Driving through the desert of Hatta, UAE

Hatta is a Sheikhdom in the Hajjar mountains – an exclave of the Emirate of Dubai, UAE about 115 km (71 mi) east of Dubai City.
Because of its altitude, Hatta has a milder climate than the city of Dubai, making Hatta a popular vacation place for Dubai residents.
Don’t be intimidated by the idea of driving through the Hatta desert & mountains — touring the deserts here by car is usually safe, convenient, and enjoyable, and you will see some of the regions most beautiful scenery, including Hatta Heritage Village in Dubai: s Historical Site in Dubai. A significant part of the desert can be even snow-covered in winter, which surprises a lot of visitors.

Hatta Mountain Safari is desert driving excursion from Dubai and offers a great opportunity to explore and experience two starkly contrasting landscapes, the spectacular desert and the Hatta mountain scenery of unexpected beauty that lies beyond Dubai, but it must be prepared safely. The magnitude and the variety of colorful rock formation found on these Hatta mountains are comparable to the magnificent Grand Canyon in the USA. There is the chance (depending on the rainfall and season) of a refreshing swim in one of the crystal clear Hatta mountain pools.

Hatta’s desert offer much more than just driving, of course: if you’re up to it there’s also hiking, camping, and even just lazing about at the Hatta Fort Hotel. The meandering route takes you from Dubai through lush greenery surrounded by the rugged Hajar Mountains with its tempting cool blue waters in the wadis. Stop to enjoy the peace and tranquility in the canyons.

In general, since Hatta’s desert are fairly well-crossed by freeways, desert driving is normally done on reasonably good roads with gas, food and water available at convenient intervals. Unless you’re really going down obscure back roads or completely off-road, most roads are paved or fairly good condition gravel.

During summer, UAE deserts get really hot, with daily temperatures in the 120° F range and with very high humidity (due to the close sea), so try to remember to protect both yourself and your car. Prepare for your trip adequately by stocking your car with emergency items. If you are not used to combination of high temperatures and high humidity level, don’t drive through the desert in summer.

Always carry enough water for you and your passengers in case your 4×4 breaks down: if you’re planning to go off the beaten track, plan on needing three days’ water for each person. The amount of water each person uses per day is clearly dependent on the surrounding temperature and humidity. In the hottest months we suggest you to carry at least a gallon (4 litres) for each person per day ration your water; during the rest of the year it’s probably about half that amount.

Carry additional water for your 4×4′s radiator.

Hatta’s desert is mountainous; this does interesting things to the cooling system: so be prepared to take it easy and watch the radiator temperature and coolant levels.

Your 4×4 should be in good condition, reliable, and physically fairly robust, especially if you’re going off-road in the desert. It’s a good idea to get a regular check-up for your car before traveling into the desert. Don’t attempt to leave the freeways or major highways and roads with a stretch limo, a large RV, or a low-rider.

Have a 4×4 with A/C, but don’t overwork your car if it’s small or under-powered by using the air conditioning all the time — turn it off while going up steep or long hills, for example.

Fill up with gas and water whenever you can; you can never have too much gas or water in the desert. Don’t just assume the next gas station will be open or that the next settlement even has one.

Always carry enough clothing or blankets to keep warm during the night, when the desert actually gets quite cold

If your car breaks down in the desert, stay with it. Don’t wander off away from the car if you have any doubts about how far away something is. If you are leaving you car, make sure it’s not in the way of other traffic, lock it, and leave a clearly-visible note under the windshield spelling out who you are, where you’re headed, and when you left.
Try to find some shade near the car, or try to stay in the shade of your car, and don’t waste energy and water with unnecessary movement or exertion. Do this whether you’re leaving because a passing traveler has just offered you a ride into the nearest town so you can call the AAA, or because you’ve just given up after a few hour’s waiting and have stupidly decided to walk the 70 miles back to Dubai on your own.

No matter what car or 4×4 you’re driving, learn how to change the tires and wheels on your own and how to cool your engine. Changing a wheel in the desert can be difficult if you’re surrounded by sand or unstable ground — bring strong flat wooden boards to put under the jack so it doesn’t sink into the sand. Always ensure that the spare tire has the correct air pressure in it. If it’s a rental car, make sure it’s actually got a spare tire and wheel and associated tools, and you know how to use them. Check you have the vehicle maintenance handbook.
If the car you’re driving has those anti-theft lock nuts on the wheels, replace them with normal nuts.

Even better, if you’re going down a desert or mountain back road, learn how to repair or temporarily patch a flat tire well enough to get you back to a main road.

If you’re going off-road or into the real wilderness, rent a satellite phone and/or a GPS system so that you can help rescuers find you: if your car’s just broken down or you’ve had a serious accident in the middle of nowhere, the phone and GPS may save your life.

Google Map of Hatta

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Hatta Mountain Safari is one of off road excursions with full of thrill, it is good to explore mountain safari in Dubai

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