When To Go

‍The UAE has 2 seasons; a mild winter and a blistering summer. Outdoor climbing starts from November till mid March but the ideal climbing conditions are from December to mid February.

‍The Climbing

There are 2 bouldering areas been developed in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, with more routes being added each winter season.

1. Al-Tawiyan - South of the Jebel Jais mountain range
2. Cleavage - In the middle of the Jebel Jais mountain range

There are also sport climbing routes fairly close to both bouldering areas.

Al-Tawiyan

‍There are about 30+ routes spread along the valley with the main concentration around 'The Beach' Sector. Grades range from a few beginner routes (V3) to mostly intermediate (V6) and a few advanced lines (V8-9). You can find more route videos on the UAE Bouldering YouTube channel.

Cleavage

The best time to climb on the North side of the valley is in the morning as it is first to get hit by the sun. The South side of the valley stays in the shade until close to noon so you can climb here from mid morning until the early afternoon.

In this sector, the holds can potentially flake off so be careful as you're pulling in case something comes off. The landings are generally open and flat.

The best time to climb in the canyon is after 12 noon since most of the problems are in the sun in the morning. You can start with the problems on the side of the road in the morning before heading into the canyon as those will be in the shade.

In this sector, the problems have better quality rock than Al-Tawiyan. As there are many rocks throughout the valley, the landings are uneven and more crash pads will make it safer to climb here.

Some of my favourite climbs here:

Topo

• UAE Bouldering Instagram account
• 27crags‍
• Alternatively, you can also reach out to us for a PDF

Transportation

Both crags are 1.5 hours drive from Dubai. Car required is required to reach the crags, preferably with a 4x4 vehicle. We recommend only doing 1 sector per day as it it takes more than an hour to drive between them. If you are interested to climb, drop us a note below and I would be more than happy to give you a lift if schedules permit.

Getting to Al-Tawiyan

You can get to the crag through the listing on Google maps. It is located about 10km from the E87 road. You can drive directly up to the crag if you have a 4x4 vehicle. Watch this video on the drive in though there have been changes due to construction in the area. Stay tuned for an updated video of the access.

Getting to Cleavage‍

The parking spot for Cleavage is located along Jebel Jais road. To get to the parking spot, turn left down a small dirt road and park in front of the fence opposite the low stone wall.

For this sector it's best to wear proper shoes as there is plenty of loose rock on the hike in. After a 30m walk from the parking spot towards the rock walls, you will see a barrier. Walk past it and continue past the open water tank along the path until you reach the canyon. After about 15 minutes, you should reach the location for Tuffa Mama. All the boulder problems are located within a 100m radius of it.

Accommodation

Nearest hotel accommodation options in a city would be at Ras Al Khaimah, located 1 hour away by car. Alternatively, stay at Dubai located 1.5 hours away by car with much more other activities available.

Gear

There are no crash pad rentals in UAE among the climbing gyms. If you are interested to boulder, drop us a note below and we could help suggest some loan options from climbers living in UAE.

Food‍

There are no cafes or restaurants near the crag aside from the gas station so it is best to bring any meals or snacks to the crag.

While you are at other areas or cities, check out emirati cuisine and dishes popular in the region! Our favourite dishes: Shawarma, Manakish & Kunafa. You can find a good variety of Indian, Lebanese, Syrian, Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian cuisine in addition to western options.

Rest day activities

With a car, it would be easy to drive out to other areas in the country for activities. The country is probably most well known for Dubai's glitz and glamour, but there is plenty more going on outside of the big malls and resorts. Favourite activities includes: 50 km cycling in the desert, desert barbeque & camping, desert safari experience, and hanging out at the beach.