Hatta exclave
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Hatta - by CultureArts (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Description
Hatta is an exclave of the Dubai Emirate, just over 130km to the southeast of the city, in the Hajar mountains at the border with Oman. The area has become a popular adventure and activities destination for locals and expats alike, looking for a reprieve from Dubai's heat and to enjoy different landscapes and topography. The old village itself contains a fort and two military towers from the end of the 19th century and the Juma mosque built in 1780. There is a popular reconstructed heritage village, a lake, and some overnight accommodation options. The Hatta Wadi Hub is the center of activities offering mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, ziplining and paragliding experiences as well as theme park type of activities such as water slides or zorbing. The hub and some of the accommodations are closed in the summer months of May to September due to the uncomfortable heat levels but the village remains accessible, and hiking is still possible
Access & Transport
Driving to Hatta from Dubai City takes about 90mins, depending on the route taken. Taxis or Ubers can be easily booked, but this is your most expensive pick, and it is cheaper to rent a car instead. The only public transport option is taking the E16 bus from Sabkhka, Bus Station 1 to Hatta Wadi Hub, which takes slightly over 2 hours.
Instructions & Recommendations
As Hatta shares a border with Oman, non-Emiratis/Omanis will have to remember to take the longer E102 Sharjah-Kalba route, instead of the E44 route, to avoid running into visa issues at the Oman border. Given the lengthy drive involved, it is better to spend at least an entire day and enjoy the various activities on offer at the wadi hub. So, we would not recommend to visit during the summer month when the latter is closed, unless you are planning on hiking, wadi bashing or you brought your MTB with you. An overnight trip can be a good option as well.
Environmental & Social
Hatta promotes itself as an ecotourism destination, which is the main economic factor that benefits the local community. The energy and carbon footprint that goes towards the building and maintenance of resorts and activity centers must be noted, but as most activities are closed in the summer, it is not highly wasteful.
Conclusion
Visitors to Dubai that are after the essence of Dubai may not make visiting the area a priority - especially considering the travelling time involved. However, for Dubai residents and those enjoying a longer stay in the emirate, a visit there is definitely worth considering.
Key positive
A truly outdoor experiences in Dubai with different landscapes
Gives the opportunity to see another part of the UAE and get to the Oman border
Good area for those who enjoy wadi bashing (wadi refers to a dry riverbed or valley)
Key negative
Significant time and monetary investment to get there for those renting a car
Most of Hatta's offerings can only be experienced between October and April (closed in the summer)
Suitability
Hatta is family friendly as long as the selected activities are suitable for all members. Wheelchair accessibility is dependent on the chosen activities.
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
May 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:1h 30m
est. visit time:4h
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightNo
Night – aft. midnightNo
Max number of travellers:5
Min. Child age:0
Max. child age:11