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Jebel Hafeet is a mountain primarily in the United Arab Emirates on the outskirts of Al Ain. The mountain actually straddles part of the border with Oman. The mountain rises 1240 meters and offers an impressive view over the city, with a drivable road extending to the summit. Jebel Hafeet was a well-known landmark through out the area's history and is a contemporary tourist attraction. An extensive natural cave system winds through Jebel Hafeet. It is often incorrectly labelled U.A.E's highest mountain (as it is certainly the most well-known); this honor actually belongs to Jabal Yibir.

Hi people ,

Here are the pictures, hafeet is a really beautiful place with lots to see around. Make sure you have a full day on hand when you visit it. Visit the zoo, the hot water springs park. The hot water springs park has hot water pools , streams flowing by, ample of grass to relax. But the peak of everything is the sunset. its really chilly up there if u go this time of the year.

Take the Al Ain road from Zabeel and reach Al ain and keep driving thru the beautifully done roundabouts till you reach a sign which takes you to the zoo and towards hafeet mountain.

these pics have been taken during the eid holidays and was one of the best times i spent here.

Cheers,
Jerry
A palace at the top


A view from a view point on the way up


The road through Al Ain


The hot water springs park on the way up


On the way up


the winding road


Dont let the sun go down on me


The setting sun


One more


Rugged terrain


Haffet at night


Al Ain at night


Al Ain at night 2


hot water Springs


Cheers,

Jerry

It looks amazing. I can't wait to go out and see more of the nature and geography here in the UAE.

I guess this would be the right time to visit Hafeet, during the summers it would be really difficult to venture out and that too to take a look at the sunset:).

will try to post a few more pics later.

Cheers,

Jerry

Jeevan wrote:I guess this would be the right time to visit Hafeet, during the summers it would be really difficult to venture out and that too to take a look at the sunset:).

will try to post a few more pics later.

Cheers,

Jerry

Why more difficult in summer?

At a guess the high temperatures?

Yeah but dude, at 1200+ meters the temperature has to be much better on the summit... Maybe 10 degrees cooler?

Liban,

does it make a difference from 50 to 40 deg C? hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha I still sweat like a MOFO at -5 deg!

yorky500 wrote:Liban,

does it make a difference from 50 to 40 deg C? hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha I still sweat like a MOFO at -5 deg!

I see your point.... I'm used to the Lebanese notion of a mountain.

In Lebanon, it may be 40+ with the humidity in the coastal cities during the summer, but a hour or two away, around 2000+ meters up, its a nice 25 degrees, no humidity, cool breeze, waterfalls, forests, etc...

The UAE ain't like that...

kanelli wrote:It looks amazing. I can't wait to go out and see more of the nature and geography here in the UAE.

it is an amazing place to visit, you'll have a blast. Also if you have access to an SUV try to hit some of the Wadi areas by the natural oasis. Also to add to Jerry's list of musts is the Museum. Signs for everything are well laid out once you get into the city.

Jerry thanks for the pics, I didn't make it to the zoo, got to it just as it was closing. How large would you say the zoo was?

fayz wrote:

kanelli wrote:It looks amazing. I can't wait to go out and see more of the nature and geography here in the UAE.

it is an amazing place to visit, you'll have a blast. Also if you have access to an SUV try to hit some of the Wadi areas by the natural oasis. Also to add to Jerry's list of musts is the Museum. Signs for everything are well laid out once you get into the city.

Jerry thanks for the pics, I didn't make it to the zoo, got to it just as it was closing. How large would you say the zoo was?

Hi Fayz ,

The zoo itself is pretty big, hmm now how do i describe it:). well heres some information that i picked off a website.

Al-Ain Zoo occupies an area of about 450 hectares. It includes several animal species (Mammal, 88 species: 102 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles and 30 species of Fish). In addition there are recreation services for the Zoo visitors (e.g.) kids recreation area, cafeteria and trains for having a quick tour in the Zoo. Further- more we are about to start planning for a nature reserve or safari park at the southern part of the Zoo.

The Zoo includes different rare and endangered species and helped in breeding some of them to the degree that they are now not considered as rare species (e.g.) The Arabian Oryx. In last 2 years Zoo was carrying out rehabilitation programs in cooperation with the forestry dept. in Al-Ain, by introducing about 100 of Arabian Oryx into about forests. Other animals have been successfully bred (e.g.) Saudi gazelle, Rheem Gazelle, Scimitar horned oryxes, Gemsbok, Beisa & fring - eared oryxes, pumas, Jaguars, lions, Sand Cats, Caracals, Chimpanzee, Orangutans, Giraffe, Zebras, Hippoes, Nilgai, Addax, Nubian Ibex, and Barbary sheep. For Birds, different species: Ducks, emus, ostriches, cockatails, parakeets parrots, pheasants, peacocks, ..etc.

Time of visits: The Zoo opens for the Public all week days form 7AM: 6PM continuously

I am not aware of the ticket rates as my cousin was responsible for arranging them .

Cheers,

Jerry

Does anyone know anything about Dibba? hows the place for a visit, i mean a outing?. am looking to plan a outing soon, would appreciate information on places which are worth taking a look at.


Cheers,

Jerry

hey J,

Read my response at the bottom of this thread,

http://www.dubaiforums.com/viewtopic.ph ... 0&start=15

if you are planning to go Dibba anyway this will make for a pretty kewl day, you end up in Dibba as part of the road trip.

Hope the info helps.

fayz habibi thanks a lot that was a pretty informative piece:). hope i am able to plan this drive defore summers hit the place. Do you know any place where i can get hold of a detailed road map?.

Also does someone know where i can find concrete information on ubar, i am intrested in historical places and real old places get me going:).


Cheers,

Jerry

does anyone have information about the Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet on top of the mountain. are the restaurants in the hotel any good? how expensive?

will the zoo, hot water springs park etc be closed if i go there on friday?
will it be too cold there now?

i went there last sat for the first time, its really awesome.

i checked with the hotel their rates were 550 AED per night for single and double rooms

thanks aarrif, but i wanted to know how good/bad the restaurants at the hotel was?
just planning a day trip there and was wondering how it would be on a friday?

Drove up there twice in the last month or so. Check out my pictures in my blog.

can someone give out directions to the hot springs near the mountain?
few friends went all the way up the mountain and back and said they saw no sign of the hot springs??? im going there next week, hope it wont be too crowded.

Hey,
If you drive from Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet (following the signs carefully) - you enter the park (with a huge SZ picture on it), later on there are signs that lead you to Jebel Hafeet or Green Parks at the bottom of the mountain - they are clearly marked. There's a huge sheik's palace at the bottom and right around there are the springs and hot water pools. Can't miss it as only one road leads to the top.
As gfar as the Mercure itself is concerned - it's a nicely done hotel with great views of the valley below. Didn't get a chance to eat at the Mediterranean restaurant at the hotel, but the pool-side restaurant has good choice of snacks and bevs - you can lay down at the pool side, take a dip and generally chill.
Prices are lower than in Dubai or Fujairah - my Corona was 16 dhs and a snack meal is up to 30 or something.
Great experience. Go for it