Mountain Wadis and the Arabian Sea Coast
On either side of the road from Dubai to the East Coast of the country (Khor Fakkan and Fujairah), it is initially just plain desert. That is, until you get to the Hajjar (meaning stone, in Arabic) Mountains, which you have to cross, to get to the East Coast.
Once you get to the Mountains, if you study the terrain carefully, you will spot wadis. It takes a trained eye to spot a good Wadi with life in it.
What are Wadis?
They are river beds that have been carved into the mountains by occasional and rare flash floods (yes, they do happen, even in the Arabian Desert) over thousands of years. The wadi will usually have a variety of trees in it: usually date palms, banana trees, mango, or really, anything that will grow there. There is often water in a wadi, and sometimes, local people may even cultivate fruit and vegetables in them.
Once you cross the Hajjar Mountains, after a short drive, you will see the Arabian Sea open up in front of you. The first views are enchanting. It is as if you have suddenly entered a new world. If you keep driving, you will eventually reach the relaxing, sandy beaches of Khor Fakkan.
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