When people plan a holiday to the UAE, they know that they will be enjoying desert safaris, iconic buildings, water sports and shopping malls. Most people are unaware of the natural scenic beauty of the mountains in the country. While Jebel Hafeet on the outskirts of Al Ain might be the most popular and most visited mountain, Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah is the tallest mountain at 5,700ft or 1900m above sea level.
Jebel Jais is a popular location for bikers and sports car drivers, as the thrill of snaking their way up through the curvy roads between rocky hills is one of a kind in the UAE. Gulf News reader Sreeranj Sreedhar took the adventure ride to the top of the mountain to capture the mesmerising view. He said: “I was spellbound as the temperature significantly dropped and I found myself in a place above the clouds. For now Jebel Jais is not that popular amongst residents and tourists, but I can see in the near future it will be a much-loved destination.”
Sreedhar said that the road construction at the top looks like it is in the final stage.
Beyond being the highest mountain, Jebel Jais cluster is also one of the coldest areas of the UAE. The mountain peak usually has a temperature gradient of 10 – 13 degree Celsius. According to a previous Gulf News report, in January 2009 the temperature at the peak dropped down to -3 degree Celsius and the range was covered with 10 centimetres of snow.
The Jebel Jais mountain cluster is situated around 25km from Ras Al Khaimah city, 100km from Dubai and about 250km from Abu Dhabi.
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