Last month I left behind endless vistas of sand dunes for the mountains as I road tripped around the UAE’s dynamic eastern region in a slick Maserati Quattroporte S. From the Dubai enclave of Hatta to Oman’s dramatic Musandam Peninsula and colorful mountain markets to Ras Al Khaimah’s well manicured luxury resorts and golf clubs, it’s my favorite part of the country.

Published in the March 2015 edition of Condé Nast Traveller Middle East. Click the spread below to access the story, or grab the issue on stands around the GCC this month and available to download from the App Store.

And a humorous sign at Khor Fakkan beach: “No grill finally”. Yes, finally, the ban I’ve been waiting for all this time.