It's not every day you get to see an old lady screaming her way down a mountain, but if you happened to be at Jais Adventure Park on Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khamiah recently you may have borne witness to exactly that.
There to try out the park's three signature rides, the Flight, the Sky Tour and the new Sledder, yours truly descended the mountain alternately screaming with laughter and just plain screaming.
An easy day trip from Dubai, it is impossible not to appreciate the sheer, rugged beauty of the Hajar Mountains as the road steadily climbs to the top of the range. Surrounded by banked walls of rock, these are one of the unique highlights of this trip, shifting in colour from grey to orange with the light.
After a quick coconut latte at 1484 By Puro, the highest restaurant in the UAE, which offers stunning views over the valley and excellent food, we head to the equipment room to be suited up for the first adventure of the day — the Jais Sky Tour.
Strapped into a harness, trailing an octopus of ropes that all end in something metallic and technical-looking, and with a GoPro camera attached to the crash helmet, we take a bus to the starting point, a flat plateau overlooking the valley.
Jais Sky Tour
The Sky Tour is a series of six zip lines that link five platforms at different points down the mountain. Ranging from 337 metres to one kilometre in length, the entire distance travelled is close to 5km.
As a group tour, everyone undertakes this adventure together, waiting as each person crosses the zip line. Ours has 10 people meaning our journey takes more than two hours, but this allows time to relax and chat between each section.
It was interesting to watch the group collectively overcome their fears. Some are scared of heights, or wary of the cable and others are nervous about being blown about by the wind.
Each of the six zip lines also offers something different: one is high and fast, while another ends at a platform miraculously clinging to the rock face, while yet another is at the end of little staircase that is inaccessible any other way.
One zip line even crosses a road, which gives me an irrational fear of being hit by cars. However, unless we are all now 10 metres tall, this is an absolute impossibility, yet I scream like a baby anyway. One thing common to all six lines is that once the first has been crossed there is no going back, and the only way out is to keep going.
The speed of descent on any zip line is controlled by the wind and the force of gravity, so as a long, stringy sort of person, I am not heavy enough to reach the platform at the end of each line, and have to haul myself in several times.
The procedure is explained ahead of time, and the bright red line is easy to find while dangling in mid-air, so this is less an issue than a source of embarrassment as once again, I slide to a halt before everyone else.
After the sixth and final zip line, and feeling like minor experts, a waiting bus takes us back to the top of the peak, ready for the next adventure.
Jais Flight
The world longest zip line, the Jais Flight is not for the faint hearted. Stretching an astonishing 2.82km across the valley, this is Jebal Jais’s biggest and most formidable ride. Just standing at the top is enough to give anyone butterflies.
As the cables run from the very top of the peak to an unseen point much farther down, the sight and sound of riders flying overhead is enough to make most people on the mountain stop and look upwards, as two tiny figures race, Iron Man-style, across the sky at speeds of up to 140km per hour.
Essentially two parallel cables suspended between the top of Jebel Jais, 1,680 metres above sea level, and on a platform farbelow, the ride is undertaken in pairs, with each flyer lying in a face-down, head-first position. We are securely held in a sling that feels like a sleeping bag and holds us from the neck to the knees.
This is perhaps the most daunting part. As the crew triple check the equipment, calling out each component in turn, I try taking in the view, but like skydiving or looking into the Grand Canyon, my brain can't compute the distance and simply files it under "big". Then, with a countdown, we are airborne.
It's a long way to travel, especially hanging 100 metres in the air, and as we race above the terrain, I have two full minutes to take stock of what is happening, from initial terror to realising I'm still alive to actually enjoying what is happening.
Air rushing past is surprisingly loud, as is the high-pitched whine of the trolley on the cable. But as an experience, it is unrivalled. Sadly, I do not feel like a falcon gracefully swooshing across the sky — more a trussed-up pigeon — but flying over the landscape at 140km an hour is extraordinary, and a thrilling, noisy, life-affirming rush of adrenalin.
The full span across the valley is actually broken into two sections. The first a high-speed descent that takes you to a platform suspended in mid-air, and then a very short line takes you back to terra firma. Once again, I stop short of the first platform.
While the crew are able to shout instructions on how to pull myself in, they are equally quick to scuttle out on the cable to retrieve others who also stop short. As a final note, the platform has a glass floor, meaning that even arriving at the supposed sanctuary means starring straight down to the rocky expanse below.
Jais Sledder
The third and final adventure of the day is the new Jais Sledder, region’s longest toboggan ride. Despite only opening in February it is very busy. It's essentially a roller coaster that runs 1,885 metres down the side of the mountain. From a distance, it looks deceptively simple, but like all good rides, it packs a punch.
As the name suggests, this is a two-person sled with an upright back and seat belts. It is equipped with a brake that is operated by the rider — push forward to go, pull back to slow — and carts have sensors to maintain safe distances from one another, meaning you can just relax and enjoy the ride. And what a ride it is.
After chugging up a small slope, the sled heads downwards, using nothing more than gravity, hitting up to 40km/h, prompting screams and faces locked in astonishment.
Having a lifelong hatred of roller coasters, I approach this ride with caution, yet it is truly fun. Without the stomach-lurching drops, and just the best bits of being thrown from side-to-side on banking corners, this is a joy. It's fun to the point my sides hurt from laughing, and fun to the point I immediately want to do it again.
Jais Adventure Park is open Wednesday to Sundays. More information is at visitjebeljais.com
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo
Two stars
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
