The Adventures of Iñigo Boy

The visit 2: Jebel Hafeet

One of the first places we visited to tour my grandma and the rest of my folks, is a famous landmark here in Al Ain. We went up to Jebel Hafeet, a mountain located in our place.

Jabal Hafeet (Arabic: جبل حفيت‎) (variously translated Jabal, Jabel and Jebal) is a mountain primarily in the United Arab Emirates on the outskirts of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The mountain actually straddles part of the border with Oman. The mountain rises 1249 meters and offers an impressive view over the city. Jebel Hafeet was a well-known landmark throughout the area’s history and is a contemporary tourist attraction. An extensive natural cave system winds through Jabal Hafeet. (wikipedia)

The climb up offered a splendid view of beautiul rock formations.

The view of the city from above is simply breath-taking.

We finally reached the peak!

Hafeet Mountain Road

The Jabal Hafeet Mountain Road extends for 7.3 mi (11.7 km) up the mountain, rising 4,000 ft (1,219 m). With 21 corners and three lanes (two climbing and one descending), the immaculate road was called the greatest driving road in the world by Edmunds.com. The road scales the mountain and ends at a parking lot with only a hotel and a palace belonging to the country’s rulers. Part of the climax of the Bollywood film RACE was shot on the Jabel Hafeet mountain.

The road was built by Strabag International of Cologne, Germany.

Hafeet Mountain Road is the challenge for cyclists who frequently come over to train. The Jaball Hafeet Mercure Challenge is an annual road cycling competition taking place somewhere in January. National and international riders take part in climbing the 8% average ascent of the mountain.

On top of the mountain, there is a radar station and a Mercure-Hotel.

At the foothills of Jabal Hafeet lies the Green Mubazarrah, a well-developed tourist attraction. At the Green Mubazarrah, hot-water springs gush forth in little streams and form a lake. Swimming pools and jacuzzis are scattered all over the Green Mubazarrah. Jabal Hafeet is also home to a wide range of animals including bats, foxes, snakes, etc.

It is often incorrectly labelled U.A.E.’s highest mountain (as it is certainly the most well-known); this honor actually belongs to an unnamed ca 1,910 m knoll just across the border from Jabal Bil Ays in Oman. Jabal Yibir is the U.A.E.’s highest named peak. (wikipedia)