Saturn Opposition 2026 at Mleiha National Park

We went there for an archeological tour. We had a real nice and pleasant guide. She explains very well, knows very well what she's talking about. In the same time you can walk around and see gazelles and stables with nice horses. We had a really good time there.

The Mleiha Archaeological Centre is part of the Faya Palaeolandscape, which recently became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the UAE’s second site to receive this status. I visited the centre, which has a very small museum that requires a paid ticket to enter, but there wasn’t much to see inside. There’s also a cafe in the centre, which I thought was pretty good. I was more interested in exploring the desert area, but the only way to get there is by joining a tour, and there was a bit of a wait, so I didn’t bother. On the plus side, I saw camels outside, I think they were wild, which was a nice little sight.

Some archaeological layers date back thousands of years, the landscape itself feels alive — rugged mountains, fossil-rich rocks, and vast desert silence all around. Our tour guide was highly professional and genuinely passionate, which made the experience engaging and informative. The combination of archaeology, geology, and dramatic desert scenery makes Mleiha a must-visit for history lovers and outdoor explorers. Tips for visiting Mleiha Cave Valley: Book in advance (especially on weekends) Visit early in the morning to avoid the heat Don’t miss the stables — free to visit Distance: 40 minutes from Dubai 30 minutes from Sharjah 35 minutes from Fujairah City If you’re looking for a unique desert adventure near Dubai or Sharjah, Mleiha Archaeological Centre is absolutely worth the trip.

They moved the Mleiha campsite behind the archaeological centre as the old venue was used for the Tanweer Festival. I booked an overnight camp here and here's my two cents: Pro: -Not too far away, just over an hour drive from Dubai. -Accessible by any car. -Friendly staff. -You can do stargazing and BBQ. -Toilet and shower facility. The only thing that impressed me was how spacious and clean and well maintained the toilet is. ✨ -Tent, air mattress, sleeping bag, tea & coffee, and breakfast is provided. -They also take you to a short dune bashing to see the sunrise and stop by the Fossil Rock. It was so beautiful. Con: -Too noisy, there are trucks coming every hour to the nearby construction site loading off sands or whatever. Then there are cars noises from the people who were doing dune bashing at night till after midnight. Then there are airplanes noise. If you're expecting to be really remote in the desert without noise, it's not that kind of place. -The camp is behind horse stables so it stinks of horsesh*t. In short, I didn't get any sleep.

I went for an evening in the desert and it was fantastic. I was able to go safely and smoothly to the centre whilst being 7 months pregnant. Staff were friendly and the entire centre and desert experience was memorable and worth a visit.