His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, declared that Dubai is steadfast in its dedication to continually improving its services, facilities, and infrastructure to reinforce its status as one of the finest cities globally for living, working, and visiting. During a visit to Hatta, His Highness highlighted the crucial role of youth in driving sustainable development. “Our projects empower people, create opportunities, and ensure prosperity. Our objective is to make Hatta a global model for harmony between humans and nature, driven by innovation in sustainable development,” he stated.
Furthermore, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid assessed the advancement of significant development initiatives aligned with Dubai’s Vision 2030, the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and the Dubai Social Agenda 33. Upon his arrival, His Highness was greeted by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Chairman of the Supreme Committee overseeing the Development of Hatta; His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); along with other senior officials.
Additionally, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed received updates from HE Mattar Al Tayer regarding the progress of 65 initiatives in Hatta, with a total investment of AED3.6 billion ($980 million), 41 of which have been completed. These projects are part of the Hatta Master Development Plan, which aims to enhance the quality of life, improve services for residents and visitors, and accelerate the region’s social, economic, and educational growth.
Hatta Winter Festival
Moreover, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed and his team attended the Hatta Winter Festival, one of five festivals included in Hatta Winter 2024. This initiative, launched earlier this month by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, runs until January 22, 2025, showcasing Hatta’s emergence as a must-visit winter destination, featuring a blend of cultural, entertainment, educational, and sports activities for all ages.
Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, the creative division of the Government of Dubai Media Office, provided His Highness with details about the initiative, which encompasses four additional festivals: Hatta Cultural Nights organized by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and the Hatta Honey Festival and Hatta Agricultural Festival, both managed by Dubai Municipality, as well as Hatta x DSF organized by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
His Highness was also informed about the initiative’s emphasis on promoting local projects, boosting opportunities for the private sector and entrepreneurs based in Hatta, and showcasing the offerings of members of Brand Dubai’s Proudly From Dubai network. His Highness praised Brand Dubai’s initiatives to support tourism and commercial growth in the area through the Hatta Winter initiative.
Read more: Dubai: Hatta Winter initiative features 30 unique entrepreneurial projects
Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed introduced the Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project, executed by DEWA as part of the Hatta Master Development Plan. This project includes a breathtaking waterfall cascading from the Hatta Dam, alongside the world’s largest mosaic panel on the slope of the waterfall, recognized by Guinness World Records.
Covering 2,200 square meters and composed of 1.2 million pieces of natural marble, the mosaic pays homage to the UAE’s founding fathers, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project aims to enhance tourism and investment in the area, with retail spaces and food and beverage outlets provided at no cost to local Emirati citizens.
His Highness also received updates on DEWA’s initiatives in Hatta, which include the 250 MW pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, a 30 million imperial gallon water reservoir, strategic water interconnection projects with other emirates, and the Shams Dubai Initiative, which encourages residents and businesses to install photovoltaic panels on rooftops to generate solar energy and connect to DEWA’s electricity grid.
Youth projects
During the tour, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed visited successful projects initiated by Khalifa and Ahmed Al Bedwawi, two young engineers from Hatta. Their GoGravity project, launched in 2018, produces electric bikes designed for mountainous terrain. Reflecting the ‘Made in the UAE’ ethos, the project has now expanded to include international exports. His Highness was briefed on the project and viewed a model of their four-wheeled electric bikes. He also visited the Al Bedwawi Honey project, where he learned about its beekeeping and honey production activities from Emirati entrepreneur Mohammed bin Ham Al Bedwawi.
Throughout the visit, His Highness interacted with Hatta’s residents, discussing ongoing development efforts and listening to their ideas and suggestions for further enhancing Hatta’s potential, utilizing its natural and heritage resources.
Private sector partnerships
His Highness was updated on three ongoing projects in Hatta that are being developed in collaboration with the private sector. The Hatta Beach project, spanning 53,000 square meters, aims to transform the area into a year-round tourist attraction. It features a 10,000-square-meter beach, an artificial ‘Crystal Lagoon’, service facilities, rest areas, pedestrian pathways, cycling tracks, restaurants, food trucks, and an outdoor cinema, in addition to opportunities for swimming and water sports. The other two projects focus on hotel and resort development and the Hatta Downtown project.
His Highness also reviewed 24 ongoing projects in Hatta, which include a world-class model school for 700-1,000 students. He assessed the Hatta Majlis project, a community gathering space for 100 individuals. Additional projects featured include a wedding hall accommodating 1,000 guests, the Hatta Dam Amphitheatre, the Hatta Service Centre, 200 homes for Emirati citizens, and a model residential neighborhood.
The project portfolio also encompasses the expansion of cycling and mountain biking trails, the first-of-its-kind hydroelectric power station in the GCC region with a capacity of 250 MW and 1,500 MWh storage, and the Dubai Mountain Peak cable car. The 5.4-kilometer cable car will transport visitors from Hatta Dam to the summit of Um Al Nesoor Peak, the highest natural summit in Dubai, passing over Hatta Lake, the hydroelectric power station, and the surrounding mountains. Other initiatives include the development of Hatta Hospital, enhancements to the Hatta Sports Club, and the maintenance of dams throughout the region.
