The UAE's tallest mountain is about to become a proper long-distance trekking destination. Marjan Lifestyle has announced a batch of new adventure projects for Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, headlined by an 80km multi-day route called The Grand Loop. Rather than carving brand-new trails through untouched terrain, the plan mostly links up existing hiking segments into one consolidated circuit through the Hajar Mountains — a genuine bucket-list tick for trekkers who thought the Emirates was all malls and skyscrapers.
The second big announcement is an expansion of the mountain's Via Ferrata, the fixed-rope climbing route where metal rungs and cables are bolted into the cliff face. The upgraded version takes inspiration from the Via Delle Bocchette in Italy's Brenta Dolomites and will stretch up to 20km, with multiple mountain shelters built along the way. Anyone attempting the full course should budget five days, so this is a serious commitment — and a rough one if you're even slightly uneasy with heights.
There's more in the pipeline beyond the two headline projects. Wadi Khammed, nicknamed the Hidden Oasis, will be made easier to reach with new entry points and wayfinding signage as part of a wider trail rehabilitation effort. Fresh climbing routes are also being established across the mountain for anyone who enjoys clipping carabiners with sweaty palms.
The developments sit alongside Jebel Jais's existing adventure line-up, which already includes Jais Flight — the world's longest zipline — the Jais Sledder toboggan run down the rocky slopes, and the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp. Marjan Lifestyle says the work will be done with a focus on protecting local wildlife and better understanding the mountain's biodiversity. As CEO Donald Bremner put it, the aim is to make the mountain itself the destination, starting with how the trails are built, navigated and managed.
For travellers, this is a notable shift in what the UAE offers. RAK has been courting the adventure market for a while, but an 80km loop and a five-day iron-path route put Jebel Jais in the same conversation as long-distance trekking destinations elsewhere in the region and beyond. Hikers who've already ticked off the zipline and sledder now have a reason to plan a return trip — and anyone who's dismissed the UAE as a purely urban stopover might want to reconsider. Expect the projects to roll out over the coming period; until then, the existing Via Ferrata, zipline and camp remain open and bookable.
