If your idea of a weekend escape involves switching off notifications, waking up to birdsong and reconnecting with Nature, there is a place tucked away in the Hajar Mountains that offers exactly that.
Located in Hatta, Grassroots Village is a regenerative eco-village built around the principles of community living, sustainability and permaculture. The space invites residents and visitors to slow down and experience a different way of living.
How the Grassroots Village was born
Grassroots Village was founded in 2024 by Palestinian permaculture practitioners and husband-and-wife team Marwan Ghunaim and Sima Basel, in collaboration with Emirati landowner Mubarak Sagr, who operates a traditional farm in the area.
"It was something I had imagined for 10 to 15 years," Ghunaim told Emirates 24|7. "Today, as I walk around the farm, I sometimes think, 'Is this actually real?'"
But this journey to running an eco-village in the heart of the Hajar mountains started in 2010, when Ghunaim first discovered Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art at an event in Dubai.
The 45-year-old HR professional met his first Capoeira teacher at an event in the UAE and ended up dedicating himself to learning the martial art and leaving his full-time job.
“As I switched from HR to Capoeira, most of my activities were out in nature, so we would go for nature escapes and run our social events either at facilitated farms or out in the wilderness,” he said.
Over the years, his travels took him across the Arab world, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and beyond, exploring alternative education models, eco-villages and sustainable communities.
His wife, 33-year-old Basel, grew up in Hebron and later studied in the United States before moving to Abu Dhabi in 2014 to work at New York University Abu Dhabi. She now manages a research laboratory while also practising as a licensed psychologist and running the eco-village with her husband.
The pair met in Hatta – at the same farm – in 2021 during a six-week retreat Ghunaim was hosting.
"I attended with a friend and Ghunaim and I immediately connected over a shared desire to live a more intentional lifestyle centred around people, nature and community. As he spoke to me about the values of Capoeira and its history, it was a ‘lightbulb’ moment for me, where I realised this is the kind of lifestyle I am seeking as well," Basel recalled.
The two got married in 2022, in Jordan, close to their family and moved into their home in Dubai South. There, they turned their garden into a community space, inviting friends and family, hosting events and activities and often talking about building a community for similar-minded individuals.
Just a few months before their lease was due to expire in 2024, and as they were preparing to leave the UAE in search of a place where they could build such a community, the couple received an unexpected call from Sagr. The couple had developed a close relationship with him through the events they had hosted at his farm, and Sagr called them over “for tea”.
“We went there thinking we were going to just have tea with him, but he told us that he wanted us to develop the farm. That’s when we realised that this was exactly in alignment with what we were looking for,” Basel said.
Today, they are raising their three-month-old son, Canaan, at Grassroots Village, and raising awareness on the concept of permaculture.
What is permaculture?
A combination of the words ‘permanent’ and ‘agrculture’, permaculture is a design philosophy inspired by the way natural ecosystems function and regenerate themselves. While often associated with farming, permaculture extends beyond agriculture to influence how communities, projects and even relationships are designed and managed.
"Permaculture is the new evolution in how we regenerate soil, because much of modern agriculture is exploitative. When you start engaging with farms and spending time in nature, you begin to understand how our food systems work. Most of what we see in the market today — vegetables, meat, chicken and eggs — is produced for mass commercial purposes Permaculture connects us as humans back to the land rather than separating us from it,” Ghunaim explained.
"The three main ethics of permaculture are Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share. These are the ethics we live by and the principles that guide the way we plan and make decisions," he added.
Life in the mountains
Unlike a resort, Grassroots Village functions as a living community.
Around 15 long-time rentees currently live on the farm, from families where a member works in the city, to freelancers and remote workers.
The youngest resident is just one month old. The oldest is a 65-year-old music teacher.
Life follows a rhythm dictated less by schedules and more by nature.
"We're living in response," Basel explained. "To the weather, to the people around us, to what's needed that day."
Some mornings involve feeding chickens, watering gardens and tending plants. Other days revolve around workshops, visitors, community dinners or mountain walks.
The community is currently building a co-learning centre for children based on collaborative learning and knowledge-sharing rather than traditional classroom structures.
Residents grow food, compost waste, share skills and participate in community life together.
The family of landowner Mubarak Sagr also remains deeply involved.
"The Emirati values and family structure are very present here," Basel said.
A regenerative farm
Basel likes to describe the farm more as a ‘regenerative farm’ than an eco-village.
“We cultivate with the aim of giving life back,” she said.
“A lot of the systems we see today are extractive, whether they involve natural resources, people’s energy or even relationships. Regenerative systems offer an alternative. They are about restoring life, nourishing the soil, supporting the environment, caring for animals and strengthening our relationships with one another.
“We hope this mindset inspires everyone who visits. More than simply staying at a hospitality destination, we want people to leave with a sense of connection and inspiration, and take those values back into their daily lives.”
How to get there
The village is located near the Hatta Wadi Hub and can be accessed from the E44 highway – the Dubai-Hatta road.
Once you pass the Hatta Fort roundabout, take a right after the Al Wedai rest house and follow the signs for the Grassroots Village.
If you are planning a staycation at the village, options include:
- Farm rooms with en-suite facilities – these are a good option for small families (AED 400-500 per night)
- A hut experience, which is similar to camping, but slightly more comfortable (AED250 per night)
- Campsites for tents and caravans (AED100 per person)
Workshops and wellness experiences
In case you are looking to simply visit the venue, instead of a staycation, the venue offers different holistic living experiences for visitors, ranging from mountain walks, community food gatherings, as well as art, music and drama workshops.
- Every Saturday the venue hosts ‘Uncommon ground’, a day long activity from 2pm to 10pm, which includes a mountain walk, shared food, fireside stories and music.
- Walk in the Hajar Mountains
- Capoeira Workshop
- Clay & Play activities
- Art, Music, Drama Workshop
- Curated group experiences
The village also hosts retreats, gatherings, festivals and workshops that bring together people interested in wellness, sustainability and conscious living. Facilities include herb gardens, yoga spaces and creative studios designed to support learning, reflection and community interaction.
Bookings can be made on the website – www.grassrootsvillage.com