Dubai Brand Unveils Second Edition of "#ShitaHata" Winter Festival

Dubai is launching the second edition of its "#Sheta_Hatta" winter festival from December 5 through January 31, 2026, featuring six distinct festivals designed to boost tourism and support local businesses in the mountainous Hatta region. The initiative, organized by Brand Dubai under the "#Dubai_Destinations" campaign, aims to transform Hatta into a premier winter destination while creating economic opportunities for local families and entrepreneurs.

The announcement came during a press conference led by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Deputy President and Managing Director of Dubai Media Council and Director General of Dubai Government Media Office. She emphasized how these festivals support Hatta's development plan and Dubai Urban Plan 2040, building on last year's success that attracted nearly one million visitors from the UAE and neighboring Arab countries.

The six festivals showcase different aspects of Hatta's appeal. The main "#Shetana_Fi_Hatta" festival runs from December 5-28 around the scenic Leem Lake, offering family activities, camping, pilates sessions, stargazing photography, and meditation experiences. Dubai Municipality organizes both the 10th Hatta Honey Festival (December 27-31) featuring 50 Emirati beekeepers, and the Hatta Agricultural Festival (January 16-20) with 25 local farmers displaying their products.

Dubai Culture presents the fifth edition of "Hatta Cultural Nights" from December 20 to January 1 at Hatta Heritage Village, celebrating local traditions through heritage activities, children's theater, and outdoor cinema screening classic shows. The Community Development Authority hosts the "Productive Families Festival" under the slogan "Hatta Brings Us Together" from December 5-28, featuring around 30 families selling food, beverages, perfumes, and handicrafts.

Infrastructure improvements support the growing visitor numbers. The Roads and Transport Authority has completed 48 of 74 planned development projects and provides comprehensive transport solutions including 1,059 parking spaces, 14 daily bus trips from Dubai Mall to Hatta, and over 600 individual mobility options including electric scooters and mountain bikes.

Dubai Sports Council organizes various outdoor activities taking advantage of Hatta's geographic diversity, including the Ultra Trail Hatta race, Women's Epic running event, and mountain bike competitions. The Department of Economy and Tourism runs the third "Hatta Wadi Hub Festival" throughout the entire period, featuring new attractions like cinema screenings, "Dinner in the Sky" experiences, and candlelit musical evenings.

Security and safety remain priorities, with Dubai Police forming internal and external teams to ensure visitor safety and smooth traffic flow. The festival also emphasizes supporting local talent, with 30 projects from Brand Dubai's "Proudly from Dubai" initiative participating, particularly highlighting products from Hatta residents.

Media coverage comes through Dubai Media Corporation's Sama Dubai channel, providing daily live broadcasts, interactive programs, and special content. The channel will air heritage programs and series at the Cultural Nights cinema, connecting visitors with the region's authentic culture and history.

For investors and tourism operators, Hatta's winter festivals represent a successful model of destination diversification. The initiative demonstrates how government coordination can create year-round tourism assets beyond Dubai's traditional beach and shopping attractions. The focus on local businesses and productive families also shows how cultural tourism can generate sustainable economic benefits for mountain communities, potentially inspiring similar developments in other UAE regions.