Mountain high

Developing the mountain city of Hatta will add a new destination to the UAE’s interior

Mohammed Bin Rashid Launches a comprehensive development plan for the Hatta region WAM

When visitors think of the attractions of the UAE, their minds will naturally wander to the big cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai and the rugged desert. But there will soon be a new, more mountainous attraction, as the city of Hatta – located 3,000 metres above sea level in the Hajar Mountains – will receive a Dh1.3 billion makeover.

Certainly anyone who has visited the Hatta Fort and explored the surrounding mountains will have been charmed at their rugged beauty. Yet they are not currently on the well-trod tourist trail out of Dubai. The makeover will change that and bring some of the more rugged mountain activities – mountain-biking and hiking that already exist, and in the future winter sports – to a much wider audience.

We’ve often written about the beauty of the interior of the UAE. Soon, there will mountain vistas to add to the already popular nights in the desert.