Dubai – Hatta Travel Guide – A Weekend Activity

Hatta, located in the interior region of the United Arab Emirates, is home to one of the most beautiful natural structures in the country. In fact, it might be the only natural beauty after the golden sand deserts. 🙂 Now, let’s get into the details of our day trip from Dubai to Hatta.

Hatta Travel Guide: Transportation

Hatta, approximately 140-150 km away from Dubai, is quite close to the Oman border. As you approach Oman, mountains, which you are not used to seeing in the city center of Dubai, begin to surround the road. When approaching Hatta, you find yourself climbing the Hajar Mountains, which mark the border between the United Arab Emirates and Oman. This enjoyable journey takes about 2 hours.

Dubai – Hatta Travel Guide: Places to See

Hatta Dam

Hatta Dam, nestled between the mountains, offers a fantastic view. We enjoyed this view a bit, which we are not accustomed to seeing in Dubai.

Many water activities take place on the lake. We decided to do tandem kayaking by paying 120 Dirhams. In this option, there was no time limit, and we also worked our arm muscles a bit as it required teamwork. 🙂 Although there was no time limit, the temperature increased a bit as the sun reached its zenith, and we got out of the lake after an hour.

Hatta Heritage Village

When we went to the old city center, we encountered a very old tower, stone houses, and roofs made of palm trees, overlooking the city.

Then, we visited the area with the inscription Hatta Heritage Village at the entrance. Here, there is an amphitheater, a cafe, a restaurant, and a few shops selling souvenirs. I recommend not expecting too much from here just because it says Hatta Heritage Village; there wasn’t much to see in the area.

Dubai – Hatta Travel Guide: Accommodation

Caravans are located in an area by the lake. If you want to stay in a place with a beautiful view, this place seems like a good option. You can check the details of caravan style accommodation here, other accommodation in Hatta here.

Dubai – Hatta Travel Guide: Food & Drink

Unfortunately, there is no facility around Hatta Dam where you can have a meal. We knew this, so we brought sandwiches with us. There is a cafeteria in the area where tickets are sold for water activities. So, you can find water, soda, etc., but it’s good to have something with you as a meal.

In Hatta Heritage Village, there is a restaurant called Al Hajarain and a cafe called Under the Shade. The restaurant has great reviews and reasonable prices. Unfortunately, we couldn’t eat at the restaurant because it was full, but luckily, we brought extra sandwiches with us and consumed them.

The cafe was very nice, truly living up to its name. Under the palm trees, a river was flowing nearby, and the sound of running water mixed with bird sounds. In short, it was quite soothing. 🙂

Dubai – Hatta Travel Guide: When to Go?

If you want to go to Hatta on Saturdays or Sundays, which are quite busy on weekends, my advice is to set out early and start activities promptly. We arrived at Hatta Dam at 11 in the morning, and there was no crowd at that time. We also did water activities on the lake comfortably. However, in the afternoons, the crowd generally increases, and activities may not be as enjoyable. By crowd, I mean canoes and water bikes having to pass closely to each other. Apart from that, I definitely do not recommend coming here on official holidays. The crowd can reach unbearable levels, and the return traffic can become unbearable.

Dubai – Hatta Travel Guide: Activities

There are many different activities that can be done in the Hatta region; I can say we did the easiest of them. Below, I am attaching a map with marked hiking trails and historical areas; I hope it helps.

Hatta Travel Guide: Tips & Notes & Conclusion

• Unfortunately, the toilet part at Hatta Dam was a bit problematic. If you see a toilet as you approach the dam, use it because, unfortunately, there is no eating and drinking facility in the area of the dam, and the toilet is also missing. We had to go back and forth before starting the activities.
• Have breakfast before coming or bring something with you so that you don’t have to leave your water activities halfway due to hunger. 🙂
• People don’t realize how time passes, and the sun burns, you know. Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are indispensable for this trip.
• If, like us, you’re going to do kayaking, your shoes and legs will get a little wet due to water. So, you can wear suitable shoes and shorts accordingly.
• You can find other articles I wrote about the United Arab Emirates here.