Our Habitas Makes Its UAE Debut with a Retreat in Hatta Mountains

Our Habitas is heading to the UAE. On 28 September 2026, the hospitality brand will open Caravan Hatta by Our Habitas, an adventure-led retreat set within Hatta Resorts, overlooking the mountains and the turquoise waters of Hatta Dam. It will be the brand’s first property in the country and another step in the expansion of its Middle Eastern presence following Our Habitas AlUla in Saudi Arabia.

For Hatta, the arrival feels particularly well timed. The mountain enclave has been steadily developing into Dubai’s alternative to the familiar beach-and-city formula – a place associated with hiking, cycling, kayaking and weekends outdoors. Caravan Hatta builds directly around that landscape rather than trying to recreate a conventional resort within it.

The property consists of 50 bespoke Airstream caravans – 13 Ridge Caravans and 37 Peak Caravans – positioned to make the most of views across the valley and Hatta Dam. The interiors follow the visual language Our Habitas has developed across its destinations: warm earth colours, natural materials, handcrafted details and an intentionally informal atmosphere. Raw wood, rattan, linen and textured stone are paired with sand, terracotta and clay tones inspired by the surrounding Hajar Mountains.

There are references to Emirati nomadic traditions in the textiles and artisanal details, but the caravans are still designed for contemporary comfort. Each has a queen bed, bathroom, pantry, dining area, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and its own wooden terrace. The combination is closer to elevated outdoor living than traditional camping – private enough to retreat, but deliberately connected to the environment outside.

That relationship with the landscape continues throughout the property. A communal infinity pool faces the mountains, while an Observatory Deck is intended for stargazing under Hatta’s clear night skies. The hotel will also use a bespoke collection of amenities created by UAE-born brand Dastaangoi.

Adventure Comes First

What separates Caravan Hatta from many wellness-led retreats opening across the region is the emphasis on movement and exploration.

Guests will be able to hike and cycle through the Hajar Mountains, kayak and paddleboard on Hatta Dam and spend much of the day outside. Adventure sits alongside the softer rituals now familiar in contemporary retreat culture – yoga, meditation, sound healing and wellness treatments – rather than being treated as an optional excursion.

That makes the opening interesting in the context of how luxury travel is changing. The definition of a restorative weekend has expanded considerably beyond spa appointments and poolside downtime. Increasingly, the experience is built around physical activity, nature, sleep, food and a certain degree of disconnection from the usual urban rhythm.

At Caravan Hatta, the dedicated Thuraya Wellness space will offer holistic treatments alongside a barrel sauna, outdoor cold plunge and hot tub. Yoga and meditation sessions will draw on the stillness of the mountain setting, while the wider programme will include workshops, cultural activities and special events.

The brand describes its philosophy as “Luxury for the Soul”, with an emphasis on human connection and a more analogue style of travel. In practice, that means many of the experiences are designed to be shared. Arabic coffee rituals, movie nights, sound healing sessions and cultural workshops will form part of the programming, alongside gatherings involving visiting makers, storytellers and creatives.

Dinner Under the Hajar Sky

Food will centre around Madar, whose name means “Orbit” in Arabic – a chef-led restaurant conceived as a communal meeting point under the open sky.

Created in collaboration with Paris Society Consulting, Madar will focus on regional ingredients and Emirati influences, with dishes prepared using open-fire and underground cooking techniques. Poolside dining and informal barbecue gatherings will offer a more relaxed alternative, keeping much of the culinary experience outdoors and closely connected to the setting.

This sense of gathering is central to the Our Habitas model. Rather than organising the property around a sequence of isolated luxury experiences, the emphasis is on communal spaces and shared rituals – meals, music, movement, conversation and time outside.

The Hatta opening also extends an existing partnership between Dubai Holding and Ennismore, the hospitality group whose portfolio includes Our Habitas. The companies point to the success of Our Habitas AlUla – the desert property in Saudi Arabia that helped establish the brand’s profile in the region – as part of the foundation for the new UAE project.

There is an obvious visual connection between the two destinations: dramatic landscapes, desert tones, low-impact design and a preference for experiences that begin outdoors. But Hatta brings its own geography into the equation – mountains, water and a distinctly different rhythm from Dubai less than two hours away.

For travellers who have already explored the UAE through its beach resorts and city hotels, that may be the real appeal. Caravan Hatta offers another way to spend a weekend here – waking up inside an Airstream, hiking in the mountains, swimming in the dam, taking a cold plunge in the afternoon and ending the day over dinner beneath the night sky.