Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | Mohammed bin Rashid approves six new development projects in Hatta

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved a number of designs for new tourism projects as part of the comprehensive development plan for Hatta region, previously launched by His Highness.

List of projects include 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 AED100 million for the people of the region.

These projects will play a pivotal role in promoting domestic tourism and the environmental 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.

His Highness said that Hatta represents a model for small cities in the region, which has turned within a short period of time into one of the most important tourist destinations in the emirate, thanks to its unique lifestyle. HH also noted that the development and tourism projects in Hatta will have a significant impact on promoting national tourism and providing visitors and the community alike with a distinctive tourism and cultural experience that lives up to Dubai 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 one million visitors in 2020.

“We approved six new projects as part of the Hatta development plan, which include the Dubai Mountain Peak at an altitude of 1,300 meters, a 5,4km-long chairlifts, Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls, a world-class hotel, hiking trails to the highest peak in Dubai (Jebel Umm Al Nisour, at 200 meters), as well as allowing Hatta residents to build 200 holiday homes to support domestic tourism in the district” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“Since the launch of our development project in Hatta in 2016, the numbers of tourists grew exponentially from 60,000 to one million visitors in 2020. The new projects implemented by DEWA will provide 500 job opportunities for the young people of Hatta, while the new holiday homes will generate an annual income of over AED100 million for the people of the region. A prosperous life for our citizens will remain our goal in all our projects,” added His Highness.

“We have implemented an exemplary development plan in Hatta that directly benefited the people of the region. Our citizens will remain our top priority, and our development projects aim at promoting happiness and community service. Development will continue until we finish building the most beautiful city in the world; and our country will continue to pursue the path of development." His Highness further clarified.

Implemented by DEWA along other tourism projects, the Dubai Mountain Peak and Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls projects are aimed at supporting endeavors on the development of Hatta region and promoting its position as one of the most prominent tourist attractions across Dubai and the UAE. Both projects are considered among the major projects implemented by DEWA in the region, to be an important addition to the tourism sector in Dubai.

His Highness's decision to approve the design of the Dubai Mountain Peak project was based on the integrity of its elements, which will make it a leading global tourist destination, in addition to its consonance with the environment of Hatta in general and the mountainous region in which the project will be implemented in particular.

The designs were selected after a large number of global design houses and consultancies took part in a global competition for this purpose. The design presented by French Groupe-6 was selected, and work is currently underway on the precise engineering details in cooperation with the EDF, the global consulting firm.

“In light of His Highness’ vision to transform Hatta into a tourism and investment hub, while preserving the city’s heritage and attractive nature. DEWA implements pioneering projects in Hatta, through which we aim to develop the region and meet the needs of social, economic and environmental development, in addition to providing innovative job opportunities for the citizens of the region and enhancing community happiness. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology and taking into account the unique geology of the Hatta region, we are implementing the Dubai Mountain Peak and Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls projects in accordance with highest international environmental standards. Our aim is to preserve the Hatta Mountain Reserve, and to harmonize both projects with their surroundings in the Hatta region. The projects will offer a unique experience for UAE tourists and show the beauty of the mountainous regions of the country.” said H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA. His Excellency Al Tayer explained that the projects implemented by DEWA in Hatta will provide about 200 jobs in the technical, administrative and operational fields, and over 300 jobs in the visitor center, outdoor activities and tourism facilities associated with the project.

The Dubai Mountain Peak project will include the establishment a 5,4km-long chairlifts to transport tourists from the Hatta Dam area to the summit Jebel Umm Al Nisour at an altitude up to 1,300 meters above sea level.

The project will constitute an important addition to the UAE’s portfolio of tourist attractions, noting that the chairlifts route will pass over the Hatta Dam Lake and the upper dam lake of the hydroelectric power station project implemented by DEWA in Hatta, passing through the mountain range until it reaches the Jebel Umm Al Nisour peak.

Moreover, the project will encompass three main stations, including the point of departure, which will be established on the upper platform above Hatta dam and will be linked to the car parking space using advanced means of transportation; an intermediate stop station that includes an observation platform, facilities to serve tourists and a luxury hotel built according the highest international standards; and the peak station, which will a panoramic observation platform, facilities to meet the needs of tourists, and hotel suites belonging to the main hotel.

The project will also see the establishment of hiking trails towards the Jebel Umm Al Nisour peak, in addition to recreational and service facilities that provide a world-class tourist environment.

The Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project will take advantage of Hatta dam slope as a natural waterfall; creating a water stream along the parking spaces below the dam, so that this water can be collected, recycled at the end of the stream and then pumped towards the upper part of the slope. The project will also include introducing aqua life into the water stream with new fish species that will attract families and children in particular. The project will also include developing the area to include recreational spaces and restaurants.