Dubai does hotels rather well. It also does hotels that appear to have lost all contact with reality rather well. But its newest arrival has ditched the skyscraper, the gold taps and most of the city altogether.
Caravan Hatta by Our Habitas opened in late September among the Hajar Mountains, a little over an hour from Dubai, with Hatta Dam sitting rather smugly below it.
Your room for the night is one of 50 bespoke Airstream caravans parked across the mountainside. There are 13 Ridge and 37 Peak caravans, each kitted out with a queen bed, bathroom, pantry, air-con and a private wooden deck facing either the lake or valley.
So, it’s camping in only the loosest possible sense.
Outside your shiny metal bedroom, Hatta supplies most of the entertainment. Hiking and biking trails cut through the mountains, while kayaks and paddleboards get you onto the dam. Back at camp, there’s an infinity pool, an Observatory Deck for stargazing and Thuraya Wellness, where barrel saunas, cold plunges, yoga and sound healing await anyone whose definition of adventure involves lying very still.
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Dinner happens at Madar, where Emirati and regional flavours meet open-fire and underground cooking techniques. Meals are designed to be shared, preferably outside with a mountain looming somewhere behind your shoulder.
The opening is also a first for Our Habitas in the UAE, adding Hatta to a Middle Eastern collection that already includes stays in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Dubai’s skyline will still be there when you get back. For now, you’ve got a caravan to catch.
Why It Exists
Because Dubai has enough skyscrapers.
The Vibe
Airstream Americana dropped into the Hajar Mountains, with desert tones, big skies and much better amenities than your average caravan park.
Your Bed Tonight
One of 50 tricked-out Airstreams, complete with a queen bed, private bathroom and wooden deck overlooking the lake or mountains.
The Thing You’ll Brag About Later
Sleeping in an Airstream in the Hajar Mountains, then waking up to Hatta Dam instead of a Dubai skyline.
Eat / Drink This
Emirati and regional flavours cooked over fire and underground at Madar, then dished up for sharing under the open sky.
Steal This Local Move
Get onto Hatta Dam early. Grab a kayak or paddleboard before the day gets going and see those craggy mountains from water level.
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