A view of Hatta, Dubai. ARCIVE

Dubai’s Hatta was named among the world’s 50 most beautiful small cities of 2023, according to Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, said the recognition is testament to the Dubai Ruler’s “vision for development”. Sheikh Hamdan said that the Dubai leadership is “not only focused on turning Dubai into one of the world’s greatest cities but also developing the emirate’s countryside and transforming its towns into beautiful destinations.” Hatta, a mountain enclave, is about an hour and a half drive from Dubai. It is one of the go-to places for glamping and camping, with the Hajar Mountains in the backdrop. Hatta is also a favourite spot for dune bashing, zip lining, hiking or mountain biking. Nature lovers will marvel at the surprises in store in Hatta, with its swathes of desert, rock pools and water pools with crystal clear water for swimming. The Hatta Dam is a popular place for kayaking. Meanwhile, four Arab cities also made it to the Top 50 Most Beautiful Small Cities in the World list: Moulay Idriss Zerhoun in Morocco, Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia, and Siwa Oasis in Egypt.

50 most beautiful small cities around the world in 2023

1. Albarracín, Spain 2. Ban Rak Tai, Thailand 3. Banos, Ecuador 4. Bar Harbor, Maine, USA 5. Biei, Japan 6. Bled, Slovenia 7. Bocas del Toro, Panama 8. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA 9. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay 10. Combe Castle, England 11. Esperance, Australia 12. Giethoorn, The Netherlands 13. Gokayama, Japan 14. Gordes, France 15. Goreme, Turkey 16. Guatape, Colombia 17. Hallstatt, Austria 18. Hatta, United Arab Emirates 19. Ilulissat, Greenland 20. Iroya, Argentina 21. Ichan Kala, Uzbekistan 22. Kaikoura, New Zealand 23. Kalk Bay, South Africa 24. Kralendijk, Bonaire 25. Lamu, Kenya 26. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland 27. Luang Prabang, Laos 28. Lüderitz, Namibia 29. Lunenburg, Canada 30. Mandawa, India 31. Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Morocco 32. Navala, Fiji 33. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada 34. Paraty, Brazil 35. Pengliburan, Indonesia 36. Port Ferry, Australia 37. Praiano, Italy 38. Racura, Colombia 39. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany 40. Sai Kung, Hong Kong 41. Sapa, Vietnam 42. Sayulita, Mexico 43. Sedona, Arizona 44. Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia 45. Sitka, Alaska 46. Siwa, Egypt 47. St. Augustine, Florida, USA 48. Tepoztlán, Mexico 49. Viñales, Cuba 50. Xuzhouang, China
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