Few cars strike the perfect balance between breathtaking performance and everyday usability quite like the McLaren GTS. Designed to be both a grand tourer and a supercar, the GTS pairs blistering speed and precision with refined comfort and practicality. It’s a car built for adventure — and where better to put it through its paces than on the diverse, dramatic, and utterly awe-inspiring roads of the United Arab Emirates.
From mountain peaks to coastal hideaways, the UAE offers a stunning variety of drives ideal for the McLaren GTS, each route revealing a different side of the car — and the country. Here are five of the best UAE road trips, curated for those who want to feel the road and the luxury in equal measure.
1. Khorfakkan Road – Mountain Tunnels and Coastal Views
Location: Sharjah, East Coast
Start your journey with the S142 — the spectacular road connecting E611 to the coastal gem of Khorfakkan. It carves its way through the Hajar Mountains, threading through the UAE’s longest series of tunnels, where the 626hp twin-turbo V8 of the McLaren GTS sounds especially glorious reverberating off the walls. With every twist and turn, the GTS feels planted yet agile, delivering supercar handling without sacrificing ride comfort.
Recommended stop: Fen Café & Restaurant at Al Suhub Rest Area. This high-altitude pitstop serves delicious food and offers panoramic views of Khorfakkan and the Gulf of Oman.
2. Al Huwailat Road – From Khorfakkan to Hatta
Location: Sharjah to Dubai
Extend your journey by setting course for JA Hatta Fort Hotel via the scenic and lesser-known Al Huwailat Road. This stretch is a haven for enthusiasts who enjoy winding roads without the crowds. Here, the McLaren GTS proves itself as a true grand tourer — capable of devouring long distances in absolute comfort, all while delivering the tactile thrill of every turn.
Recommended stop: JA Hatta Fort Hotel. Nestled in the Hajar Mountains, it’s an ideal rest point with a serene terrace and fantastic dining options.
3. Jebel Jais – The UAE’s Crown Jewel for Driving
Location: Ras Al Khaimah
Ask any UAE petrolhead about the country’s top driving roads, and Jebel Jais is always top of the list. This winding ascent to the nation’s highest peak is a true test of a car’s capabilities. With hairpin bends, sweeping switchbacks, and jaw-dropping elevation changes, the McLaren GTS feels right at home. Precision steering, immense grip, and effortless power delivery transform the mountain into your playground.
Recommended stop: 1484 by Puro. At 1,484 metres above sea level, this restaurant offers incredible views of the mountains and nearby zipline — the longest in the world. There’s also a short hike to a nearby viewpoint for even more spectacular photo opportunities.
4. Jebel Hafeet – The Original Mountain Drive
Location: Al Ain
Often overshadowed by Jebel Jais, Jebel Hafeet offers an equally thrilling yet less-trafficked driving experience. With smooth asphalt and flowing corners, the road is ideal for the GTS’s adaptive dynamics and GT comfort settings. There’s a certain charm to this drive — fewer cars, more freedom, and epic sunset views.
Recommended stop: Café Khaimah at Mercure Jebel Hafeet. Time your arrival with sunset for a golden hour experience like no other — perfect for a relaxing end to a spirited drive.
5. E65 Desert Highway to Liwa – Into the Dunes
Location: Abu Dhabi
For those seeking the romance of long-distance desert travel, nothing beats the E65 to Liwa. This desert highway stretches past the Emirates National Auto Museum, a treasure trove of eccentric automotive creations by Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, and leads straight into the heart of the Liwa Desert. Towering red dunes flank the road, turning every mile into an otherworldly escape. Here, the McLaren GTS is in its element, soaking up the highway miles with supreme comfort and astonishing speed.
Recommended stop: Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort. Resembling a desert fortress, this luxurious retreat appears like a mirage in the dunes, offering world-class dining, spa experiences, and unparalleled tranquility.
The McLaren GTS is a masterful blend of grand touring comfort and supercar performance, redefining what it means to drive long distances at speed. As the evolution of the McLaren GT, the GTS retains the sleek, aerodynamic lines and carbon fiber monocoque that make it unmistakably McLaren, while offering enhancements in both usability and driving dynamics. Powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 635PS (626 horsepower), the GTS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds,yet it remains refined enough for everyday use.
Inside, the cabin is tailored with luxurious materials, intuitive technology, and increased luggage space, making it a true grand tourer. McLaren has paid special attention to comfort without compromising the visceral driving experience. Adaptive suspension, a lightweight design, and rear-wheel drive deliver razor-sharp handling, perfect for winding mountain roads or sweeping desert highways.
The McLaren GTS is engineered for exactly this kind of adventure. It offers generous luggage space, a sophisticated suspension system that adapts to every road condition, and supercar DNA that thrills with every acceleration. Whether you're hugging mountain switchbacks or gliding across desert highways, the GTS delivers a uniquely elevated driving experience - one that thrills and comforts in equal measure.
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