TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
Hatta, an exclave of Dubai in the Hajar Mountains, has been promoted over the years as a special winter destination for travellers. Now, significant development initiatives aim to enhance Hatta’s appeal as a premier tourist destination. The efforts are part of the broader Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which emphasises sustainable growth and environmental preservation.
TT Bureau
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE & Ruler of Dubai, unveiled the Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project recently. The project, a part of the Hatta Master Development Plan worth AED3.6 billion, is being implemented by DEWA. Apart from the Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project, many other projects are also underway with the partnership of private sector.
Hatta Waterfall
The project features a stunning waterfall descending from the Hatta Dam, and the world’s largest mosaic panel on the waterfall’s slope, recognised by Guinness World Records. Covering 2,200 square metres and crafted from 1.2 million pieces of natural marble, the mosaic pays tribute to the UAE’s founding fathers, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project aims to boost tourism and investment in the region, with retail stores and F&B outlets offered free of charge to local Emirati citizens.
The Hatta Beach Project
Covering 53,000 square metres, aims to transform the area into a year-round tourist destination. It features a 10,000-square-metre beach, an artificial ‘Crystal Lagoon’, service facilities, rest areas, pedestrian pathways, cycling tracks, restaurants, food trucks, and an outdoor cinema, in addition to offering swimming and water sports activities. There were two other projects.
Other projects
Among other projects include a 1,000-guest wedding hall, the Hatta Dam Amphitheatre, the Hatta Service Centre, 200 homes for Emirati citizens, and a model residential neighbourhood. The project portfolio also includes expansion of cycling and mountain biking trails, the first-of-its-kind hydroelectric power station in the GCC region with a capacity of 250MW and 1,500MWh storage, and the Dubai Mountain Peak cable car. The 5.4-kilometre cable car will transport tourists from Hatta Dam to the summit of Um Al Nesoor Peak, the highest natural summit in Dubai, passing over the Hatta Lake, the hydroelectric power station, and the surrounding mountains. Other projects include the development of the Hatta Hospital, enhancements to the Hatta Sports Club, and the maintenance of dams across the region.
