- Location: 12 km from Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Height above sea level: 1249 m
On the border of the UAE and Oman there is an interesting landmark - Mount Jebel Hafit, which is the second highest point in the country, behind only Jebel Jibir. It is not for nothing that this mountain enjoys great popularity among tourists, because from here you can see fascinating landscapes on both the UAE and Oman. In 2011, Jebel Hafeet took the 1343rd place in the list of World Heritage sites of UNESCO.
Geography and Geology Jebel Hafeet
This mountain peak extends from north to south. Its slopes are absolutely symmetrical. They gradually rise up, but in the east they become steeper. The Jebel Hafit range extends 26 km from north to south, and 4-5 km from east to west. The basis of this natural elevation is the rocks, which contain a large number of fossils of plankton, corals and crabs. Inside Jebel Hafit there is a system of caves explored only to a depth of about 150 m. Through a natural entrance, tourists can go deep into the mountains to view the huge stalactites and stalagmites.
At the very top grows a yellow plant Acridocarpus orientalis. In the caves of Jebel Hafit live bats, rodents, snakes and even foxes.
Tombs of Jebel Hafeet
During the exploration of this mountain peak at the foot, more than five hundred tombs were discovered, which were created approximately in 3200-2700 BC. During the construction work, the tombs on the north side of Jebel Hafit were partially destroyed. But on the south side they remained unscathed and are now under state protection.
Skeletons decorated with pearls and bronze ware were found in the tombs of Jebel Hafit. The presence of objects from the ceramics of Mesopotamia indicates a high level of development of trade relations in this region in ancient times.
Attractions Jebel Hafeet
Since the opening of the El Ain district, the mountain has been one of its main attractions. Now Jebel Hafit is a kind of attraction that provides visitors with a lot of interesting entertainments. You need to come to the mountain in order to:
- Visit the Green Mubazarrah National Park , which lies at its foot;
- to see numerous wild animals;
- to visit hot springs , forming small streams and one large lake;
- appreciate the beauty of local landscapes from the observation deck of the fashionable hotel Mercure, which operates on the top of the mountain.
Mountain Road Jebel Hafeet
In 1980, along the entire ridge, a road was laid, which was called Ḥafeeṫ Mountain Road. Literally immediately it became popular with cyclists. Now on this road there are competitions on lifting to Jebel Hafit. Athletes from the United Arab Emirates, Oman and other countries take part in them.
The road to Jebel Hafit was called the most perfect for bicycle and car racing. Since 2015, it is here that the crews finish, reaching the third stage of cycling race called Abu Dhabi Tour. Road Ḥafeeṫ Mountain Road more than once became a platform for the filming of Bollywood films.
How to get to Jebel Hafeet?
The mountain is in the east of the UAE on its border with Oman. The nearest major settlement to Jebel Hafit is El Ain . From here you can reach the natural landmark only by car or by sightseeing bus. They are connected by roads 137 St / Zayed Bin Sultan St and 122 St / Khalifa Bin Zayed The First St. They are not heavily loaded, so you can get to Jebel Hafit Mountain in 40-50 minutes.