RAS AL KHAIMAH // After more than six years of repeated visits to one of her favourite beauty spots, Priscilla van Andel was quick to notice the changes.
On a visit last October, to her dismay she found excavation work had been taking place in the nameless wadi, which sits just off Showka in the Hajar Mountains, in an enclave belonging to Ras Al Khaimah.
“It was just a narrow road and after that, it was just natural,” said Ms van Andel, a wildlife photographer from the Netherlands.
With running water still available as late as mid-May, the changes may not be evident to a first-time visitor to the wadi, with the greenery of ghaf trees, palms and blooming oleanders being more conspicuous.
Ms van Andel said soil on both banks of the wadi appeared to have been dug up, with the roots of nearby trees sticking out, as if layers of soil had been removed, so as to widen the wadi. On parts of the banks that were rocky, there were signs of disturbance too with markings on the rock resembling those left by excavation equipment. In several areas, rocks bore markings in red or yellow colour, while at one spot the wadi floor appeared to have been hollowed out.
“In the first place, I thought scientists had done it to see what the water level was like,” said Ms van Andel.
She could not specify what caused the disruptions was as she had never witnessed heavy machinery in the wadi. But an Emirati resident of the area, who identified himself as Ahmed, said he blamed a nearby quarry company for the destruction.
While the area is famous for its natural beauty, it is also sits within an area where quarrying companies operate.
Pictures of the disturbance at the wadi were sent to the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah.
Dr Saif Al Ghais, Executive Director of the authority, said it was unlikely that any quarrying company was responsible for the excavation.
“It looks like someone was taking material for landfilling, for a house or something,” he said, explaining that crushing companies usually specialise in extracting limestone or gabbro rock, rather than gravel or sand.
Dr Al Ghais said the authority had not been in touch with any company about the matter but added he would investigate whether the wadi contains rare animals or plants that merit special protection measures.
This is precisely what Ms van Andel would like to see. While the wadi is not part of a protected area, it deserves more attention as one of few examples of fresh water mountain ecosystems, she said.
The stretch of several hundred metres is flanked by palm trees including the dwarf palm, Nannorrhops ritchieana, one of two species of native palm found in the UAE. As the wadi goes deeper into the mountain, the terrain dries with acacia trees and smaller shrubs dominating the landscape.
Ms van Andel has photographed a variety of fauna in the wadi, such as the striking, blue-coloured Sinai agama lizard. She is, however, yet to spot an endangered species — one reason for areas to be declared protected.
“This is one of the last wadis you can find like this in the UAE,” she said.
“It is so green. Most of the year, there is water,” she said. “Everywhere there is water, we should protect. There is so little fresh water in this country.
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
My Country: A Syrian Memoir
Kassem Eid, Bloomsbury
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Final results:
Open men
Australia 94 (4) beat New Zealand 48 (0)
Plate men
England 85 (3) beat India 81 (1)
Open women
Australia 121 (4) beat South Africa 52 (0)
Under 22 men
Australia 68 (2) beat New Zealand 66 (2)
Under 22 women
Australia 92 (3) beat New Zealand 54 (1)
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
