The thing about Hatta is that it doesn't try too hard. While Dubai dazzles with skyscrapers, Hatta seduces with simplicity – ancient villages nestled between the Hajar Mountains, kayaking adventures on turquoise lakes, and hiking trails that make your soul feel bigger somehow.
Most visitors make the rookie mistake of treating Hatta as a day trip. But here's what the travel influencers aren't telling you about this mountain enclave.
You mountain biking junkies, welcome to paradise. At Hatta’s three accessible dams you can rent pedalos and kayaks and cool off in the turquoise waters.
Colored trails makes it easy to decide which adventure is right for you: green trails are for beginners, blue trails are for moderate riders, and red trails are for experts seeking technical challenges. Bike rentals are on hand if you didn’t bring a bicycle.
What distinguishes these trails is their seamless integration with the natural world. You’ll cycle by wadis, heritage sites and farmlands while relishing the thrill of desert mountain biking.
This is not your average waterpark. The Hatta Drop-In is a 9.5m tall slide where you’re sent in the air to come crashing back into the cool waters.
The two slides provide contrasting experiences — one is a straight drop for maximum adrenaline, the other a curved path for those who prefer a slightly gentler thrill. One way or another, it will be butterfly-inducing.
Especially considering the fact that this attraction is insanely cheap at 15 AED per slide, it’s definitely worth giving a go if you find yourself in Hatta for a day.
Wadi Hatta Park is a mix of nature and amenities for the whole family. Landscaped parks straddle the wadi and form a green spine'' along the wadi alignment.
The park also has barbeque areas, children’s playground and shaded rest pavilions that make it ideal for family picnics. In bad weather, the open area will be full of picnicking families.
What a lot of visitors overlook, though, are the small wildlife observation spots where you can see local birds and even occasionally spot a mountain gazelle in its natural environment.
Hatta may be stealing the limelight, but Dubai’s surroundings have some extraordinary day trips that will have your head turning. Once you’re done exploring Hatta’s mountain appeal, these nearby wonders are ready for you to uncover.
Abu Dhabi sits only a 90-minute drive from Dubai, mixing tradition with future-forward metamorphosis. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – a true architectural work of art features 82 domes while the inside laying marble is complimented with semi-precious stones, not to mention the largest hand knotted carpet and the third largest chandelier in the world. It is not merely a religious site — it is a feat of Islamic creativity that is open to people of all religions.
A shimmering “rain of light” dome showcases world-class art at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a branch of France’s famous museum. And Ferrari World, for its part, will get your heart racing with its Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world. Believe me, you won’t soon forget that 240 km/h adrenaline splurge.
Tucked into a corner of the U.A.E., and for the most part overlooked, Sharjah is only a half-hour from Dubai and feels like a world away. The Heritage Area takes you back in time with its reconstructed homes, old-fashioned souqs and museums focusing on Emirati culture.
The Sharjah Art Foundation has put the arts on the map here, by hosting contemporary art exhibitions in centuries-old buildings. The Butterfly House and Aquarium offer family-friendly edutainment that will keep everyone entertained.
As Sheikh Zayed was born here, this Unesco World Heritage site is all the more special for this reason. The Al Ain Oasis, with its 147,000 date palms and the ancient Falaj irrigation system that has been functioning for thousands of years, feels magical.
But, think you've seen everything Dubai has to offer once you visit Hatta? Think again. This glitzy city offers incredible attractions that are guaranteed to make your UAE trip to remember.
The Burj Khalifa isn’t just tall — it’s a stunning engineering feat that will leave you staring. Ride the high-speed lift to the observation deck and watch Dubai become a toy city below you. The views are intense, especially at sunset, when the city lights start to twinkle.
Dubai’s love affair with water is quite spectacular, and these waterfront offerings are testaments to that.
Dubai Fountain show at the foot of Burj Khalifa cascades water jets 150 meters into the sky, in time with music and lights. It is totally free to watch and is repeated several times each evening.
Palm Jumeirah, with its palm tree–inspired design, is the site of opulent resorts and Atlantis The Palm, where the Aquaventure Waterpark is. The water slides at this spot are seriously out of this world—one even blasts you through a clear tube surrounded by sharks!