Sheikh Mohammed announces major new tourism projects for Hatta region of Dubai

Dubai Ruler launches a development plan, including UAE’s longest mountain walk and a new lake.

Dubai: The mountainous Hatta region of Dubai emirate will see major tourist projects under a new development plan revealed on Saturday.

The plan was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

As part of the plan, a tourist beach will be constructed together with a new lake, transportation systems (funicular) for the mountain slopes, and the longest mountain walk in the UAE. This is in addition to hotel facilities, and 120km of bicycle paths.

“We have approved the setting up of a permanent committee to oversee the development of Hatta,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

“Our end goal in Hatta is to build an integrated economic model that will benefit the people of Hatta and represent a unique tourist destination for families in the UAE,” he added.

“We promise our people that there will be further plans to develop all areas and neighbourhoods. The future will be better in our country and the best is yet to come.”

Part of masterplan 

The Hatta Master Development Plan forms an integral part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan launched earlier this year to create a roadmap for enhancing infrastructure and implementing a series of development projects and initiatives across the emirate over the next 20 years.

Sheikh Mohammed said: “Today [Saturday] we announce the launch of the Hatta Master Development Plan with an ambitious portfolio of development projects that will serve the needs of Hatta and its residents. The initiatives cover four key strategic pillars: Wellbeing; Tourism; Sports and Activities; and Sustainability.

“They will be implemented as part of a five-year development plan in the initial stage. We have approved the formation of a Supreme Committee to oversee the development of Hatta as well as the implementation and governance of projects and initiatives, the launch of economic and tourism development programmes and support for projects initiated by the youth. It will also launch the Hatta Beach Project and create new investment opportunities for Hatta’s private sector.”

Visiting Hatta

His remarks came during a visit to Hatta accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council; Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs.

Sheikh Mohammed was received on his arrival by Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, Commissioner-General for Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being Track, and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning.

More projects

Earlier, in August, Sheikh Mohammed approved some designs for new tourism projects as part of the comprehensive development plan for the Hatta region.

The list of projects includes the Dubai Mountain Peak, Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls, as well as 200-holiday homes to be established by Hatta residents that will generate an annual income of over Dh100 million for the people of the region.

Promoting sustainability

These projects will play a pivotal role in promoting domestic tourism and the sustainability of the region by highlighting the importance of preserving the environment, benefiting from renewable energy sources and enhancing the quality of life for community members.

Sheikh Mohammed said that Hatta represents a model for small cities in the region, which has transformed within a short period into one of the most important tourist destinations in the emirate, thanks to its unique lifestyle.

Boost in visitor footfall

He also noted that the development and tourism projects in Hatta will have a significant impact on promoting national tourism and providing visitors and the local community alike with distinctive tourism and cultural experience that lives up to Dubai’s prominence in tourism, via a set of qualitative projects that preserve the heritage and culture of the region.

Thanks to the Hatta development plan, the number of visitors and tourists has increased 15-fold, growing from 60,000 visitors in 2016 to more than 1 million visitors in 2020.