Visitors will get the chance to connect with nature in addition to learning about the nation's sustainable energy sources through the Sustainable Waterfalls project and Dubai Mountain Peak.
The completion of the Hydroelectric Power Plant in Hatta will result in the creation of two new, significant tourist attractions, in addition to a sustainable energy source. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is exhibiting at the current 25th Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition.
The first project is the Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project, and the second is a 5.4-kilometer cable car that will transport tourists to the 1,300-meter-high top of Um Al-Nesoor, also known as the Mother of Eagle Mountain in Arabic.
With the aforementioned initiatives, sustainability and ecotourism are combined; guests will get to know the nation's renewable energy sources while also getting a chance to spend time in nature.
Dewa claims that a waterfall will be produced using the hydro power plant's top dam's slope. At the end of the stream, the water will be collected, recycled, and pushed back up to the top of the dam. This will guarantee the hydropower plant's sustainable and effective resource usage.
Respect for the founding fathers of the UAE
Four oasis connected by bridges over the water canal will culminate in a lake with a naturally occurring aquatic life balance. Families and visitors will find the fish that have spawned in the stream to be fascinating. Together with restaurants and coffee shops, there will also be a children's play area.
The waterfalls project, which is shaped like a hexagonal honeycomb in respect to the famed Hatta honey, will also pay homage to the UAE's founding fathers by winding around the location of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum's 80mx30m mural.
The highest natural peak
Meanwhile, the cable car route will cross Hatta Dam Lake and Upper Dam Lake for the hydroelectric power complex. It will continue into the highlands, terminating at Um Al-Nesoor, Dubai's highest natural peak.
Surrounded by the undulating peaks of the Hajar Mountains, the Dubai Mountain Peak cable car will feature three stations: the lower dam's base station, the higher reservoir's second station, and the 1,300-metre summit of Um Al-Nesoor.
From the tranquil blue seas to the lush surrounds of the rough-hewn mountains, it will be a magnificent sight to view.
Within a year, it will be operational
During a media briefing on Wednesday, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa, as well as the founder and chairman of WETEX and Dubai Solar Show, told Khaleej Times that the 250 megawatt (MW) Hatta hydroelectric power station, the first of its kind in the GCC region, will be operational within a year.
The power plant, when completed, will have a capacity of 250 megawatts (MW) and a storage capacity of up to 1,500 megawatt-hours. The project, which will cost Dh1.42 billion, will have a lifespan of up to 80 years. It is part of Dewa's attempts to realize the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to provide 100% of Dubai's total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
Advanced turbines will employ sustainable energy to push water from the dam to the higher reservoir at night or during off-peak hours. Turbines powered by the speed of the upper reservoir's cascade will create energy via a 1.2-kilometer underground water canal, with up to 78.9% efficiency in power generation and storage and a 90-second reaction time to demand for electricity.
Boost for the local economy
There has been no notification regarding the construction of the two eco-attractions. The Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls project costs Dh46 million, and Dewa will submit a tender to bidders and contractors for the building of the Dubai Mountain Peak cable car.
The improvements were also intended to stimulate local companies and create work opportunities for Hatta people. Dewa previously stated that the retail outlets in the mountain enclave will be provided free of charge to Emiratis.
Exhibit the beauty of the UAE
Al Tayer emphasized the significance of eco-projects. He added: "Leveraging state-of-the-art technology and taking into account the unique geology of the Hatta region, we are implementing the waterfalls projects in accordance with highest international environmental standards."
"Our goal is to preserve the Hatta Mountain Reserve and to harmonize the project with its surroundings," he continued. We wish to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for UAE tourists and showcase the beauty of the UAE's mountainous areas."
