The Hatta Mountains – Dubai, But Not as We Know It

Although most people associate the United Arab Emirates with Dubai and nothing else (only a few know about Abu Dhabi), the country actually has a huge number of sights and attractions far from the gleaming skyscrapers and glitzy hotels. As I told you in my last blog post, with the borders currently closed because of Covid-19, I’ve had the chance to rediscover some of the less popular but fascinating places around Dubai. In this post I’ll tell you about Hatta – an incredibly beautiful little town on the border with Oman (130 km south-east of Dubai), which is very popular with locals but not with tourists.

I’m sure those of you who haven’t yet had the chance to visit Dubai picture nothing but skyscrapers and endless desert, with the odd camel trotting from one palm tree to the next. It may surprise you, but besides desert, the Emirates also have mountains. OK, they’re not as high or as green as ours in Bulgaria, but instead of camels you may well come across wild goats. Yes, I was surprised too, but I saw them with my own eyes.

We spent the next two hours paddling around the reservoir and taking photos, and I can assure you it’s a really fun experience, especially if you like more adventurous activities. Another Hatta attraction I can recommend is the zipline. In fact, the zipline here is the longest in the UAE, and lots of people travel to Hatta mainly for that. The area also has a golf course, tennis courts, a go-kart track and archery lessons. So your time here can be packed to the brim – as long as you’re keen enough, of course.

Our next stop was the Hatta Heritage Village. We got to wander around this restored old Arab village nestled among the hills and learn more about local customs and traditions. It’s definitely something you won’t find anywhere else. You can climb the hills above the village and explore the medieval watchtowers and the remains of the fortress walls. The complex was restored in 2001 and has lots of fascinating exhibits from local history, including weapons and everyday objects from Arab life and culture.

If you love mountain walks, I’d recommend joining one of the organised groups. Sadly we couldn’t, because the mountain trails here are closed in summer due to the heat, but after a bit of research before our trip we found out it’s one of the main things that draws tourists here. The beautiful valleys with natural pools, formed by the winter rains, attract travellers from all over the world.

If you want to stay the night, try the innovative and luxurious glamping hotel Hatta Sedr Trailers. It’s actually the first hotel of its kind in the region, and it looks like a set from a western. It sits on the hills by the shores of the reservoir, and the view from the caravans’ terraces is incredible. If you prefer a standard hotel resort, the JA Hatta Fort Hotel is definitely the place for you. You can pamper yourself in its unique spa and round off the day with a healing hot-stone massage.