Are you looking at making a day trip or weekend out to the mountainous village town of Hatta, but wondering how to get there?
We used to shy away from recommending this trip to visitors as a day trip unless they had their own car, but a new Express Bus Service from Dubai to Hatta just made this a whole lot easier for visitors.
So whether you’ve rented your own set of wheels or want to take the public transport option, here we take you through exactly how to get from Dubai to Hatta for the perfect day out in the mountains – or as it’s now being marketed – “The Highlands of Dubai”
Dubai to Hatta Distance
The distance from Downtown Dubai to Hatta is 105 kilometres.
How to Get from Dubai to Hatta by Bus
There are two bus options to choose from.
Dubai to Hatta By by Express Bus
Newly launched in December 2022, the Hatta Express bus (route H02) is now the easiest way for visitors to get from Dubai to Hatta.
Running from Dubai Mall every 2 hours between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, the journey will take you approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and costs AED 25 (one way), which can be paid for with your Nol Card or cash to the driver.
Departing from the popular tourist hotspot in the centre of the city (no more slugging your way across town to the old bus station – look for the tourist bus parking, not local RTA buses), you’ll ride in airconditioned comfort without stops.
Note, there is a Nol recharge machine at Hatta Bus Station if you need a top-up for your journey home.
How to Get from Dubai to Hatta by Public Bus
The cheapest, though not the most straightforward way for most to get from Dubai to Hatta and return by public transport is by using the bus.
The bus runs from Al Sabkha in Deira, Dubai to Hatta Bus Station.
Buses leave approximately every two hours, and the journey takes around 2 hours, 15 to 2 hours and 40 minutes depending on traffic and time of day. It makes multiple stops en route, both in Dubai and on the way into Hatta.
The bus from hatta to Dubai costs AED 10 one way. You can use your Nol card to pay for the journey.
To accurately plot your route, use the RTA journey planner.
Hatta Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus
Once in Hatta, you can use the new hop-on-hop-off transit service (Route H04) that departs from Hatta Bus Station every 30 minutes. The bus costs AED 2 per stop and currently has 4 stops:
- Hatta Wadi Hub
- Hatta Hill Park
- Hatta Heritage Viallage
- Hatta Dam
Payment is by Nol card or cash to the driver.
من #دبي مول إلى قلب حتا الجبلية!
— RTA (@rta_dubai) December 23, 2022
متعة أكيدة بانتظارك.. انطلق على متن حافلات حتا إكسبرس إلى عالمٍ مليء بالتشويق والمغامرات الرائعة.#هيئة_الطرق_و_المواصلات #المواصلات_العامة #راحتك_تهمنا pic.twitter.com/Bt44GCI0Q3
How To Get From Dubai To Hatta By Car
As the destinations to visit in Hatta are quite spread out, your best option for a full day of sightseeing is to take your own vehicle to explore the region properly.
You are still within the same emirate (although you do cross through the Emirate of Sharjah!), so there are no border crossings to deal with, making it one of the most straightforward Dubai day trips.
From Dubai, simply take the E44, then the E102 and keep following the signs to Hatta. The road makes a few turns as you cannot cross into Oman! The last part of the journey is steep, hilly terrain.
Dubai To Hatta With Your Own Car
If you own your own car, this is an easy trip of just 1 hour and 20 minutes, depending on your starting point.
Dubai To Hatta Renting A Car
If you do not have your own car, renting a car and driving in Dubai is relatively straightforward.
It is the easiest way to map out your own adventure into the mountains and take things at your own pace, as the highlights are not all close together.
Renting a car is relatively cheap in the UAE; you can check out available options here:
Unless you plan on making some desert dune stops on the way, or perhaps pulling off to explore the ghost town of Al Madam, you will only need a 2WD vehicle.
Dubai to Hatta by Taxi
You can take a metered Dubai taxi from the city to Hatta, and it will cost approximately AED 200 – 250 each way.
Dubai to Hatta Transfers
Another option is to get your own private driver using a service such as GetTransfer.
GetTransfer acts as a driver bidding service. You add in your pick-up and drop-off location and let your drivers offer you a price they will be willing to complete the journey for.
You could also hire a driver for a set number of hours if you’d like a driver for the whole day to take you between attractions too. This is handy in a town like Hatta, where not all the major sites are near one another.
We prefer to use this sort of service rather than a metered taxi as you know you will be fixing in your price.
You can also request additional services such as a large van if you are in a group or car seats travelling with infants; only those drivers who can meet your requirements can bid.
Dubai to Hatta Day Tour
There aren’t a huge number of tours operating from Dubai to Hatta as yet, but we do think this will change in the near future as a huge amount of investment is being made into tourism infrastructure.
Hatta makes for an amazing Dubai day trip in the mountains – read on over here more about planning your day in Hatta once you’ve arrived – as well as extending your stay at one of the resorts or glamping experiences in the winter.
You can try these day tour experiences from Dubai to Hatta, offered by Viator, here:
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
- Pop into our essential planning information page, it includes everything you need to know about getting around Dubai, a handy guide on what to pack, and top tips for first-timers on the do’s and don’ts, laws, and customs to be aware of.
- Check out this incredible list of 150+ places you should visit when you’re in Dubai.
- Pick up a Dubai Pass from iVenture or a Go City Dubai Pass to save up to 50% on top Dubai attractions.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!!!
- Discover the best areas to stay in Dubai, or bag a bargain on your accommodation here:
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