Originally conceived as a feasibility study for the historical fort and grounds, a potential vision was ignited by the natural conditions of the place.


At first, a boutique hotel and museum took place on the fort grounds to utilize the historical architectural ruins still in place. After further considerations, this vision was shown to the local authorities resulting on a 1.3 Billion Dhs funding from his Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

After the astounding reception of the original partial vision, a whole masterplan development took its place,  highlighting the potential for a much more diverse offer, not only digging into what a tailormade hospitality development would look like, but also at how this would benefit from the local geography in order to attract nature and sports enthusiasts.

Hatta is home to the highest mountains in the country and also some of the oldest settlements, this combined with the inclusion of nature-related activities and open-air sports offering, completed what will become the vision for the new Hatta development.

What started as a very short exercise to unfold the potential of the fort and its ground, resulted in a much larger project currently under development. It has been such a success that several other entities are now involved developing a fully coordinated action plan for the next decade.

Luckily, there's also an interest in incorporating self-sufficiency strategies along the way, which allows each stakeholder to include them from the very early design stages in order to preserve the natural beauty of the Hatta mountains.

The development plan will involve enhancing the infrastructure of the agricultural sector. Hatta is best known for its fertile land, so the plan will meet various demands of farmers and provide them with all means of support, including organizing training programmes on the latest methods in agriculture. Hatta Central Market will be set up as part of the plan, and it will house a diverse array of commercial, tourist and sports outlets.

The second aspect of the comprehensive development plan focuses on the tourism sector, as Hatta is known as a tourist attraction. The plan will involve designated green areas for sports camps, particularly during the winter. These spaces will be available for schools and universities across the UAE to host their sports activities. The plan will also take advantage of Hatta’s topography, with the construction of a mountain track to encourage mountain sports and activities.

An integrated project to restore Hatta’s archaeological sites will be launched to enhance its attractiveness and preserve its rich heritage.

As for culture and education, Hatta Cultural Festival will be held annually to promote local culture. The festival will act as an intellectual platform to support the cultural development of the local community in Hatta, as well as open a new window for cultural and intellectual exchange with other cultural and creative platforms in the country and abroad.

Name: Hatta
Location: Hatta, UAE
Client: DTCM
Status: Design Development Phase