Following the announcement that the European Challenge Tour’s Grand Final is moving to Ras Al Khaimah, we thought we’d look at ten things you might not know about the emirate.
Top of the tent
The Arabic name ‘Ras Al Khaimah’ means ‘top of the tent’, referring to its location in the northernmost part of the United Arab Emirates. The area is located around an hour’s drive from Dubai and offers similar beautiful beaches and luxurious hotels to its more popular neighbour, but without the hustle and bustle of city life.
The highest peak
Jebel Jais is the highest mountain in the United Arab Emirates, standing at an eyewatering 1,934 metres above sea level. Part of the incredible Hajar Mountains, which were formed over seven million years ago, a newly-built 30-kilometre road offers a breath-taking backdrop for hikers, mountain bikers and those looking for a scenic driving route. On average, the temperature at the mountain’s peak is ten degrees lower than in Ras Al Khaimah itself.
Strap yourself in
The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is home to the world’s longest zipline, a feat recognised by Guinness World Records. Jebel Jais Flight officially opened in February of this year and HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ras Al Khaimah’s ruler, was the first person to complete it. The zipline measures 2.83 kilometres in length, the equivalent of 28 football pitches, and runs through the mountains of Jebel Jais at a height of 1,680 metres above sea level.
Did you hear that!?
Perhaps the most notorious attraction in Ras Al Khaimah is the Jazirat Al Hamra village, better known as Ghost Town. The ruins of this abandoned village are rumoured to be haunted by jinns, spiritual creatures in Islam and Arabic folklore. It was the ancestral home of the Zaabi family who left Ras Al Khaimah following an ongoing dispute with the ruler and everyday items such as receipts, telephone numbers and old electrical fittings can still be found today.
Name in lights
Hollywood star Brad Pitt’s 2017 Netflix Original film War Machine is a satirical war movie set in Afghanistan and Pakistan – or is it? Based around a fictionalised version of events surrounding US Army General Stanley McChrystal, the screenplay was actually filmed in Ras Al Khaimah. Jazirat Al Hamra was turned into a Pakistani village and military basecamp, while the Hajar Mountains provided the backdrop for the rugged terrain which was portrayed as Afghanistan.
Poetry in motion
The UAE has a generic reputation for folklore, folk music and other traditional art forms which represent the values of its communities. Al Wahabiyya is one of the oldest art forms of Ras Al Khaimah and is performed only in the emirate. The art form encompasses poetry, music and dance and is usually performed on special occasions, feast days and at wedding parties.
Where did it go?
Most people have heard of the famous lost cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, but the chances are you have not heard of Julfar. Located slightly to the north of present-day Ras Al Khaimah, Julfar was reportedly more important than London in its heyday, between the tenth and 14thcenturies. During that time, Arab merchants routinely made mammoth 18-month sea voyages to China and traded scores of different goods, with Julfar being a critical link between Europe and Asia.
Up and coming
Although not a traditional golfing location, Ras Al Khaimah became a Challenge Tour destination two years ago. Al Hamra Golf Club hosted the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Challenge in which Englishman Jordan Smith triumphed following a scintillating run of four birdies in five holes down the back nine to secure a finishing 66 and an overall total of 20 under par.
The Quiet emirate
The United Arab Emirates is known for its expensive shops, luxury cars and vast skyscrapers, but everything works a little differently in Ras Al Khaimah. While the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai often attract the rich and famous, Ras Al Khaimah relies on its rapidly growing tourist infrastructure to increase its popularity — besides hotels, there’s an emphasis on promoting the emirate’s ancient sites.
Man-made magnificence
Despite Ras Al Khaimah leaning on its deep-rooted history to attract tourism, they’re also exploring different avenues to achieve footfall in the emirate. Al Marjan Island is a group of four coral-shaped islands in a man-made archipelago and contains over 45 per cent of all five-star hotels in the emirate. The island group consists of Breeze Island, Treasure Island, Dream Island and View Island.
