A Dh3.6 billion ($980 million) mega project set to reshape the Dubai enclave of Hatta is advancing rapidly, with major milestones already completed, including a large amphitheatre, three farms and a new school designed to accommodate more than 1,000 students.
As part of the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan—designed to enhance quality of life and boost tourism—a 15km mountain biking trail and a 10km hiking route have also been delivered.
Development is progressing on Makan, a 213-home neighbourhood for Emiratis, along with the Hatta Majlis, a community venue intended to host gatherings of up to 130 people. A new wedding hall capable of hosting 1,000 guests is also under way, led by the Supreme Committee for the Development of Hatta.
Visitor Attraction
The newly completed Hatta Dam Amphitheatre stretches 610 metres and provides an accessible route to the peak of the dam. Six rest points line the 37-metre ascent, which takes around 17 minutes to climb and rewards visitors with sweeping views of the landscape.
Designed with gentle gradients, the pathway ensures a safe and comfortable experience for all users. The project incorporates features for people with disabilities and uses suspended structures to protect the natural terrain by avoiding additional excavation.
A connected path leads visitors to the Hatta Waterfalls from the amphitheatre’s base.
The site also features a 2,200-square-metre mosaic created from 1.2 million natural marble pieces. Set along the dam’s slope, it depicts the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, alongside Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, the late Ruler of Dubai.
Top of the Class
The new Hatta school offers 44 classrooms, specialised labs, indoor sports halls and 4,700 square metres of playground space. It also includes a 416-seat multipurpose theatre—four seats designed for people with disabilities—a kindergarten wing and a medical clinic.
Maintenance works have been completed at four existing schools: Hatta 1, Hatta 2, Rashid bin Saeed School and Al Dhahra. Upgrades included modernised science laboratories, revamped classrooms, new flooring and bathrooms, expanded indoor and outdoor sports facilities, and energy-efficient LED lighting replacements.
Growing Strong
Three new farms have been established to support food security and sustainable agriculture.
Strawberry Farm has been expanded with larger outdoor growing areas and enhanced greenhouse capacity. The number of seedlings has increased through vertical farming systems using hydroponics.
At Leafy Greens Farm, three hydroponic greenhouses equipped with smart crop-management systems have been built to improve efficiency and crop quality. The site also includes storage buildings, training facilities for agricultural workers and a retail outlet where visitors can purchase fresh produce.
These additions support the broader Hatta Master Development Plan, a key part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, aimed at attracting more tourism, business and investment to the region.
The vision for Hatta was unveiled by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in October 2021. In January 2022, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, established the supreme committee to oversee the project.
During his visit last December, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Dubai’s goal to transform Hatta into a “global model for harmony between humans and nature.”
