Dubai to Hatta: the route, drive time, bus and what to know before you go

Dubai to Hatta is about 1 hour 30 minutes by car, roughly 135 km from Downtown on the UAE-only route via the Sharjah–Kalba Road (E102). The RTA Hatta Express bus from Dubai Mall costs AED 25 and takes about 1.5 hours. Hatta is part of Dubai, so there’s no border to cross.

Hatta is Dubai’s mountain town, in the Hajar mountains near the Oman border, and an easy mountain day out from the city. We drive it as part of our chauffeur service across the UAE, often for families heading to Hatta Dam and for couples staying overnight in the lodges. Here’s the route to take, the one to avoid, and the visitor rules worth knowing.

How far is Hatta from Dubai?

Hatta is a Dubai exclave on the far eastern side of the country, so the drive crosses Sharjah land before you’re back in Dubai.

From	Distance, UAE-only route	Drive, light traffic
DXB airport / Mirdif	about 125 km	about 1 h 20 min – 1 h 30 min
Downtown Dubai / Business Bay	about 135 km	about 1 h 30 min – 1 h 45 min
Dubai Marina / JLT	about 155 km	about 1 h 45 min – 2 h

Visit Hatta, the official destination site, puts the drive at about 90 minutes from Dubai and from DXB.

Which road goes from Dubai to Hatta?

Take the E102. Visit Hatta says the Sharjah–Kalba Road (E102) route is usually the quickest, and unlike the old E44 line it stays inside the UAE. From Downtown, the usual line is the E44 out of the city, north on Emirates Road (E611), east on the E102, then the signed road south to Hatta, which rejoins the E44 near the town.

Avoid the old direct line. The E44 straight through from Al Madam crosses a stretch of Omani territory, and expat travellers have been diverted off it for years; Gulf News reported the diversion in 2018. Navigation apps sometimes still suggest it because it looks shorter on the map. Our chauffeurs use the E102 route.

The road into the mountains is paved and in good condition, and you don’t need a 4x4. Expect long climbs, sharp bends near Hatta and speed cameras. Fill up before the mountain stretch, and after heavy rain keep out of wadi beds and follow any police closures.

How long is the drive by time of day?

What we allow from Downtown Dubai to Hatta:

Departure time	To Hatta	Back to Dubai
Weekday, 6:00–7:00 am	1 h 30 min	1 h 40 min
Weekday, 7:00–10:00 am	1 h 40 min	2 h (traffic entering Dubai)
Weekday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm	1 h 30 min	1 h 35 min
Weekday, 4:00–8:00 pm	1 h 50 min – 2 h (Emirates Road northbound)	1 h 40 min
Saturday or Sunday morning	1 h 40 min	1 h 45 min – 2 h in the late afternoon

Weekends in the cooler months bring the most visitors, and the queue for kayaks at Hatta Dam can be longer than the drive feels. Arrive early.

How do I get to Hatta by bus from Dubai?

The RTA Hatta Express (route H02) runs from Dubai Mall to Hatta Main Bus Station in about 1.5 hours, and the fare is AED 25 on a Nol card. From the Hatta bus station, the H204 hop-on hop-off bus stops at the main attractions. Both details come from Visit Hatta; check the RTA S’hail app for the day’s times.

Option	Cost, one way	Time	What to know
Hatta Express bus H02	AED 25 on Nol	About 1.5 h	Dubai Mall to Hatta Main Bus Station, then H204 around Hatta
Dubai taxi, metered	About AED 320–340	1 h 30 min – 1 h 45 min	AED 2.45 per km; the Sharjah charge may apply on the E102 route
Private chauffeur, transfer	Fixed price, tolls and VAT included	1 h 30 min – 1 h 45 min	Good for an overnight stay with luggage
Private chauffeur, full day	Day rate for the hours you need	Car stays with you	Dam, Wadi Hub and Heritage Village in one day

The taxi figure is our meter maths from Dubai Taxi’s published tariff for about 135 km, before waiting time. Dubai Taxi also serves Hatta itself at the normal fare, so getting around town is easy. For a round trip, though, a car for the day usually costs about the same as two taxi legs, and it waits at each stop. Published Dubai rate cards (September 2026) put a business sedan with driver at AED 500–850 for a half day and AED 600–1,300 for a full 10-hour day; a large SUV runs AED 1,300–2,000 for the day. With four adults and kayak kit, take the SUV; see our luxury SUV chauffeur options.

What to see and do in Hatta

• Hatta Dam: the turquoise reservoir framed by mountains. Walking up for the view costs nothing; kayaks and pedal boats are paid, and Visit Dubai notes that kayaking stays open through the summer when other Hatta attractions close.
• Hatta Wadi Hub: the activity base about 3 km from the Hatta Fort roundabout, with mountain biking, hiking and other adventure activities, bike hire and food trucks.
• Hatta Heritage Village: a restored mountain village with watchtowers and old houses, run by Dubai Culture. Check its opening hours before you go.
• Mountain bike and hiking trails: marked routes around the dam and Wadi Hub. Bikes can be hired at the hub; hiking gear can’t.
• Hatta Resorts: lodges, trailers, domes and campsites for an overnight stay.

Hatta visitor rules to know before you go

These come from Visit Hatta’s own visitor information:

• Season: most activities run from 1 October to 5 May. Visit Hatta has announced that the new season opens on 28 September.
• Booking: activities at Hatta Wadi Hub are booked on site only, not in advance.
• Hours: Hatta Wadi Hub opens 8 am to 7 pm daily in season.
• Ages: most activities are open to ages 6 and up; the more thrilling ones are 16 and up.
• Kayaks: single kayaks are for ages 16 and up, with a weight limit of 110 kg.
• Weather: activities close temporarily in rain for safety; hiking, biking and kayaking stay open at your own risk.
• Pets: allowed outside the Wadi Hub venue only, and not in the resorts. Dogs can go in a kayak if they wear a life vest and stay inside it.

The Hatta border crossing into Oman is nearby. Our cars stay in the UAE, and none of the sights here needs a passport.

A one-day plan from Dubai to Hatta

1. Leave Dubai at 7:00 am on the E102 route. You’re at Hatta Dam around 8:30 am.
2. Kayak at Hatta Dam, 8:30–10:00 am. Early is cooler, calmer and the queues are shorter.
3. Hatta Wadi Hub, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. Mountain biking or another activity, booked on the spot.
4. Lunch, 12:30–1:30 pm. Food trucks at the hub, or a restaurant in Hatta village five minutes away.
5. Hatta Heritage Village, 2:00–3:30 pm. Short walk, good photos of the towers.
6. Head home at 4:00 pm. You’re back in Downtown by about 5:45 pm, or later on a Sunday afternoon.

Want another mountain day? Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah covers Jebel Jais, and Dubai to Fujairah goes over the Hajar mountains to the east coast. For a full day with the same driver, see our private driver in Dubai service.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Dubai to Hatta?

About 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Downtown or DXB, and up to 2 hours from Dubai Marina or at rush hour. The Hatta Express bus from Dubai Mall takes about 1.5 hours to Hatta Main Bus Station.

How do I go to Hatta by bus from Dubai?

Take the RTA Hatta Express, route H02, from Dubai Mall to Hatta Main Bus Station. The fare is AED 25 on a Nol card and the ride takes about 1.5 hours. In Hatta, the H204 hop-on hop-off bus links the main attractions.

Is Hatta Dam free?

Yes, visiting the dam and walking up for the view is free. Kayaks and pedal boats on the water are paid, and prices are listed on Visit Hatta. Kayaking at the dam stays open in summer, when most other Hatta activities close.

Is Hatta part of Dubai?

Yes. Hatta is part of the Emirate of Dubai, in the Hajar mountains on the east side near the Oman border. You don’t cross any border to get there on the UAE-only E102 route, and you don’t need a passport for any of Hatta’s attractions.

Can I do Hatta as a day trip from Dubai?

Yes. Leave at 7 am, kayak at the dam first, spend the middle of the day at Hatta Wadi Hub and the Heritage Village, and you’re back in Dubai before 6 pm. Go between October and early May, when most activities are open.