A Scenic Mountain Escape Just 90 Minutes From Dubai Has Crystal Waters And Endless Adventure

The city of Dubai can feel a little "extra." Once you've gazed up at its 263 skyscrapers — including Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building — you may have gotten your fill of gigantic towers. Once you've witnessed the Dubai Fountain, which synchronizes 500-foot jets of water with blasting music, you may not have any need to see it again. Even if you love shopping, browsing 1,200 stores at the Dubai Mall may leave you exhausted, and only the most ardent animal lover will ogle 33,000 animals (140 species) at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo without needing a strong cup of coffee. This is all set against an extreme climate, with summer temperatures routinely breaking 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Dubai is filled with amazing things to see and do, and only the most energetic traveler can experience this hyperactive city before begging for a break.

That's why many people hop in the car and drive to Hatta, a rural district only 90 minutes from downtown Dubai. Snugged down in the jagged Hajar Mountains, Hatta is a quiet getaway for people — Arab and foreign — who just need to escape the urban hubbub. At the same time, Hatta boasts some spectacular mountain scenery, along with hiking, adventure sports, and the refreshing waters of the Hatta Dam.

The people of the United Arab Emirates take enormous pride in their desert, a dynamic patchwork of powdery dunes and limestone crags. Thanks to visa-free stays for U.S. citizens up to 30 days and a relatively peaceful political climate, the UAE is a great place for international travelers to explore this mythic landscape. As long as you are respectful and conscientious of the UAE's traditional norms, visitors will find a lot to love about the nation's hospitality circuit. Hatta is close to Dubai but feels like another planet, where still waters, quiet slopes, and slightly cooler air await.

While the pace slows down considerably, Hatta is most famous for its outdoor activities. A web of hiking trails cuts through the outback, and many visitors like to trek to the Hollywood-like "Hatta" sign. Others opt for a peaceful paddle on the glassy Hatta Dam, where kayak rentals are abundant and popular. But more aggressive thrill seekers can hurl axes at targets, wrap themselves in a plastic zorb ball and tumble down a track, zip line across valleys, or get fired out of a "cannon" catapult. Over 30 miles of purpose-built tracks have turned Hatta into a world-class destination for mountain bikers, and the advent of Gel Ball — a gentler version of paintball — turns the arid terrain into a family-friendly battleground.

At the center of town (technically an exclave of Dubai) is the Hatta Heritage Village, where visitors can peruse stores, a traditional mosque, and the 19th-century Hatta Fort, which once protected local farmers from raids. Like Dubai, Hatta is known for its creative dining scene, including an eclectic fleet of food trucks. Hotels trend toward luxury, so most visitors should expect to pay a good amount for a room, but UAE service is world-renowned, and it's common for visitors to stay for an action-packed weekend. Some of the most reasonable accommodations are at the Hatta Guest House, a beautiful whitewashed complex right off the main highway.

Drivers will take advantage of the UAE's smoothly paved motorways, which are widely considered some of the best road systems in the world. But if you don't feel like renting a car and venturing into Dubai's barren outskirts, Hatta is still easy to reach: The Hatta Express Bus leaves from the Dubai Mall every day of the week and costs just short of $7. Once you've savored everything Hatta has to offer, consider visiting another lesser-known UAE destination, the city of Fujairah.