Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 809 9333;
www.jaresortshotels.com
;
Main roundabout; d from Dh1100; )
The only lodging op-
tion in town, Hatta Fort Hotel is popular with expats at weekends and exudes a 1960s
country-club feel thanks to its manicured lawns and expansive grounds. The 48 spacious
and classy chalets brim with Arabic design flourishes amid stone walls and wood-beamed
ceilings. All have a private patio or balcony with dreamy mountain views.
Café Gazebo
does breakfast, lunch and snacks until 7pm (Dh25 to Dh60), while the fine-
dining restaurant
Jeema
(mains Dh60 to Dh130) opens for dinner and sometimes has live
entertainment.
Getting There & Away
Hatta is about 125km east of Dubai. Bus E16 shuttles hourly between Dubai's Al Sabkha
station and Hatta's new bus terminal, about 2.5km south of the main roundabout (Dh7, 2¼
hours). The first bus from Hatta leaves at 5.35am, the last at 9.30pm. Buses from Dubai
run between 6am and 10pm.
The 125km drive from Dubai via Hwy E44 is punctuated by roaming camels, rippling
sand dunes and the occasional oasis, all set against a backdrop of the mighty mountains.
Stretches of road pass through Oman and although there are no immigration or customs
formalities, you may be asked for your passport at soldier-staffed road blocks. This is
largely an effort to stop illegal immigration. If you're driving a rental car, make sure
you're allowed to take it to Hatta and that you have insurance cover in Oman. You can
avoid all this by taking the slightly longer northerly route via Hwy E102.
