Just over an hour from Dubai, the appeal of escaping the city without sacrificing luxury is hard to resist.

This month, that balance comes to life with the launch of Caravan Hatta by Our Habitas, the UAE debut of the experiential hospitality brand celebrated for placing nature, culture, and community at its core. Within Hatta Resorts, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Hajar Mountains and Hatta Dam, the airstream retreat translates Our Habitas’ "Luxury for the Soul" ethos into an elevated, Airstream-led mountain escape.

Founded around the idea that luxury is less about material excess and more about the experiences, relationships and sense of place that stay with you, Our Habitas operates a collection of destinations designed around music, wellness, art, adventure, food, learning and community. Rather than treating a hotel as somewhere simply to sleep, the brand describes its properties as “homes” built to encourage connection — with the landscape, local culture and other guests.

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Caravan is an extension of that philosophy, but with a distinctly nomadic character. The concept takes the Airstream caravan and turns it into an experiential basecamp: a place from which guests can explore, gather, eat, rest and reconnect with the outdoors. The idea already exists in destinations including AlUla, where the caravans form part of a more informal, adventure-led interpretation of the Our Habitas experience.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Caravan Hatta is what it says about the evolving definition of luxury hospitality in the UAE. The retreat does not attempt to replicate the grand scale of a conventional five-star resort. Instead, it offers something more intimate: proximity to nature, a strong sense of place and a programme designed around how guests spend their time.

Airstream living in the Hajar Mountains

Caravan Hatta will see 50 bespoke Airstream caravans divided between 13 Ridge Caravans and 37 Peak Caravans. Both categories are designed to bring the outdoors into the stay, with private wooden decks, handcrafted furnishings and views towards either Hatta Dam or the surrounding mountains.

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The interiors deliberately move away from the polished uniformity often associated with conventional luxury accommodation. Natural woods, woven textures, linen and bohemian textiles create a warmer, more tactile environment, while earth tones reference the surrounding Hajar landscape. The Ridge Caravans offer 20.5 sq. m. of interior space and 30 square metres of outdoor living, while the Peak Caravans provide 21.5 square metres inside and 18.8 square metres outside. Both feature a queen bed, dinette, pantry, bathroom and air conditioning, with large glass doors opening towards private outdoor areas.

The result is less traditional hotel room than private basecamp — compact, considered and deliberately connected to the landscape beyond.

In Hatta, that concept feels particularly well matched to its surroundings. The destination’s rugged mountains, hiking and biking trails and calm waters provide a natural setting for a retreat built around movement, exploration and slowing down.

Adventure awaits, gathering encouraged

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Visit Hatta describes the property as an “expedition outpost”, reflecting its emphasis on exploration and the outdoors.

Adventure is built into the experience. Guests can access the surrounding hiking and biking trails, while Hatta Dam provides opportunities for kayaking and paddleboarding. The programming also moves beyond conventional hotel activities, with sound healing, Arabic coffee rituals, movie nights, stargazing and guided wellness practices forming part of the wider offering.

Far from encouraging guests to retreat inside their private quarters, the property is designed around connection. Shared spaces take centre stage — from an infinity pool and open-air gathering areas to an Observatory Deck built for evenings beneath Hatta’s clear, unlit skies.

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That mix is central to the Our Habitas model. The brand’s properties are designed around programming as much as accommodation, bringing together wellness, culture, food, music and adventure to create opportunities for guests to participate rather than simply consume a destination.

At the centre of Caravan Hatta is Madar, the retreat’s restaurant and communal gathering point. Named after the Arabic word for “orbit”, Madar is built around the idea of food as a social experience, with a menu inspired by Emirati and regional culinary traditions. The kitchen focuses on seasonal ingredients and locally influenced flavours, with open-fire and underground cooking techniques adding an elemental quality to the experience. Meals are intended to be shared, with the restaurant evolving throughout the day from breakfast and lunch to dinner beneath the night sky.

Wellness with a sense of place

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Like other Our Habitas destinations, at Carvan Hatta by Our Habitas, wellness takes a grounded approach. The spa, Thuraya Wellness is centred on restorative rituals rather than a conventional spa menu, with a barrel sauna, outdoor cold plunge and hot tub complementing yoga, meditation and sound-healing sessions. The philosophy mirrors the wider retreat: wellness is not isolated from the destination but woven into it. The mountains, changing light, open skies and slower rhythm of Hatta become part of the experience: that approach is increasingly characteristic of Our Habitas, whose portfolio positions wellness alongside adventure, art, culture, music and food rather than treating it as a standalone amenity.

Caravan Hatta by Our Habitas is slated to open at the end of September 2026
Prices starting from Dhs 1,200 per night
@habitascaravanhatta

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