You can walk into Al Suhub Rest House for free. The car park is where the cost sits: AED 10 an hour on weekdays, AED 20 an hour on weekends and public holidays, with two hours free when you spend AED 50 or more at Fen Café & Restaurant.
The building, also called Cloud Lounge, sits on a ridge above Khorfakkan on Sharjah’s east coast and stays open around the clock. A 5.6 km mountain road leads up to it, and the view from the top covers the town, the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman.
Al Suhub Rest House key details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Entry | Free |
| Viewpoint hours | Open 24 hours, daily |
| Fen Café & Restaurant | 7 AM to 11 PM, daily |
| Parking, weekdays | AED 10 per hour |
| Parking, weekends and public holidays | AED 20 per hour |
| Free parking | 2 hours with AED 50 or more spent at Fen Café & Restaurant |
| Parking spaces | 89 |
| Elevation | About 600 metres above sea level |
| Access road | 5.6 km, paved, with viewing points along the way |
| Other names | Cloud Lounge, Al Suhub Rest Area |
| Opened | 15 July 2021 |
| Building | Two floors, 30 metres across, about 2,800 m² |
| Location | Jabal Al Hawami, Khorfakkan, Sharjah |
Parking costs & the AED 50 rule
Parking is the only charge: AED 10 an hour on weekdays and AED 20 an hour on weekends and public holidays. The building, terraces and viewing areas cost nothing to enter.
Here is what that adds up to:
- A one-hour stop costs AED 10 on a weekday or AED 20 on a weekend.
- A two-hour stop costs AED 20 or AED 40.
- Spending AED 50 or more at Fen Café & Restaurant makes the first two hours free, which waives AED 40 on a weekend.
If you plan to stay past an hour, eating there is the cheaper way to do it. The lot holds 89 cars and fills on weekend evenings and public holidays, so a weekday visit is easier on both the space and the rate, which is half the weekend one.
How to get there
Most visitors drive. The other way up is the Al Rafisah trail on foot. From Dubai, Khorfakkan is roughly 1.5 hours by road, and the climb from central Khorfakkan adds about 20 minutes.
By car
- Follow the Sharjah–Khorfakkan road (E102) into Khorfakkan.
- Continue along Rugaylat Road (S104) beside the coast.
- Turn uphill at the signed junction between Khorfakkan Beach Park and the Khorfakkan Waterfall.
- Climb the 5.6 km road to the summit car park.
The road is paved, with two lanes uphill and one downhill and viewing points along the way. It has hairpin bends, so a steady speed matters more than engine size. Any ordinary car can make the climb.
On foot from Al Rafisah Dam
The Al Rafisah hiking trail runs from Al Rafisah Dam up to the rest house, and the round trip takes about 3 hours. The trail is marked and rated easy to moderate, and the first stretch has good views if you turn back early.
Carry plenty of water, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a hat and sunscreen.
What’s at the top
The rest house is a flying-saucer-shaped building with two floors, a steel frame, aluminium glazing and a dome made of glass-reinforced plastic. Its 360-degree windows face Khorfakkan, the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman.
The ground floor holds the restaurant and café, with seats for 88 people inside and 48 on the outer balcony. The basement has a 62-seat multipurpose hall, prayer rooms for men and women, toilets and service areas. Open terraces around the building serve as observation decks.
Fen Café & Restaurant
Fen Café & Restaurant, the Sharjah Art Foundation’s branch at the summit, is open every day from 7 AM to 11 PM. The AED 50 spend that waives two hours of parking is counted here.
The outer balcony seats 48 people and the inner hall seats 88. Entry to the building needs no ticket or booking.
Family facilities
The summit works for a family outing without much planning:
- A children’s play area is part of the complex.
- Prayer rooms are available for men and women.
- Toilets are on the basement level.
- The multipurpose hall hosts community events and exhibitions.
- Viewing points along the access road give you a place to stop on the way up.
Best time to visit
Sunrise and sunset give the clearest light and the coolest air. The cooler months, October to April, suit the terraces and the hike best. In winter, sunrise falls close to Fen’s 7 AM opening, so the view and a hot drink line up.
Weekdays are quieter and cheaper. Weekend evenings and public holidays bring the crowds, the AED 20 rate and a full car park.
Rain closures & road safety
Heavy rain closes the road and the rest house. Wet weather shut the rest house for about a week in July 2022, and in January 2023 rockfall from heavy rain blocked the access road.
Sharjah Police and the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority announce closures and reopenings on their social media accounts. Check them after any rain before you drive up.
Nearby stops
The summit pairs easily with other stops in the area:
- Khorfakkan Beach sits at the foot of the access road and has boat trips to Shark Island.
- Shees Village, with its free park and wadi trail, lies inland from Khorfakkan.
- Al Rafisah Dam is the trailhead for the hike and a scenic stop on the highway into Khorfakkan.
- The Hanging Gardens in Kalba are further south down the coast.
FAQ
Is Al Suhub Rest House free to enter?
Yes. Entry to the building, terraces and viewing areas is free. Parking is the only charge, at AED 10 an hour on weekdays and AED 20 an hour on weekends and public holidays.
Is Al Suhub Rest House open 24 hours?
The viewpoint is open 24 hours a day, every day. Fen Café & Restaurant keeps its own hours, 7 AM to 11 PM daily.
Is Cloud Lounge the same as Al Suhub Rest House?
Yes. Cloud Lounge and Al Suhub Rest Area are other names for the same building. “Al Suhub” means “the clouds” in Arabic.
How high is Al Suhub Rest House?
It stands about 600 metres above sea level on a mountain ridge above Khorfakkan. A 5.6 km road climbs to it.
Do I need to book tickets?
No. There is no ticket, and entry needs no booking. You pay for parking on site and for anything you order at Fen Café & Restaurant.
How long should I spend at Al Suhub Rest House?
One to two hours covers the view, the terraces and a meal, which matches the two free parking hours with an AED 50 spend. The hike up from Al Rafisah Dam takes about 3 hours for the round trip.
Before you drive up
- Pick a weekday if you can: parking is AED 10 an hour instead of AED 20.
- Plan to spend AED 50 or more at Fen Café & Restaurant if you will stay beyond an hour.
- Aim for sunset or a winter morning for the best light and the coolest air.
- Leave the drive for a dry day, and check Sharjah Police and the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority after any rain.
- Add the beach to the same trip, since the access road starts near it.
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