Most things to do in UAE in November move outdoors, and the places worth going are easier with your own car. Dubai Stand Up Paddle is at Hatta Dam on 7 and 8 November. Al Ruwayyah’s winter camping season opened on 1 November. Yas Bay now has a 50-metre bungee jump. Dubai Run takes over Sheikh Zayed Road on 22 November, and the Mother of the Nation (MOTN) Festival opens in Al Ain and Al Dhafra on 28 November.
The Dubai Fitness Challenge runs from 31 October to 29 November 2026. Its Dubai Ride took place on 1 November, with Sheikh Zayed Road closed to cars for the morning. Here is the rest of the month, and how to plan each drive.
November 2026 at a glance
| Event | Where | Dates | Getting there by car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Stand Up Paddle | Hatta Dam, Hatta | 7 and 8 November | About 90 minutes from Dubai; free shuttle for paddlers |
| Al Ruwayyah winter camping | Al Ruwayyah, Dubai | 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 | Seasonal plots mean bringing your own kit, so boot space matters |
| Bungee at Yas Bay | Yas Bay Waterfront, Abu Dhabi | 1 November to 3 December | Motorway drive from Dubai. Sessions run until 10pm |
| Dubai Run | Sheikh Zayed Road and Downtown Dubai | 22 November, 6.30am | Roads around the course close. Park well outside it |
| MOTN Festival | Al Jahili Park, Al Ain, and Al Mugheirah Bay, Al Dhafra | 28 November to 2 December | Long drives from Dubai; Corniche from 9 December |
Hatta Dam, where the paddle sessions run. Image: Srivath, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0.
Dubai Stand Up Paddle at Hatta Dam
Dubai Stand Up Paddle, presented by the RTA, returns to Hatta Dam on 7 and 8 November. It is free, but you register first at dubaifitnesschallenge.com. Sessions include guided paddleboarding, SUP yoga and kayaking. Check session times when you register.
Organisers run a free return shuttle from Dubai, so a car is not essential. What a car gives you is the rest of the weekend: a night in Hatta or a hike. The National puts the drive at about 90 minutes.
Winter camping at Al Ruwayyah
Dubai Municipality’s camping season at Al Ruwayyah runs from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. Capacity is up about 120% on previous seasons, to 600 camps. For the first time there are 50 caravan plots and 10 fully equipped camps for daily rental.
Seasonal plots of 400 or 800 square metres are booked by UAE nationals for three to six months, through wintercamp.dm.gov.ae or the DubaiNow app. Caravan plots and daily rental camps book separately.
Check the site rules at wintercamp.dm.gov.ae before you go. On a seasonal plot, your tent, fencing, fire extinguisher and the rest of your kit all travel with you, which is where an SUV earns its place.
Bungee at Yas Bay
Bungee at Yas Bay opened on 1 November: a 50-metre jump over Yas Bay Waterfront. Solo jumps start at AED 299 on weekdays and AED 350 at weekends, according to Khaleej Times.
Jumpers must be 16 or over, weigh 40 to 105kg, and come with a parent if under 18. Sessions run 1pm to 10pm, Tuesday to Sunday, until 3 December, then again from 10 January to 28 February 2027.
From Dubai it is a straight motorway run, but a late session means a late drive home. Our guide to Dubai to Abu Dhabi by train or car compares the options.
Dubai Run on Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai Run is on Sunday 22 November. It is free, but every runner must register online and collect a bib before race day; collection details are shared when you register. There are 5km and 10km routes, starting at 6.30am. The National reports that runners must finish by 9am, when the road reopens to traffic.
The RTA had not published 2026 closure times when we wrote this. In 2025 it closed Sheikh Zayed Road between the Trade Centre Roundabout and Al Hadiqa Road bridge from 3am to 10am, plus nearby streets and the parking alongside Sheikh Zayed Road.
Do not plan to park near the course. Get dropped off outside the closure zone, or take the Metro.
Mother of the Nation Festival
The 10th MOTN Festival, run by DCT Abu Dhabi, lasts from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. It opens at Al Jahili Park in Al Ain and Al Mugheirah Bay in Al Dhafra from 28 November to 2 December. The Abu Dhabi Corniche site follows from 9 December to 3 January.
Both November venues are a long drive from Dubai, so treat it as a full day out, or stay the night.
Which car for which trip
- Hatta and camping: SUV or 4×4. Room for gear and higher ground clearance. Leaving the tarmac? Ask the dealer whether off-road driving is allowed. Our road trips for SUV owners covers Hatta in more detail.
- City events and Yas Bay: sedan or compact. Easier to park, and enough for motorway runs.
- Event days and long family days: car with driver. No parking hunt on Dubai Run morning, and no late drive back from Al Ain. See what a full-day car with driver involves and how to rent a car with driver in Dubai.
For a weekend drive, you can compare rental cars from dealers in Dubai. For event days, compare chauffeur options. Dealers confirm price and availability.
Questions people are asking
What time does Sheikh Zayed Road reopen after Dubai Run?
Runners must finish by 9am, when the road reopens, according to The National. In 2025 the RTA’s wider traffic plan ran until 10am.
Is there a bus to Hatta for Dubai Stand Up Paddle?
Yes. Organisers run a free return shuttle from Dubai. Check pick-up points when you register.
Can non-Emiratis camp at Al Ruwayyah?
Seasonal plots are for UAE nationals. Daily rental camps and caravan plots have separate rules, so check eligibility at wintercamp.dm.gov.ae first.
Is the MOTN Festival in Abu Dhabi city in November?
No. In November it runs only in Al Ain and Al Dhafra. The Abu Dhabi Corniche site opens on 9 December.
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