Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid unveils cable car project to boost Hatta tourism

Vice President and Ruler of Dubai announces plans to attract more visitors to scenic region

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid unveiled a plan to cement the town of Hatta's status as a growing tourist attraction – a 5.4-kilometre cable car route, 1,300 metres above sea level.

The Dubai Summit scheme will allow visitors to take a scenic route, passing over Hatta lake, through one of the emirate's most popular destinations.

A Hatta waterfalls project is also in the works, which will involve recreational areas for young people.

Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was pictured enjoying the sights in Hatta last month.

He visited the area as part of a campaign to encourage residents and Emiratis to take holidays at home.

The 45-day "world's coolest winter" initiative aims to get more people out exploring the country in the next few months.

It invites people to visit tourist attractions that make each of the seven emirates special and contribute to the UAE as one destination.

Hatta, which features heavily in the campaign, is an exclave of Dubai located high in the Hajar mountains, on the border with Oman.

Sheikh Mohammed could be seen walking, cycling and taking in scenery, such as the turquoise lake formed by the Hatta Dam.

He also visited Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

Sheikh Mohammed said a satellite project was under way to monitor the efficiency of the authority's solar panels and the effect of the weather on energy supplies.

"Our experiences in the space sector will contribute to the development of our infrastructure in energy," he said on Twitter.