No longer the hidden gem of the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah is experiencing a tourist boom thanks in part to its fast growing reputation as an adventure sports hotspot.
March was a record month for the tourism authority, with occupancy rates in RAK hotels at 87.5 per cent.
In a crowded travel market, RAK offers something different – but that comes at a price, with safety a major factor in adventure sports tourism.
In November, ten hikers were rescued after losing their way in the RAK mountains.
Police deployed foot patrols and a helicopter after the alarm was raised, and all hikers were rescued safely, but exhausted.
It was a stark reminder of the dangers of enjoying the great outdoors, and steps are underway to make the region safer with more signposted routes for hikers and bikers.
“Adventure tourism will always carry an element of risk,” said Haitham Mattar, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, speaking at this week's Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
“The challenges we’ve had with people disappearing is when they go off route and want to explore without following the signs put up for hikers.
“We have increased the levels of signage and the new routes will be colour coded to show level of difficulty and we will be providing maps with GPS points to help them get back safely.”
Tourism revenue is growing at 10 per cent year on year. More than 5,000 adrenaline seekers have visited the emirate to take on the Toroverde zipline, officially the longest in the world at 2.83km, since opening in February.
Due to its popularity, it will double in size with two extra lines to be built in July.
The extensions will allow four people at a time to ride from the zipline, 1,680 metres above sea level from Jebel Jais.
Mountain biking and new hiking routes are also being extended to cover 81 kilometers, with a 30km route due to open by the end of the year.
Routes will have three different starting points and eventually take in a new luxury wilderness camp with 36 units, including family rooms, royal suites, spa and outdoor gym.
There will be adventure activities for children also, set in the mountains and will be open by the end of 2020.
“The great outdoors is what has been missing from the UAE, particularly in the summer, but that is beginning to change with what we are building in RAK,” said Mr Mattar.
“The temperature can be 10 degrees lower in the mountains than in the rest of the country, there is very little humidity even in summer.”
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Read more:
Record-breaking zipline opens in Ras al Khaimah
Ten 'exhausted' hikers rescued after losing way in RAK mountains
Two men trapped overnight on Sharjah mountain rescued
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Rubbish strewn around popular beauty spots and trails has blighted many visits to the mountains, but that is also beginning to change since fines for littering in the area doubled from Dh500 to Dh1000.
Waste management has also increased in the mountains, to help keep them looking their best whilst protecting the environment and the wildlife living there.
“We have created our own identity, by giving people more things to do in RAK we are seeing an increase in the average length of stay,” said Mr Mattar.
“The terrain is beautiful, and natural with wildlife like oryx or desert foxes. You don’t get to see this elsewhere in the UAE.
“The municipality, public works and police are working with us to make a visit here as safe as possible.
“Hiking is becoming more popular here and we are acting quickly to provide the right services so they can enjoy their adventure.
“We have seen big improvements, not just because more effort is being made to clean up the area but people’s behaviour is also changing and they are taking more responsibility.”
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Pickford (Everton), Pope (Burnley), Henderson (Manchester United)
Defenders Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Chilwell (Chelsea), Coady (Wolves), Dier (Tottenham), Gomez (Liverpool), James (Chelsea), Keane (Everton), Maguire (Manchester United), Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Mings (Aston Villa), Saka (Arsenal), Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Foden (Manchester City), Henderson (Liverpool), Grealish (Aston Villa), Mount (Chelsea), Rice (West Ham), Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Winks (Tottenham)
Forwards: Abraham (Chelsea), Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Kane (Tottenham), Rashford (Manchester United), Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Sterling (Manchester City)
The%20specs
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Spider-Man%202
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
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.
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)
Delhi won the match by 11 runs
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
