Hop aboard your comfortable 4x4 in front of your central Dubai hotel in the morning. Settle into the air-conditioned interior and with your driver-guide at the wheel, set off on your journey through the UAE’S stark desert landscapes. Head toward the UAE-Oman border and Hatta, an old trading settlement with a historical fort and rock pools, nestled high in the craggy Hajar Mountains. Watch as the terrain shifts from open plains to dunes and rocky mountain slopes, and after roughly two hours on the road, arrive at Hatta Heritage Village. A recreation of an old mountain hamlet dating back to before the 20th century, the complex comprises dwellings and buildings built from mud, palm leaves, reeds, and stone. Head inside with your guide to stroll around the houses, mosques, and watchtowers and see the displays of weaponry, handicrafts, and traditional dress that showcase what life was like here until the mid-1900s. See Hatta Fort as you learn more about the region’s history, and then climb back inside your 4x4 to venture deeper into the desert. Continue to Jebel Maleihah, otherwise known as Fossil Rock. This large rocky outcrop rears sharply from the sands and gets its nickname from the many ancient marine fossils embedded in its slopes. Hop out to look for these swirling, aeons-old fossils — imprints of shells and tiny marine creatures that lived on the ocean floor when the Arabian Peninsula was covered by the sea millions of years ago. Then, make your way to nearby Camel Rock. Take snaps of the desert rock formation that resembles a camel, and then return to Dubai where your day trip ends at your hotel.

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