Amna Al Ketbi (Dubai)
The city of Hatta is the vibrant heart of Dubai, the charming area with its green farms and many trees amid high mountains, the city of history and geography, the impregnable fortress and the multiple falajs, dams, lakes and valleys surrounded by historical monuments that tell the story of the place.
The city of Hatta is 105 kilometers from the Emirate of Dubai, and its location is considered strategic, as it is a similar distance from all the seven emirates. Its captivating nature.
Hatta will host the official celebration of the 50th National Union Day on December 2. Amidst the Hajar Mountains and the picturesque nature, the celebration reviews the history of the United Arab Emirates and its present through creative storytelling, providing a unique glimpse into the promising future that awaits everyone who considers the UAE their homeland.
The researcher and historian Hamad Sultan Muhammad Hamdan Al-Maidi Al-Badawi confirmed that the city of Hatta enjoys an important strategic location, as it is a border area and an ancient crossing for caravans, and one of the trade routes, and its geographical location with its mountainous and plain features, gave it a great agricultural position, explaining that the history of the area dates back to the period from 2000 to 3000 It was previously called Al-Hajarin, and was famous for its historical, agricultural and commercial landmarks.
He added: The city of Hatta is located on the borders of the United Arab Emirates and follows the Emirate of Dubai, as it is located 130 kilometers southeast of Dubai, and covers an area of about 140 km2 full of landscapes, the most prominent of which are the tall mountains.
Al-Badwawi said: The village of Hatta is one of the most famous mountain villages in the Emirates for its unique location among the mountains and the fertility of its lands, as it has a distinguished geographical location, surrounded by high mountains from all directions, and interspersed with valleys, the most famous of which are Wadi Al-Hattawi, Wadi Al Majara, Wadi Jima, and Wadi Hatta. It was previously mentioned in the dictionary of countries for Al-Hamawi sapphire, and today there are dams in the region to save rainwater, the most famous of which is the Hatta Dam.
He added that the families in Hatta are ancient families that adhere to the authentic Arab customs and traditions, which were rooted in their upbringing and upbringing of their children, proud of their Arabism.
Among the landmarks of the region are the towers named after individuals or sites, such as the South Hatta Tower and the North Hatta Tower, which are two of the most famous towers in the region, and they still exist today. Among the forts there are two main forts, namely the mountain fortress and the al-Hara fort, and the latter is the oldest, As for the mountain fortress, it was built by Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Khalfan al-Maidi al-Badawi, and the aflaj in the region are called the Dawoodi aflaj, perhaps in relation to the Prophet David, peace be upon him.
There are approximately 7 aflaj, including Dawoudia, al-Suq (Al-Saghir) falaj and Ghaili, explaining that the aflaj are huge underground water channels, built for the purpose of regulating the direction of the sub-aflaj, and they are still present. Al-Hail Mosque, Al-Wali Mosque and Al-Sharia Mosque, which are the most famous ones, whose construction dates back more than 200 years.
And about naming Hatta with this name, Al-Badwawi said: The naming of Hatta has two narrations. The first narration is said that the grandparents, when they came to it, found the aflaj, so they “contained in it” meaning they sat in it.
Another narration says that Hatta is the land of the future as it is a green land and contains water and aflaj.
And he indicated that it was called Al-Hajarin, as it was the most populated area and had forts, castles and a mosque, as well as a commercial area.
Al-Badwawi confirmed that the honorable Al Maktoum family played a great role in the region, as the new Hatta was built by the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who was on friendly terms with all the people of the region, and he visited them continuously, as he built housing for the people of the region. He dug wells, provided them with electricity, paved the streets, built a hospital, and built a palace for him in the area that still stands today, and is considered a cultural landmark for the region.
And he followed his steps, the late Sheikh Maktoum, may God have mercy on him, and the development process of the area continued, up to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, who made Hatta a developed area, comprising many government institutions. He made it an important tourist destination after ordering the construction of the Great Hatta Dam, explaining that the region is witnessing a new development day after day, and its development goes hand in hand, similar to what is happening in Dubai, the world-class city in all its aspects.
Al-Badwawi said: The Old Encyclopedia of Hatta book deals with the history and heritage of the region, as it includes many chapters on the region of Hatta in general, and Old Hatta in particular. And the types of medicinal and natural herbs and the method of treatment with them, in addition to the types of crafts based on them. It also dealt with the types and varieties of dates and manufactures from palm fronds such as “sards, dumps, safflowers, and mashb” and all crops, whether vegetables or fruits, and the types of animals that were bred from camels, sheep, goats and horses And different types of birds. He added: The encyclopedia also dealt with family life, the method of marriage in the past, women’s clothes, and types of jewelry such as “trembling”, and men’s clothing “kandoora, bisht and agal.” The field survey process extended nearly two years of effort and continuous research in various fields of the region, explaining that he participated in writing the encyclopedia.
Future projects
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched last month a new and comprehensive development plan to develop the Hatta region, which includes a package of projects that serve the Hatta region and its people and meet their needs. The initiatives will focus on four strategic axes: These are: quality of life, tourism, sports and activities, and sustainability, and they will be implemented within a five-year plan to develop the Hatta region as a first stage, implement projects and initiatives and its governance, launch a tourism economic program for the development of Hatta, support youth projects, launch the Hatta Beach project, and provide investment opportunities for the private sector. in the area
The plan aims to complete the development of Hatta over the next twenty years, by enhancing the elements of quality of life and investment opportunities for the people of Hatta, inviting local tourism and attracting investments, strengthening partnership with the private sector, preserving the heritage and nature of Hatta, promoting tourism and mountain sports in Hatta, and transforming the area into a destination Tourism in alignment with the strategy of «the most beautiful winter in the world»
It includes providing and improving the efficiency of public facilities and services for the people and visitors of Hatta, developing a sustainable transportation system that includes providing direct buses from Dubai to Hatta, allocating places for bicycles and scooters on the bus, providing a ride-sharing service in cooperation with the private sector, and providing tourist buses that tour tourist areas. and heritage, such as Wadi Hub, Hatta Dam, the Heritage Village, and the Hill Garden, providing an on-demand bus service to move around Hatta through the smart application, renting smart vehicles by hours to Hatta, and implementing a five-year plan to develop bicycle and scooter paths 2022-2026 by providing a network of paths It covers all attractions and residential areas up to 120 km, in addition to implementing the longest mountain bike track in the country with international specifications for holding international competitions and events, and providing rest stops and integrated service facilities along the mountain paths.
Distinguished Landmarks
Hatta is characterized by beautiful and attractive landmarks, as the bee park is the first of its kind in the Middle East. The park was established in the Hatta area of Dubai, with an area of about 16 thousand square meters with the support of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development. Nestled between mountains and farms, it is a natural habitat for over 100,000 bees that started with 10 hives nine years ago, and has now grown to include more than 3,000 hives across the park. Work is underway to establish the first city for honey and natural bees, within a year and a half, to make the UAE a global center for the production of high quality natural honey. The park is an educational and recreational site that supports ecotourism and focuses on the issue of food security and the sustainability of the bee sector in the country. It includes an institute for training professional and amateur beekeepers to introduce them to the arts of beekeeping. It also allows the public to learn about everything related to beekeeping, and contribute to introducing generations to the role and importance of bees in The environment and how to collect honey, and the most important Emirati trees producing honey such as Sidr or Samar and Ghaf.
The park aims to introduce the public to honey, its types and strains, and how to produce honey and its derivatives. The idea of the park came from the desire to raise awareness among the public of different nationalities, change their thinking, spread a culture of productivity, link people to the bee, and introduce the role of bees in the field of ecotourism, and its contribution to sustainability. And the development of the agricultural sector in the country and how to raise larvae from a young age until they become a large queen in the hive, methods of producing royal food, and educating generations in the field of beekeeping management.
Hatta Heritage
The heritage village in the city provides a visual platform to get to know the city hundreds of years ago, during the period of castles and forts in the country. ancient.
The village is located in the heart of the city and overlooks two mountains that were called the old two stones, and farms penetrated by a water falaj, and includes 30 old buildings, in addition to shops selling heritage collectibles.
Qahfi Valley
Wadi Al-Qahfi, which is 155 km long, is famous for attracting large numbers of visitors throughout the year. It is considered one of the most important tourist attractions linking the Hatta region with the Sultanate of Oman. It is characterized by its permanent water flow between the high mountains throughout the year.
Dam
The Hatta Dam is distinguished by its atmosphere that will push you to sit and relax to enjoy the natural atmosphere and the fresh air. The dam includes a lake that is a destination for water activities, in addition to the valleys.
The Madinah Dam Lake is a destination for adventure enthusiasts for the abundance of sports activities, as it is considered one of the most prominent places to practice kayaking. The area also attracts camping lovers, and is considered the perfect place to practice sailing, and the city is famous for its interest in the aspects of agriculture in the Emirates, as it includes a number of farms that contribute to the production of a range of agricultural crops, the most important of which are various types of dates and dates.
gardens
The valley and hill gardens in the city are among the most prominent tourist attractions that attract all family members, and they are the first destination for families to walk, play and exercise. Among the activities in Hatta are mountain hiking trails, cycling on mountain roads, crossing Hatta Lake in a kayak, camping in the lap of nature Climbing mountains, visiting historical sites, exploring the city on foot, eating traditional and contemporary food.
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