Why it first came into being is a tale unto itself. The late Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, a frequent visitor to Hatta in the 1970’s, built a small palace there to get away from the humidity of the city. The dry climate and peaceful surroundings of this pristine mountain oasis were ideal, until the increasing entourage of those who wanted to meet him made life hectic. His solution was to ask Mr. Ahmed Baker, Chairman of Dubai Transport Company (DUTCO), if he would build a hotel on the adjacent property to accommodate these visitors. The project started in 1977 and was completed in 1981. The rest is history.

On several fronts, the Hatta Fort Hotel is unique. Among the first hotels to be built in Dubai, it was the first to be located an hour out of town in the middle of the Hajar mountains, close to the Omani border. Ensconced in an 80-acre estate with every amenity you could wish for – two temperature controlled pools, gym, skeet and trap clay pigeon shooting, two floodlit tennis courts, beauty centre, golf driving range and practice green - it has retained a distinctive character that has endeared it to the hearts of Dubai residents, conference organisers and tourists alike.

With manic hotel development in Dubai slicing into market shares and guests’ tendency towards novelty and variety, retaining this pride of place has not been easy. Sergio Magnaldi, the hotel’s ebullient Italian general manager, says “This mountain retreat has been an integral part of my life for 30 years. I even feel that I have put the hotel before my family. They say my personality has left an indelible stamp on the Fort’s character – or vice versa. Who knows?”

With the feel of an exclusive lodge, the chalet-style and deluxe chalet-style bedrooms have an almost African feel   to them. Indeed in the lobby, there are bronzes of gazelles and lions on natural rock formations that blend with the natural decor.

Comfortably pleasing interiors aside, as a ‘Relais & Châteaux’ listed property; great attention is paid to the hotel’s ‘gourmet experience’.  

Dinner is served in the ‘Jeema’ restaurant, where Chef Savio offers a wide choice catering to diverse tastes. Prices are reasonable by Dubai standards and the success of the restaurant can be judged by the repeat business the establishment gets from Dubai residents who drive especially all the way to the Hatta Fort Hotel for the Caesar Salad, Snails, Chateaubriand and the Lobster Thermidor.  

Breakfast and lunch are served in the newly refurbished Café Gazebo that overlooks the picturesque residents’ pool, with the stunning mountains as a backdrop. “Although I trust my staff implicitly, I am obsessively hands-on in my management style. For me, upholding standards is more important than setting new ones. There is no need to advocate change for the sake of change, our menu is tried and tested, the response has been consistently excellent over the years and that’s the way we want to proceed”, he explains.  

Café Gazebo also features a beautiful terrace area for guests that prefer an al fresco experience and in the evenings, the Roumoul Cocktail Bar offers a choice of nightcaps which can be enjoyed either before or after dinner.

The Hatta Fort Hotel has by default become an eco-friendly hotel. The hotel has set up its own water recycling plant, and all waste water is used for watering the gardens. The plant also desalinates well water, and a fleet of tankers supplies the rest of the hotel’s water needs.  

Although it is compact, the Hatta Fort Hotel is bustling, and on Fridays serves up to a thousand meals. Apart from the residents who enjoy their own facilities, such as the swimming pool, there are plenty of tour companies that stop by for lunch and a swim at the new ‘Rock Pool’ swimming pool and restaurant area. “We are lucky; business is steady throughout the year, even in the summer, the climate is so dry that the hot air is not the least bit uncomfortable”, he says.  

With conferences and incentives a large part of their business, the Hatta Fort Hotel has developed successfully given its relative remoteness and stand-alone resort positioning. A dedicated facility equipped with all the latest visual aids and plenty of meeting rooms is a firm favourite with organisers from the region and worldwide.  

The Abami Activity Centre operates the ‘Team, Leadership and Management Development Centre’ within in the grounds of the hotel, where climbing walls and obstacles create outdoor experiential learning programmes that mirror real situations in the workplace.  

So, all in all the Hatta Fort Hotel has got something for everyone. If you are tired with the beach, overwhelmed by the malls and are looking for a haven of peace and tranquillity, this should be your destination. Beware to book well ahead as it remains as popular, if not more so, than ever before.