Skyline, souks, grand mosques and mountain dams
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta
Abu Dhabi to Hatta
Abu Dhabi and Hatta sit about 181 km (113 mi) apart in a straight line, with Hatta to the east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 181 km · 113 mi
- Est. road distance
- 218–254 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h 15 min – 4 h
- Direction
- Heading east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 218–254 km (135–158 mi) of road and 2 h 15 min – 4 h behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Dubai Metro, taxis and ride-hailing apps cover Dubai. Abu Dhabi is about 90 minutes by car or intercity bus, and Hatta is about 90 minutes by car or the Hatta Express bus. Renting a car is easy, with excellent roads.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends, plus 1 place near the straight-line path.
When you arrive in Hatta
Mountain enclave of Dubai with dams, trails and heritage. Stay 1 night or day trip.
Hatta Dam
Turquoise reservoir in the Hajar Mountains with kayak and pedal-boat rental.
Hatta Heritage Village
Restored mud-brick village with a fort, watchtowers and falaj irrigation channels.
Hatta Wadi Hub
Adventure park with zip lines, downhill carts, wall climbing and archery.
JA Hatta Fort Hotel restaurant
Long-standing mountain hotel restaurant with a terrace over the hills.
Hatta mountain bike trails
Over 50 km of marked trails for walkers and mountain bikers, with bike hire at the hub.
Hatta Waterfall
Man-made cascade at the dam spillway with a viewing area.
Near the way
These places from our other itineraries sit within about 25 km of the straight line between Abu Dhabi and Hatta. The road may not pass them directly, so check how far off your route they are.
Before you leave Abu Dhabi
The capital's grand mosque, cultural district and corniche. Stay 2 nights.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
White marble mosque with 82 domes, a vast hand-knotted carpet and reflective pools.
Mangrove National Park kayaking
Guided kayak tours through channels of protected mangroves near Eastern Mangroves.
Saadiyat Public Beach
Long white-sand beach with calm water, where hawksbill turtles nest in season.
On this curated route
Where Abu Dhabi → Hatta sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Hatta to Abu Dhabi is the same 181 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in May, when Hatta averages highs 5°C warmer than Abu Dhabi.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi high | 22° | 23° | 26° | 30° | 35° | 36° | 38° | 39° | 37° | 34° | 29° | 25° |
| Hatta high | 23° | 25° | 29° | 34° | 39° | 41° | 40° | 39° | 37° | 35° | 29° | 25° |
| Abu Dhabi rain | 11 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| Hatta rain | 22 | 11 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 15 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Hatta month guides.
Abu Dhabi to Hatta: questions travelers ask
How far is Abu Dhabi from Hatta?
Abu Dhabi is about 181 km (113 mi) from Hatta in a straight line, with Hatta to the east. By road, we estimate 218–254 km (135–158 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Abu Dhabi to Hatta?
An estimated 2 h 15 min – 4 h, assuming 218–254 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
What is there to see between Abu Dhabi and Hatta?
Near the straight-line path we have 1 place from our curated guides, including Desert safari in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (Dubai). The road may not pass them directly, so check the detour.
Which itineraries include the trip from Abu Dhabi to Hatta?
Our Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta itinerary includes this leg. Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Hatta runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in Nov – Mar.
Getting to Abu Dhabi
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi 123 km
Guides for both ends
- Abu Dhabi travel guide
- Abu Dhabi weather best time to visit
- Hatta travel guide
- Hatta weather best time to visit
Hatta by month
Plan Abu Dhabi → Hatta with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.