In 2018, the UAE welcomed a record number of visitors to the country. 15.9 million people visited over the course of the year, representing a 16.5% increase since 2015. Tourism initiatives, which have been introduced by the Government, will have surely contributed to this, with a goal that by 2020 the number of visitors will have increased to 20 million.
To achieve this 2020 goal, the tourism industry in the UAE has been seeing change, with efforts to diversify what is currently on offer. The past few years have seen the introduction of adventure parks, art galleries and more recently, Glamping to areas outside the city of Dubai.
In July of 2018, Dubai based developer Meraas announced that it would be pursuing a 1.3 billion Dirham project to transform Hatta, an hour drive from Dubai, into a leading eco-tourism destination.
As of 2019, the first phase of development has been completed which included the Sedr Trailer Resort and the Damani Lodge Resort.
The Sedr Trailer Resort, located along the Hatta Dam, offers luxurious trailers with hotel standard facilities. 13 units are available at the Trailer Resort, offering space for 2 adults and 2 children, along with modern bathrooms, Wi-Fi and TV.
The Damani Lodge Resort features a main mountain lodge and 20 cozy cabins. The cabins have been fitted with all the amenities you’d expect from a hotel with the added benefit of the Hajar Mountain views.
The Hatta Wadi Hub has a wide range of activities on offer, from mountain biking and ziplines to rock climbing and even a water park. And to welcome visitors, a Hollywood-style sign bearing the name “Hatta” has been constructed in the Hajar Mountains.
With an increase of 4.1 million annual visitors required for the UAE to hit its 2020 target, glamping has been identified as an effective way to help achieve that goal. The effort to grow the tourism industry by diversifying the type of attractions and accommodation on offer is something that’s currently being seen all over the world.
Alternative types of accommodation, making the most out of natural environments and tourism that is more eco-aware and friendly are themes that are being used by a number of Governments to promote tourism within their country, and glamping is a perfect way to achieve that.
