Do you dare to take a leap of faith with nothing but a safety harness holding you up as you dangle 1,680 metres up in the air?
If this sounds like just the thrill you need for the average UAE weekend adventure, then the world’s longest zip-line in Ras Al Khaimah is just the ticket to satiate the adrenaline junkie in you.
Ras Al Khaimah has achieved a Guinness World Record title for the World’s Longest Zipline’.
The official certification was handed over today to HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, by Hoda Khachab, the official adjudicator from Guinness World Records.
Watch
Ras Al Khaimah achieves Guinness World Record title for the World’s Longest Zipline.
How long is the world's longest zipline?
The 2,800-metre long attraction that has been launched by the RAK Tourism Development Authority, perches itself above the towering peak of Jebel Jais mountain.
To put things into perspective, the zip-line stretches across the length of 28 soccer fields. And if the scale left any doubt, the dizzying height of Burj Khalifa is 830 metres.
How much does it cost?
The ride itself is priced at Dh650, with bookings now open on its site for those who feel that bit of adventure is missing from their life.
In its first phase, the zip-line attraction will accommodate 250 people a day, according to its official site.
Follow our live updates here:
Gulf News tabloid! Deputy Editor, Bindu Rai is on the ground reporting live and experiencing the world's longest zipline for the first time. Here she is at the top of Jebel Jais.
Here she is getting ready to try the world's longest zipline ever!
1.45pm
Its over now! Check out Bindu's adrenaline fueled reaction to the experience.
12.40pm
Bindu Rai is ready to soar! Watch her take off here:
12.20am
Look who is up next!
12.05pm
The final briefing just before we go flying!
11.50am
We are still a few minutes away from launch
11.28am
11.21am
The platform is here!
11.19am
11.10am
We are ready to go!
11.05am
Here we are getting strapped in.
The professionals are here to help
10.50am
The safety briefing has begun. They explain the seat harness to us and explain exactly where our legs should go.
10.45am
Here we are getting ready!
All the equipment is right here
10.35am
I am just tall enough to make it. You have to be 1.20m to go on this ride.
We've just arrived at the welcome centre. They are checking our weight and we are reading through wavers to sign our life away (just kidding).
10.20am
The minivan has arrived and we are finally making the journey up north to the very top of the mountain.
9.55am
A zipliner taking in a pensive moment before the adventure.
9.50am
We have finally reached the parking for the zipline. Loads of travellers have set up tents. The altitude is around 1500m with minivans escorting us the rest of the way
9.32am
We are still on our way up the mountain. Here's what the path looks like.
9.20am
We are good 30km into the RAK mountain range and the only sign of life we have seen in the wadis are small herds of goats.
The majestic view is a sight to behold.
7.20am
7.20am and a chilly 1 degree at our destination - Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah. The drive itself should take us a little less than 2.5 hours before we come face to face with the world's longest zipline.
What is the journey like?
For those of you who sign on for the new record-breaking zip-line adventure, the journey begins with a drive into the very heart of the RAK mountain range where a welcome centre greets you first. The pit stop probably also serves as a last minute attempt to break-free before you a transported upwards to land on to a transparent launch platform, perched 326 stories above sea level.
A brief safety briefing and a chance to take the much important selfie will ready you before your are strapped in for the adventure of your lifetime. Be warned, you may be told not to look down as you fly across the sky at speeds up to 150km/h, but what’s the fun if you aren’t looking down screaming as the picturesque wadis of the RAK mountain range whisk by.
Lasting a couple of minutes, the first leg of the adventure lands you at a similar transparent platform suspended 15 stories high from where you take off for the next zip-line ride. Once the journey is complete, you are escorted back to the welcome centre for that final Insta shot.
Access to the attraction is a coveted ticket, but if secured, you are ensured a promising adventure, one that would even rival ‘The Monster’ zip-line that has scared many into submission at the Toro Verde adventure park in Puerto Rico, stretching an impressive length of 2,200 metres.
Incidentally, Toro Verde also operates the RAK counterpart at Jebel Jais, including the Via Ferrata adventure that entails flying across three zip-lines as you travel more than 1km along the emirate’s popular mountain route.
Fast facts
2,800 metres long: The RAK Tourism Development Authority has stated this zip-line will be the length of 28 soccer fields.
2,200 metres: That’s the length of the previous world record holder called ‘The Monster’ in Toro Verde’s adventure park in Puerto Rico.
830 metres is the height of Burj Khalifa
1,680 meters is the height at which you will travel along the zip-line
150 km/h is the speed at which a person will travel along the zip-line
35kg is the minimum weight
150kg is the maximum weight
120cm minimum height
1km is the length of the world’s longest urban zip-line, situated in Dubai Marina
