By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
What is Hatta Dam, and where is it?
Hatta Dam is a reservoir in the Hajar Mountains, inside Dubai’s Hatta enclave. The water is a pale turquoise against bare rock ridges. The town of Hatta sits a short drive from the dam wall.
From Downtown Dubai it is about 109 km, roughly 1 hour 25 minutes without traffic on the E44 through Al Awir and Al Madam. Visit Hatta says to plan on about 90 minutes. The figures below are OSRM free-flow times, so add time at the morning and evening peaks.
| From | Road distance | Without traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai | 109 km | about 1 h 25 min |
| Dubai Marina | 128 km | about 1 h 40 min |
| Sharjah | 122 km | about 1 h 30 min |
| Abu Dhabi | 236 km | about 2 h 30 min |
Part of that road, about 19 km on OSRM’s routing, is Omani-numbered, so bring your passport or Emirates ID. Our Hatta road and passport guide explains the stretch, and the Hatta border crossing guide covers the separate crossing to Muscat.
Kayaks, boats and prices
Hatta Kayak has more than 100 kayaks and sells tickets first come, first served. Only groups of more than 50 must reserve. The boats run daily from 7 am to 9 pm.
- Single kayak or water bike: riders aged 16 or over. Limits are 110 kg for a kayak and 75 kg for a water bike.
- Double kayak: 2 adults and 1 child aged 2 to 4.
- Yellow Boat: up to 3 adults and 1 child under 10.
- Donut Boat: up to 4 adults and 2 children under 10.
- Rules: swimming is prohibited by law. You stay in the boat for the whole ride, and infants are not allowed on board.
Prices were not published on the operator pages on 17 October 2026. We do not quote a figure we cannot source, so ask on WhatsApp for the current price on your date.
Hatta Wadi Hub: bikes, hiking and food trucks
Hatta Wadi Hub is 3 km from the main Hatta Fort roundabout, off the Dubai to Hatta road. Visit Hatta lists bike hire with protective gear. Hiking equipment is not hired out on site, so bring your own shoes and water.
Activities are booked at the hub on the day. Most are for ages 6 and up, and some thrill rides are 16 and up. Most activities run from 1 October to 5 May. Visit Hatta gives the hub’s hours two ways, 9 am to 7 pm in one answer and 8 am to 7 pm in another, so arrive by mid-morning and confirm on the day.
Hatta Heritage Village
The heritage site has rebuilt mud-brick houses with palm-frond roofs, a fort and hilltop watchtowers. Dubai Culture runs guided tours as a public service. Opening hours were not published where we checked, so confirm them for your date before you plan the order of the stops.
Rules, hours and the best season
- Season: most Visit Hatta activities run from 1 October to 5 May.
- Rain: activities close until the ground dries. Visit Hatta says hiking, mountain biking and kayaking stay open at your own risk.
- Summer: the boats still list daily hours, so go at 7 am and leave before midday. Our best time to visit Dubai guide covers the temperatures month by month.
- Kit: water shoes, a hat and a dry change of clothes. Wet clothes go in the boot, not on the seats.
How do you get to Hatta from Dubai?
By road, the choice is a private car or the bus.
| Option | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private car with driver | about 1 h 25 min from Downtown | Door to door, waits at each stop, carries wet kit |
| RTA Hatta Express H02 | about 1.5 hours from Dubai Mall | AED 25 with a Nol card, then the H204 hop-on hop-off bus in Hatta |
For a group, a private Hatta day trip is simpler than changing buses with a wet bag. Families with small children may prefer the car; see our Dubai with kids guide for more on pacing a day out. Ask about intercity transfers if you only need a one-way drop to a Hatta resort.
A full Hatta day: timing the stops
- 7:00: pickup in Dubai.
- 8:30: kayaks at the dam, before the midday heat.
- 11:00: Hatta Wadi Hub for a bike hire or a short walk.
- 13:00: lunch in the village or at the hub’s food trucks.
- 14:30: the heritage site.
- 16:00: drive back, about 1 hour 25 minutes to Downtown without traffic.
Fujairah is 73 km on from Hatta, about an hour without traffic. A long day can add the east coast, which our places to visit in Fujairah guide describes. Evening plans in Dubai, such as Global Village, fit better on a different day. For the car side of a mountain day, read our guide to a chauffeur car for Hatta and Jebel Jais. More ideas are in day trips from Dubai, and our private tours can combine several stops.
Photos in this guide
Hatta Dam reservoir surrounded by the bare peaks of the Hajar Mountains in late afternoon lightClintonrebeiro / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The bow of a green kayak on the water of Hatta Dam, with other kayaks and the Hajar Mountains aheadChrome231 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rebuilt mud-brick houses with palm-frond roofs among date palms at the Hatta heritage siteBjoertvedt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The crenellated walls and gateway of Hatta Fort at the Hatta heritage siteBjoertvedt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
