FOMO is a four-letter abbreviation that can send fully grown, presumably mature adults into a mild existential panic. Those who don’t, can’t, or won’t travel feel it; they fear they’re missing out on all the sights. Those who do, can, or will travel are not exempt either; what if they inadvertently miss something important? The thought of it is enough to send chills down some people’s spines.
Avoid FOMO when you visit Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. Here are the best attractions in this emirate, including the best activities to do in Jebel Jais and beyond.
- Jais Flight: Fly the world’s longest zip line from the UAE’s tallest peak.
If you love adrenaline-pumping action, don’t miss the Jebel Jais Zipline, also known as Jais Flight.
Part of the Hajar mountain range (one of the most distinctive features of the Ras Al Khaimah landscape), Jebel Jais is the UAE’s tallest peak, soaring 1,934 meters above sea level.
Once up there, get into your best Superman pose (hands behind your back, the body as straight as an arrow), prepare for launch, and experience three whole minutes of (seemingly) unfettered flight at up to 160 kilometers per hour through rugged cliffs and deep ravines.
- Jais Viewing Deck Park: Take in amazing vistas.
The Jais Viewing Deck Park is exactly what it says it is: a collection of platforms or decks encompassing a ridge and built into the mountain. At 1,250 meters above sea level, the park offers exhilarating panoramas of the rocky moonscapes, the ravines, the desert, and the Arabian Gulf.
The journey up is just as electrifying. While readily accessible by bicycle or motor vehicle, the paved roads take you through hairpin bends over deep chasms and craggy precipices.
- 1484 by Puro: Dine on top of the world.
Sitting 1,484 meters above sea level, 1484 by Puro is the highest dining destination in the UAE. It is open all day and serves international and local dishes.
How about a breakfast of s’mores pancake, the Puro breakfast (basically an English breakfast of veal bacon, veal sausage, baked beans, and eggs on toast), or the traditional shakshuka (egg poached in a spicy stew of tomato and green peppers).
The restaurant also serves a vegetarian poke bowl, soups (e.g., tomato soup), salads (e.g., Thai beef salad), sandwiches (e.g., chicken tikka wrap), pasta (e.g., penne all’Arrabbiata), pizza (e.g., Margherita), and a range of mains (e.g., salmon, sea bass, haddock, duck, beef ribs, ribeye steak, and butter chicken masala).
The restaurant is strictly by reservation only, so book your table before you head to 1484 by Puro.
- Suwaidi Pearls: Sail on a traditional pearl fishing boat.
The current Ras Al Khaimah is the site of the important ancient trading post of Julfar, a renowned center of pearl fishing and trading in the Lower Gulf Region. Indeed, pearl fishing is one of Ras Al Khaimah’s oldest industries, and it continues at the Suwaidi Pearl Farm.
Suwaidi Pearl Farm was established by Abdulla Al Suwaidi to honor his grandfather, a master pearl fisherman, and to keep Ras Al Khaimah’s pearl fishing tradition alive.
Here, you’ll board a traditional pearl fishing boat (called a dhow) during your visit. As the vessel navigates the shallow bay and the all-important mangroves that protect it, your tour guide will regale you with stories about pearl divers and their noteworthy escapades.
You’ll hear how the pearl fishermen would plug their ears with wax, clip their noses with turtle shells, and prepare for the exhausting dive by eating sweet dates and coffee. After telling you about the traditional way pearl fishing was done, the guide will expound on the modern techniques of pearl farming that Suwaidi Pearls uses today.
The oyster reveal is one of the highlights of the tour. You’ll be given an oyster, which may or may not yield you a pearl treasure to take home. Whatever the outcome, you can still visit the gift shop to choose from some of the best Ras Al Khaimah pearls.
- Al Marjan Island Sightseeing Tour: Take in the spectacular Al Marjan skyline.
You can embark on a speedboat tour that will give you a unique perspective on Al Marjan Island, an archipelago of four man-made, coral-shaped islands with some of the finest sand beaches and the best hotels in Ras Al Khaimah.
The tour departs from Al Hamra Village. From there, your speedboat will take you along the coast for a memorable sightseeing trip. Among the attractions are:
- Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah: The entire hotel complex resembles a block of golden towers in the evening.
- Rixos Bab Al Bahr: This all-inclusive resort on the Bab Al Bhar coast of Al Marjan Island is a collection of towers inspired by the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
- Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island: The two-tower resort looks like a floating palace.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa – Marjan Island: This resort commands a 650-meter stretch of white-sand beach.
- Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island: The tall tower with a cream and azure façade stands out starkly against the light-colored sand.
There’s More at RAK
Ras Al Khaimah is a multifaceted destination. It has so much to offer: the desert, the sea, the mountains, and the wadis that seasonally fill and flow with crystal clear, cold water.
Aside from the five mentioned above, there are a lot more outdoor activities to do in Ras Al Khaimah, including hot air balloon rides, horseback riding, kart racing, camel racing, camping, hiking, and shopping. That is indeed FOMO-inducing, so stay a while and give yourself time to see and experience everything.
