Outdoor cafes and markets aren't the only hit during the UAE winter — it's also the time of year when people go on natural adventures, whether it is kayaking in Hatta or trekking through the rocky mountains of Fujairah.
RAK Natures Treasures in Ras Al Khaimah offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of cities in neighbouring emirates in the form of friendly animals, a museum and even a salt cave.
Scroll through the gallery above to see what RAK Natures Treasures can offer
The venue is on an eight-hectare inner-city farm in Ras Al Khaimah, a little over an hour's drive from Downtown Dubai.
It offers a slice of rural life to visitors, who can interact with domesticated animals, pick fruit and vegetables straight from the farm, or explore a collection of gemstones, among other activities.
Among the prominent features of the area is a towering pigeon house, which is part of its petting zoo. Other animals at the farm include horses, donkeys, sheep and turtles, as well as a range of birds, such as ostriches, flamingos and peacocks.
After wandering among the animals, visitors can explore the venue's museum, which houses an extensive collection of gemstones and fossils, as well as preserved insects, bugs, and stuffed birds and other animals.
Crops such as cucumbers, tomatoes, aubergines and lettuce are grown on the farm. Guests can pick and buy the fresh vegetables per kilogram. A guide is available to help visitors pick the best produce.
An escape to the sprawling venue does not need to be just a single day. Wooden cottages are available across the site for people to book, with prices starting from Dh250 per night for one guest. There is a kitchen and barbecue area where guests can make their own food in true provincial style.
Spending the night opens up the possibility of other experiences on the farm, including a meditation session in a salt cave, pottery making (you can take the pot home or buy ready-made ones), a walk through the cactus house, or paddling on a pond.
RAK Natures Treasures sometimes takes its offerings beyond the farm and into seasonal pop-ups, such as the festive Thrive Market this weekend at the Al Hamra Waterfront. If you miss the market, the farm is open daily from 8am to 8pm.
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Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
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The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
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He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
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The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
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Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
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Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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Publisher: LucasArts
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2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
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Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
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