Destination Ras Al Khaimah: UAE’s hidden gem

Ras Al Khaimah, which translates to caput of the tent, is simply a lesser-known adventure-leisure destination successful the United Arab Emirates, steeped successful heritage. RAK, arsenic the locals telephone it, is wherever the desert, mountains and oversea connection visitors escapade and dilatory tourism experiences. About 100 kilometres from Dubai planetary airport, RAK is the northernmost Emirate among the 7 Emirates that signifier the UAE.

RAK, with its rustic mounting and a colonisation of astir 4,00,000, makes for a quiescent play getaway for residents of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Efforts are on, by the RAK Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), to measurement up planetary tourism, and the signs are visible. During the four-day visit, I spot tourists astatine each outing. RAK has received implicit 6,54,000 planetary tourists successful the archetypal fractional of 2025, a 6% summation compared to the aforesaid play successful 2024.

A person look astatine immoderate of RAK’s large attractions:

Jebel Jais

Is it imaginable to beryllium successful 2 countries astatine once? We hike on a way erstwhile Fadi Hachicho, laminitis of Adventurati Outdoor,pauses adjacent a triangular milestone constituent and declares, “My close ft is successful the UAE and my left, successful Oman.” The markings connected the chromatic confirmed his statement. 

This is successful the vicinity of Camp 1,770, the highest campy successful RAK, astatine 1,770 feet supra oversea level. From that vantage spot, we instrumentality successful views of the rocky Jebel Jais upland that extends from the UAE to Oman.

Fadi organises hiking, trekking, and mountaineering trips for seasoned adventurers and leisure hikes for amateurs similar america on the 94-kilometre hiking trails. While hiking, it is astir similar having backstage entree to the mountains.

Groups enactment overnight astatine Camp 1,770 successful makeshift tents. In addition, a compartment provides structure during wintertime nights. The amenities are basic, encouraging participants to enactment successful tune with Nature. “This is camping, not glamping,” laughs Fadi, an advocator of dilatory tourism.

Campers tin partake successful yoga, dependable healing, Wim Hof (Dutch utmost jock and motivational speaker) breathwork method, and cooking sessions.

Locals proviso nutrient to the camp. We sensation the saccharine beverage named Karak, served with dates and section desserts Luqaimat and Assidi oregon the Assidat Al-Boubar. We effort the Luqaimat, a fried dumpling with a crunchy exterior that gets its sweetness erstwhile dipped successful chromatic oregon day syrup, earlier sampling Assidi, a halwa-like preparation. Fadi asks america to conjecture the cardinal ingredient. Even the foodies successful the radical neglect to ace it. The humble pumpkin has lent itself to a mild, flavourful delicacy that had america reaching retired for a 2nd helping.

Jebel Jais’ biggest attraction is the Jais Flight — the world’s longest zipline that runs 2.83 kilometres astatine 1,680 metres supra oversea level. Zipliners typically screen the region successful a small implicit 2 minutes, taking successful views of the canyons portion reaching speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour. Unless 1 is highly tense of heights, this 1 is highly recommended. For those who whitethorn make acold feet, similar I did, determination are viewing decks from which 1 tin presumption the canyons. After the flight, halt by astatine 1484 by Puro, the highest edifice successful the UAE that serves Arabic and planetary cuisines.

Jazirah Aviation Club

“To your close is Al Hamra, a beauteous seaside retreat successful RAK,” says my pilot, erstwhile the two-seater airy athletics craft we are successful soars comfortably supra the man-made Al Marjan island. The bird’s oculus presumption of the land against the mounting prima is stunning, with turquoise-green waters contrasting beige-toned constructions and lush greenish mangroves.

A 30-minute thrust is simply a large mode to instrumentality successful the landscapes, including the under-construction 70-storeyed Wynn casino, with an integrated resort, scheduled to motorboat successful 2027.

I urge this craft thrust to adjacent those who are wary of heights, for you volition beryllium safely strapped to your spot wrong the comfortableness of the craft and the adept aviator taking control.

About 15 minutes into the ride, the aviator asks if I privation to steer the aircraft. Sensing my hesitation, helium says encouragingly, “Try it.” I mildly steer the power to the right, past left, propulsion the power towards maine by hardly an inch and the craft rises mildly above. It is the astir breathtaking and satisfying happening I person done successful a agelong time.

Once backmost connected ground, I get a certificate acknowledging my efforts. Icing connected the cake!

Bassata godforsaken village

Driving done the winding roads towards Bassata colony successful the Al Wadi desert, a 1,235-acre protected reserve, it is communal to find herds of camels on the roads. Roll down the windows and immoderate of them look to springiness a affable nod, arsenic though acquainted with tourists.

The hospitality successful the colony is typical of the civilization of the indigenous Bedouin tribe. The Bedouins are pastoral nomads herding camels, sheep, goats, and surviving successful tune with the godforsaken ecosystem. The mounting comes live successful the evenings. There are self-ride buggies for those who privation to deed the dunes by themselves, oregon car safari rides led by experienced chauffeurs, which we chose.

Fasten your spot belts and get acceptable for dune bashing. What began arsenic an casual thrust got exhilarating arsenic it progressed, culminating successful a picturesque mounting of witnessing the prima astir calling it a day, with the sands glistening successful the aureate hour.

Once dusk sets in, the colony offers its guests an Arabic repast with a fewer planetary additions, tailored to cater to tourists. Colourful and rustic tents with debased seating, shimmering successful the airy from the lanterns, besides go the mounting for taste presentations — a accepted belly creation and a swirling Tanoura dance.

Dhayah Fort

A tip: Get to Dhayah Fort successful the aboriginal hours of the day, earlier it gets excessively warm, and hike up the 70-metre elevation to scope the mud-brick fortress and its watchtower volition not beryllium daunting. Ascending the 239 steps, 1 is rewarded with views of datepalm gardens, the Al Marjan island, and the Jebel Jais mountains connected the horizon. The Dhayah Fort is connected the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

During the hike, our usher doles retired nuggets of history. The fort dates backmost to the Bronze Age (1600-1300 BC), and was restored successful the 1990s. The twin-peak fortress was built successful the 19th Century and the zagged pathway made it pugnacious for the British to participate the fort during the 1819 conflict betwixt the British troops and the Qawasim tribes. “At first, the British arrived with tiny canons that could not scope this hilltop area. When they brought successful a ample cannon later, the section tribes had to surrender aft conscionable 2 shots were fired,” stated the guide.

At the basal of the elevation was a larger fort utilized by employees of the datepalm workplace to structure with their animals. The workplace besides had a ticker operation for surveillance.

Suwaidi Pearl Farm

The summertime months from May to August are champion suited for the pearl season, arsenic divers statesman their time earlier sunrise, informs our usher arsenic helium gives america a little past of pearl farming and diving. We are astatine Suwaidi Pearl Farm, atop a floating deck, aft a 20-minute ferry thrust from the harbour. Near the platform is Jalboot, a ample vessel that carried up to 30 sailors and was utilized for pearl diving up to 60 feet successful the Arabian Gulf. We larn that the lukewarm waters were conducive for pearls to turn and the shallow extent helped divers cod pearls utilizing rustic equipment. Divers utilized tools specified arsenic a chemoreceptor clip, a pugnacious rope, and a chromatic for their diving pursuits.

The oysters, erstwhile grafted, are kept successful the buoys connected 1 broadside of the floating deck. We larn astir the stages of oyster farming until the shells tin beryllium nudged unfastened with precision scalpels. The chances of uncovering a earthy pearl is alternatively slim, but historically the divers were connected a quest for the astir beauteous pearls. 

Suwaidi Pearls, successful the sportfishing colony of Al Ram astatine the ft of the Al Hajar mountains, is simply a reminder of a accepted practice. Established by pearl trader and diver Abdulla Rashed Al Suwaidi successful 2004, this is the lone pearl colony successful the UAE and has preserved the tools utilized for pearl diving and trade, including Indian coins from the 14th Century. This pearling region, formerly named Julfar (the pearl successful Arabic) was a nervus centre of pearl commercialized successful the Al Jazirah and Al Hamra region.

(The writer visited Ras Al Khaimah connected invitation by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority)