“Go hike, go trek or get out on a mountain bike. Go do some things that you can’t do elsewhere.”
That’s the advice from Roudi Soubra, executive director of Dubai Holding Asset Management, the company that owns Hatta Wadi Hub, as the activity centre reopens for its fifth season.
The adventure centre is welcoming visitors from Thursday, and accommodation at Hatta Resorts is also open for outdoor enthusiasts who want to spend the night in the Dubai exclave's mountain chalets, caravans, dome tents and airstream trailers.
“Every single year we have to amaze people and do things to make them come back, so there’s a lot of stuff going on,” says Soubra.
Hatta, which can be reached in about 90 minutes from Dubai by car, is entirely surrounded by the Hajar Mountains, and has rocketed in popularity since the launch of Hatta Wadi Hub in 2018.
In August 2021, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced details of the emirate's plans to develop Hatta as a tourism destination. Design plans include a 5.4-kilometre cable car, a sustainable waterfall attraction and new hiking tracks up to Jabal Umm Al Nusour, Dubai's highest peak.
Many of these initiatives are still in the ideation stage, but there are a few new Hatta attractions that visitors can look forward to trying this year.
What’s new in Hatta in 2022?
The Go Gravity centre at Hatta Wadi Hub has been extended with visitors now able to get to grips with a longer, more difficult mountain zorbing trail.
There are also new e-bikes available for those who want to take in the 50 kilometres of biking trails that wrap around Hatta's mountains, dams and wadis. Getting out and exploring the surrounds is much easier on these electricity powered bikes.
From October, weekend visitors will be able to take part in sunrise and sunset yoga sessions at the destination's Art Hub chalet, located atop one of the park's peaks.
By December, the biggest new addition at Hatta Wadi Hub will open. The Hatta Rope Course is currently under construction, but when complete, it will be a towering four-storey structure with 65 different elements. Inside the rope course will be several other activities, including a bag jump, where participants jump into a massive bag; a freefall where people jump off a platform; three zip-lines and a giant swing.
It’s not only Hatta Wadi Hub that’s had an upgrade, either.
The destination as a whole has been undergoing development and RTA is in the process of installing new paths around town that are dedicated for road bikes and scooters. This will make it easy for travellers to cycle or scoot between Hatta’s landmarks — all the way from the Hatta Heritage Village to Hatta Dam and back again.
What’s open in Hatta now?
The majority of Hatta Wadi Hub's activities will reopen on October 1, so if you want the full experience, hang tight for a few more weeks.
But if you do want to take advantage of the early opening this year, you can traverse 32.6 kilometres of hiking trails, all free of charge, and cycle across 50 kilometres of graded cross-country cycle routes, which is complimentary if you bring your own bike.
Hatta Wadi Hub’s coffee shop and restaurant are open now for pre or post-activity refuelling and some of the on-site activities, such as axe-throwing and archery, can also be booked this month.
Hatta Kayak is another activity that's up and running. Located about a 10-minute drive from Hatta Wadi Hub, this locally owned company started with a handful of kayaks five years ago. It now has hundreds of kayaks, pedalos, bike boats, doughnut boats and more, and is located right on the blue waters of Hatta Dam.
Kayaking sessions cost Dh60 for an unlimited amount of time, and are also dog-friendly, so pet parents can bring their four-legged friends along for the ride.
Where to spend the night in Hatta
If one day isn’t enough, there are plenty of options for those who want to spend the night in Hatta.
Hatta Wadi Hub offers several glamping options, but be aware that many of these are booked out months in advance. Visiting in September will let you take advantage of slightly lower rates on most of the accommodation options, of which there are four to choose from.
The Damani Lodges come with stellar views over the park and soft launch stays start from Dh800. Hatta's newest accommodation option are its Dome Tents in Hatta Dome Park, which offer epic sunrise vistas. Low season rates here start at Dh900 for a tent that sleeps four. Families might want to book a stay in one of the fully equipped caravans, which are slightly more affordable with starting rates of Dh700.
For the utmost exclusivity, the Sedr Trailers are perched on the side of the mountains overlooking the water and offer Airstream trailers with an outdoor chill-out spot, plus a private transfer to the secluded mountain site. September rates for these VIP stays start from Dh1,150 — all tariffs are excluding taxes.
If you prefer to go old-school, bring your tent and set up camp in one of the slots at Hatta Wadi Hub where you’ll have access to bathrooms, food trucks and Wi-Fi. Camping costs Dh199 per tent and allows up to five people.
Stay in a farmhouse holiday home
Travellers seeking a real taste of Hatta culture can opt to stay in one of several local farmhouses.
“There are plans to expand the accommodation options in Hatta, but we want to give the opportunity to the local Hatta residents to use their farms,” says Soubra.
"When we started in 2018, we had two farms converted into holiday homes, and for this new season, we now have over 20."
With mountain views, private swimming pools, majlis areas and even resident camels, each of the accommodations offer a little taste of traditional life in Hatta, and most are bookable on the Visit Hatta website.
“This is the direction we want to go in, to give people the chance to go and sit in a local farm instead of staying in a big 200-room hotel, which you can do anywhere,” says Soubra.
There's also the time-honoured JA Hatta Fort Hotel, which is a five-minute drive from the Hatta Wadi Hub, and is now pet-friendly too.
And if you do only one thing when you get out to Hatta, Soubra wants you to put your hiking shoes on.
“The hike in the morning to the Hatta sign is the most beautiful. If you time it right and come from the back, you reach the sign just in time for the sunrise, and it’s a truly magical view.”
Hatta Wadi Hub is open from 7am-9pm on weekdays, and from 7am to midnight on weekends. Hatta, Dubai; visithatta.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
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How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
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THE%20SWIMMERS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
INVESTMENT PLEDGES
Cartlow: $13.4m
Rabbitmart: $14m
Smileneo: $5.8m
Soum: $4m
imVentures: $100m
Plug and Play: $25m
Austrian Grand Prix race timings
Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE
Friday
Noon-1.30pm First practice
4-5.30pm Second practice
Saturday
1-2pm Final practice
4pm Qualifying
Sunday
4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Elvis
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more from Janine di Giovanni
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
