NEW OBSERVATION DECK AT J EB EL J AI S

Who’s the most adventurous emirate of them all? By the looks of it, Ras Al Khaimah is vying for that position with plans to open a new observation deck close to the summit of Jebel Jais in October.

After launching the UAE’s longest zip line and the region’s first Via Ferrata, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is developing the Jebel Jais Observation Deck – a multifunctional facility that not only will offer panoramic vistas of the Hajar Mountains and stunning sunrise and sunset vantage points, but also double up as base camp for hikers and bikers who frequent the mountain trails in and around the area. Plans are also underway for an events area, walking paths and a dedicated food truck zone because who wouldn’t want to picnic almost 1,300 metres above sea level? The icing on the cake is that it’s always 10 degrees cooler at Jebel Jais than the rest of the country making the hot new development a cool spot to be at.

As a signatory to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development, the observation deck will follow sustainable methods such as solar energy for lighting and natural materials sourced locally to ensure the deck blends ‘as seamlessly as possible into the mountain façade’, said Haitham Mattar, CEO of RAKTDA. This new attraction is part of RAK’s Vision 2019 tourism strategy, which aims to attract one million visitors by the end of 2018.