Khor Fakkan Tour from Dubai — Beach, Kayaking & Al Rafisah Dam

The drive from Dubai to the east coast, stop by stop

You leave Dubai on the E611, cut across Sharjah farmland, then climb into the Hajar Mountains where the road narrows through bare grey rock. The first proper stop is Al Rafisah Dam, a green reservoir sitting under the peaks with a small cafe and a kayak jetty. From there it is twenty minutes down to the coast, where the water changes from desert brown to Gulf of Oman blue in the space of one tunnel. We usually reach Khor Fakkan Corniche before the mid-day sun peaks so beach time lands at the best light, then return via Al Suhub Rest Area for the waterfall amphitheatre view over the town.

• Roughly 130 km each way, about two hours of driving
• Al Rafisah Dam: kayaking, cafe, mountain backdrop
• Khor Fakkan Corniche: swimming beach, showers, lifeguards
• Al Suhub Rest Area: amphitheatre and waterfall viewpoint
• Optional Fujairah fort and Friday market detour

What the beach and the kayaking are really like

Khor Fakkan beach is a municipal blue-flag beach, so it has lifeguards on duty, changing rooms, freshwater showers and shaded loungers. The water shelves gently for the first thirty metres, which makes it easier with children than most Dubai beaches. Kayaking at Al Rafisah is flat-water paddling on a sheltered reservoir, not sea kayaking, so no experience is needed; buoyancy aids are compulsory and provided. Single and double kayaks are available, and pedal boats work better for families with under-sixes.

Planning tips for a Khor Fakkan day trip

Pack a towel, swimwear you can travel in, reef shoes for the dam shoreline, and a dry bag or plastic sleeve for phones on the kayak. There is no alcohol on the east coast beaches, and modest cover-up is expected when you walk off the sand. Weekends fill the kayak jetty by 10 AM, so a weekday trip is noticeably quieter. Because it is a full day out, we recommend it on a day you are not also doing a desert safari; if you want both, take the safari the following evening.

Khor Fakkan tour itinerary

One private vehicle, one driver-guide, one perfect day between the mountains and the Gulf of Oman.

• Free pickup from Dubai (7:30 AM)
• Al Rafisah Dam kayaking (1 hour)
• Khor Fakkan Corniche & beach time
• Al Suhub Rest Area & waterfall amphitheatre
• Sharjah East Coast scenic drive
• Fujairah photo stop (on request)

What to bring

Swimwear, towel, sunscreen, water shoes and a change of clothes. Light lunch is available at Al Rafisah Dam café or we can arrange a beachside restaurant.