Mattar says at times there are more than 2,000 cars on the Jais mountains, which is often visited by campers and thrill seekers. Mattar says at times there are more than 2,000 cars on the Jais mountains, which is often visited by campers and thrill seekers.

Ras Al Khaimah’s Jabal Jais mountain is about to be home to the first five-star camp in the region.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s (RAK TDA) CEO Haitham Mattar told Hotelier Middle East on the side-lines of the launch of their new brand identity.

“We have done a recce in the mountains (Jabal Jais) and have identified 10 sites for development. We have decided, as the tourism authority, to adopt three of those sites,” Mattar said.

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The country’s highest mountain peak at 1910 metres (above sea level) and is frequented by local residents and expats over the weekend, throughout the year.

"At times there are more than 2000 cars on Jais,” Mattar commented.

“We are building an adventure park in the Jais mountain range like a Via Ferrata. This will allow people to zip line in the mountains and hike as well, which will be the first of the three developments. It is almost finished, we will be uncovering that sometime in April,” he added. “The second development will be a five-star camp in the mountains. There is no such camp in the region, you have them in the desert but not the mountain.”

Mattar gave a insight into the operator arrangements: “I haven’t signed an agreement with an operator yet, but all I can is that it’s a very well-known regional brand. We are not going outside, we are giving it to an expert in the region.”

At a spot, just off the highest motorable point on the mountain, Jais offers a natural viewing deck which will now be developed into a proper site. “The third will be a viewing deck which overlooks the port and sea. The viewing deck will also have a few food and beverage offerings, with a picnic area,” Mattar revealed.

The RAK tourism chief also said that “the other seven sites that we have identified, will be opened to investors after we have established ours”.

Ras Al Khaimah will be looking at getting into the record books as it studies the feasibility of a zip line. “We will also be launching the longest zip line in the world, we are currently studying the safety aspects of it,” he said.