Hiking is one of the UAE’s most popular outdoor activities during the winter months, more so now than ever. When the onset of the pandemic forced gym doors to close and team sports to go on hiatus, fitness-focused UAE residents gravitated towards Mother Nature for their workout wants – and many of them have never looked back.
While hiking is a brilliant way to get in shape, and stay that way, inexperienced hikers face a variety of pitfalls (both literally and metaphorically) from not preparing adequately, getting injured, getting lost, or finding themselves on an unmarked route.
The number of inexperienced hikers who had to be rescued, especially in Ras Al Khaimah, has risen dramatically during the recent past, prompting authorities to bring in tough new regulations for the emirate. These new measures require companies, tour operators, and individuals to obtain a permit before organising treks – with failure to do so resulting in a AED 10,000 fine. Since hiking is very much a part of our weekend plans until the hot weather kicks in, we caught up with Laura Brown from Hike UAE to find out everything you need to know before embarking on your very own hiking adventure, as we hit the beautiful mountains of Hatta.
Watch the Video: How to Hike Safely in Hatta
Ready to Start?
The 10 hiking essentials you cannot be without are:
- Appropriate footwear
- Map, compass, navigation
- Water (and LOTS of it!)
- Food
- Appropriate clothing
- Safety items
- First aid kit
- Multi-tool
- Sun protection
- Shelter
And don’t forget to bring a bag for all your rubbish.
Leave No Trace
The seven principles of enjoying the great outdoors are:
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
- Dispose of waste properly.
- Leave what you find.
- Minimise campfire impacts.
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
