression of driving through the verdant pastures of Ireland. In the UAE, the grass that flutters in the wind is a truly precious and amazing sight to behold. I am sure that when the summer season arrives and all these hills will be covered in yellow straws, I will return here again to plunge into nostalgia and the sense of time passing.
At the moment the road is damaged and impassable at this point: 25.484953, 56.308867, due to the rain storming through the valley recently. There is, however, another route that starts from here: 25.500532, 56.311324. It is exactly the same point, where I was directing you to turn left to explore the valley of brooks. A right turn will take you on a long journey to explore the mountainous area, having plenty of options to venture into uncharted territory.
WADI ZIKT HISTORICAL VILLAGE
A must place to visit if you are interested in the history of the United Arab Emirates is Wadi Zikt historical village (25.511378, 56.314649). It is located right next to the modern farm and there is some kind of nostalgia lingering in the air of times gone by. There is no information about the village, however, the houses made out of stones, wood, and mud seem quite advanced compared to the simple stone dugouts that you can spot behind the Wadi Zikt dam, approximately here: 25.498492, 56.311702. I assume that the historical village was a permanent side of living. The stone houses inside the mountains served as a temporary, seasonal shelter.
WADI WURAYAH NATIONAL PARK
Wadi Wurayah National Park terrain spans across a huge area of 31,000 acres. It is fascinating—difficult to traverse—there really aren’t many roads or any infrastructure leading inwards.
If you have lived in the United Arab Emirates for a long time, you may remember that in the past Wadi Wurayah was known for its natural lakes in the mountains, which were very popular, especially in summer when people wanted to cool off by taking a dip in the pristine natural mountain water.
Unfortunately, not everyone respects nature. As a result, Wadi Wurayah was closed due to the enormous amount of rubbish left by visitors. By typing Wadi Wurayah in Google Search, you can find pictures of natural pools vandalized with graffiti sprayed over the rocks.
It is possible, however, to go on a hiking trip to Wadi Wurayah (25.397738, 56.270475), but you must first contact the park administration to get the permit: phone: +971 9 222 7000, e-mail: wwnp@fujmun.gov.ae
LET’S HELP THE NATURE HEAL
Wadi Zikt is, unfortunately, an incredibly littered valley as well. It is a pity because considering that it is a national park, we as humans should create an environment for fauna and flora so that they can live in natural conditions. Most of this garbage seems to be old. If you are around Wadi Zikt, please take a bag with you and pick up some rubbish. One by one, we can all make a difference together.
REMEMBER!
- Do not leave any garbage behind, including food. Even organic waste can take months to biodegrade and meanwhile it will attract animals. It may make them stop eating their natural food and rely on what humans leave behind and make them sick.
- Have always a bag ready to collect trash left behind by other inconsiderate people – in the end, you are saving nature.
- Hike or camp over gravel and rocks. In some areas, the vegetation can take years to grow back.
- Leave natural and historical items where you find them.
- Minimize cooking over a campfire, use the stove instead – it is less impact on the wilderness.
UAE OFF-ROADER GUIDE
If you are looking for more off-road trails to discover around the 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 about off-roading in the UAE.
You can get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eQMBbr
FIELD GUIDE TO EMIRATES
To learn more about UAE’s natural & archaeological treasures, check: https://amzn.to/34DwUlp
I hope you found this article about Wadi Zikt helpful and it gave you an idea of where to head to next weekend. If you are looking for more interesting places nearby, I recommend you to check: Najd Al Maqsar – Settlement Under The Palm Fronds or Snoopy Island: Discover the Underwater World of the Arabian Sea.
