Outdoor enthusiasts heading to Al Ain’s Jebel Hafeet this winter will need to rethink picnic plans: local authorities have prohibited barbecuing in designated car-park areas, citing litter, fire hazards and damage to fragile mountain ecosystems. First-time offenders face a Dh1,000 fine, rising to Dh4,000 for a third breach, according to a regulation notice published on 4 January.
The timing is significant—Jebel Hafeet sees a spike in domestic tourism during January’s mild weather, with many Dubai-based expatriates driving two hours to grill with panoramic desert views. The new rule aims to curb charcoal waste and reduce emergency call-outs after a series of vehicle fires linked to disposable grills left under cars.
![Al Ain’s Jebel Hafeet imposes barbecue ban in key parking zones, fines up to Dh4,000 for violators]()
While these ecological measures reshape on-site habits, international visitors can streamline their travel prep through VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/). The platform outlines current entry requirements, offers document-checking tools and group application support, making it easier for overseas teams planning retreats to Jebel Hafeet or any Emirati destination to focus on logistics rather than paperwork.
For corporate mobility teams organising team-building outings, the decision means obtaining permits for designated barbecue pits or booking private desert camps instead. Destination-management companies advise including portable gas stoves, which remain legal in non-parking picnic zones, and budgeting for increased waste-management fees.
The crackdown aligns with the UAE’s broader sustainability agenda, including the nationwide single-use-plastic ban that took effect on 1 January. Travellers should expect stricter enforcement of environmental rules at popular outdoor sites across the Emirates.
The timing is significant—Jebel Hafeet sees a spike in domestic tourism during January’s mild weather, with many Dubai-based expatriates driving two hours to grill with panoramic desert views. The new rule aims to curb charcoal waste and reduce emergency call-outs after a series of vehicle fires linked to disposable grills left under cars.
While these ecological measures reshape on-site habits, international visitors can streamline their travel prep through VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/). The platform outlines current entry requirements, offers document-checking tools and group application support, making it easier for overseas teams planning retreats to Jebel Hafeet or any Emirati destination to focus on logistics rather than paperwork.
For corporate mobility teams organising team-building outings, the decision means obtaining permits for designated barbecue pits or booking private desert camps instead. Destination-management companies advise including portable gas stoves, which remain legal in non-parking picnic zones, and budgeting for increased waste-management fees.
The crackdown aligns with the UAE’s broader sustainability agenda, including the nationwide single-use-plastic ban that took effect on 1 January. Travellers should expect stricter enforcement of environmental rules at popular outdoor sites across the Emirates.
