Jebel Jais

Jebel Jais rises to 1,934 metres in the Hajar mountains on the border of Ras Al Khaimah and Oman's Musandam; the summit itself is on the Omani side, but a point on its western slope at 1,892 metres is the highest in the Emirates, and a smooth switchback road climbs most of the way up it, engineered with viewing platforms at intervals. The temperature drops noticeably as you climb, which is the main attraction for residents escaping the coastal heat, and in winter it occasionally drops close to freezing at the top. The mountain also carries the Jais Flight, a zip line running more than two and a half kilometres down the flank at speeds that require a prone harness and a briefing, along with a via ferrata, a sledder ride and walking trails. The road itself, empty and curving through bare rock, is the reason many people come.

The landscape

• The viewing decks - platforms along the switchback road looking down the mountain.
• Jais Flight - the zip line, among the longest in the world, booked in advance.
• The Via Ferrata and Sky Tour - cabled climbing routes across the cliffs.
• Sunset from the summit road - the standard evening drive from the coast.

When to go

October to April, when the mountain air is pleasant and the coast is bearable. Winter evenings are genuinely cold at the top by Gulf standards. Weekends and public holidays fill the viewing decks and the parking.

Practical notes

The zip line and via ferrata book out well ahead and are not cheap, and both have weight and health restrictions. There is no public transport, so a car is required. The road is excellent but the drops are real. Cloud and mist can close in and remove the view entirely.

Nearby

Ras Al Khaimah's coast and the Dhayah Fort are an hour away; Dubai is around two hours.

Key facts