Hatta and the Hajar Mountains

Hatta is Dubai's mountain escape: an exclave of the emirate in the Hajar Mountains, close to the Omani border, about 130 km south-east of the city centre, or 1 h 30 by car or express bus. Visitors come between October and early May to kayak on the turquoise dam lake, ride mountain bikes, hike the wadis and see the heritage village. The tourist board now markets it as the "Highlands of Dubai". It makes a day trip from the city, or better, two days with a night on the spot.

What to know before you go

• The landscape. The Hajar summits around Hatta rise to between 800 and 1,600 m. The area's old name, Al Hajarain, refers to the two peaks guarding it to the north and south. Farming is still very much alive: more than 550 farms over nearly 140 km², and a farming festival every winter.
• The season. Hatta Wadi Hub, the activity centre, opens from 1 October to 5 May. Most other attractions close from mid or late May until September or October; kayaking on the dam stays open in summer. At the start or end of the season, Sabaro recommends checking opening dates.
• Rain. It is rare, but winter brings the occasional storm. Flash floods can occur in the wadis, especially in winter: leave them as soon as a weather warning is issued. The "Travel advice" table on this page gives your country's advice for the area. Some activities close until the ground has dried.

The dam and its lake

Hatta Dam, built in the late 1990s, holds back a turquoise lake framed by red and grey rock. It is the first stop for almost every visitor. You can drive along the reservoir, pull in at the viewpoints, then walk down to the water; the slope from the car park to the shore is steep.

On the lake, Hatta Kayak rents kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and family boats, from AED 60 (UAE dirhams). Personal equipment is not allowed, so everything is rented on site. Single kayaks are for ages 16 and over; double kayaks take two adults and one child aged 2 to 4. You can paddle into the narrow channels between the cliffs, hidden from the viewpoint. Swimming is prohibited.

A large mural above the water portrays the UAE's founding fathers, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

On two wheels and on foot

Mountain biking is Hatta's big draw. Hatta Mountain Bike Trail Centre has marked out 52 km of trails, from green for beginners to black for experienced riders. They are free and open all year, day and night; the centre itself, which rents bikes and protective gear, closes in summer. Visit Dubai, the city's tourist board, suggests leaving Dubai before dawn to be riding by 6 am local time, and allowing two to three hours in the saddle.

Hiking uses the same colour code: green, blue, red and black. The most popular trails start behind the dam, among rocks and viewpoints. Guided hikes can also be booked at Hatta Wadi Hub.

Hatta Wadi Hub, 3 km from the Hatta Fort roundabout, has everything else: archery, axe throwing, ziplines, water slides plunging into a pool, tube sliding and a swimming pool. The Aerial Adventure Park adds a 12 m giant swing, high ropes courses and a ground-level course for children aged 3 to 6. Most activities are open from age 6, some only from 16, and they are booked on site. The kids' quad bike costs AED 60 for 20 minutes.

On horseback, a sand track of more than 2.5 km runs past the lakes and along the foot of the mountains, with horses hired from local stables such as Hatta Horses.

Mountain heritage

Hatta Heritage Village, opened in 2001, recreates rural mountain life: around thirty buildings, huts and houses, two watchtowers, a fort and an old mosque. Inside Bait Al Wali, one of the largest houses, where the ruler once lived, and across the village, craftspeople work on jewellery, pottery, leather and copper. The two round towers above the village date from the 1880s; the Hatta watchtower in the centre from 1896. The village hosts celebrations on public holidays, including National Day on 2 December.

The falaj, the traditional underground irrigation channel, runs for several kilometres before surfacing in the Al Sharia palm grove, a short walk from the village. Hatta Falaj, a natural underground water reservoir about 3,000 years old, can also be visited.

Honey is Hatta's other speciality. At Hatta Honey Bee Discovery Centre, open from 9 am to 5 pm local time, you put on a beekeeper's suit before tasting the local honeys; tickets cost around €12 per person.

Getting there

• By car, about 1 h 30 from Downtown, via the Al Ain road (E66) and then the Hatta road (E44). The drive crosses the dunes before climbing into the mountains.
• By bus, the RTA (Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai's transport authority) H02 express bus leaves Dubai Mall bus station every two hours from 7 am to 7 pm local time, for AED 25; the journey takes about 1 h 30. In Hatta, a hop-on hop-off tourist line leaves the bus station every half hour.
• On a tour, operators offer day trips from Dubai that include the dam and the heritage village. Our guide Getting around Dubai covers the emirate's transport.

Where to stay

A night in Hatta lets you bike or paddle in the cool of the morning. The JA Hatta Fort Hotel is the hotel in Sabaro's selection: a mountain resort with two heated pools facing the peaks, a spa, padel courts, an animal discovery zone for children, and Terra Cabins, 30 m² cabins fitted with solar panels. Deluxe rooms are 45 m² with a mountain-view balcony; a 90 m² family room sleeps four adults and two children. The hotel offers hiking, biking and kayaking. Expect from around €360 per night for two, breakfast included, with a possible per-night tourism fee extra.

Hatta Dome Park offers a different kind of night: fifteen dome tents with panoramic windows, a private terrace and a private pool.

What is the weather like in Hatta?

Hatta has no weather station. The nearest reference is Al Ain airport, an inland station about 100 km south-east of Dubai, at 264 m above sea level; its 1995-2020 WMO (World Meteorological Organization) normals give an average high of 24.7°C in January, 31.4°C in November and almost 45°C in July. Being in the mountains, Hatta is generally a few degrees cooler than Dubai city, according to Visit Dubai. In practice, days are mild and evenings cool from November to March; from April to October, outings happen early in the morning. Our guide Dubai in summer covers the hot season.

Combining Hatta

Hatta pairs naturally with the desert, which you cross on the way: two nights in the dunes, two nights in Hatta. Keen walkers will find the Moroccan Atlas and Sinai on our Mountains page; families can fill a whole day at Hatta Wadi Hub, and the Family page has more ideas.