Jebel Jais happens to be the highest mountain peak within the United Arab Emirates, and is situated in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, and is part of the Hajar Mountains. It is located at an elevation of about 1900 m (approximately 5800 ft) above sea level and is about 30 km from the Ras Al Khaimah city area. The distance from Dubai to Jebel Jais is about 180 km, and from Abu Dhabi is about 260 km.

Passing the Lantern roundabout near the RAK Hospital, you need to keep driving towards the mountains, where a small board points you in the direction of Jebel Jais. The mountains appear to your left, until you reach the smooth and flat asphalt that takes you to the top. From here it is about 25 kilometers to the top. Google Maps does a decent job of getting you to the location.

We were a few families, really looking forward to heading out for a day trip within the United Arab Emirates. We wanted to make this a family vacation. We had children and seniors on our team and therefore needed to find a place that was welcoming and fun. Jebel Jais came up as a new track and we expanded it as our next location. One weekend in March, when the temperature was still good for a sunny day, we packed up our full rations of food, water, snacks, and the necessary supplies. Our intention was also to have a big barbecue there in Jebel Jais.

The journey from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah was easy and we took Mohammad Bin Jayed Road E 311 (Old Emirates Road). Once we reach Ras Al Khaimah, we take the signs in the direction of Jebel Jais. Parts of this stretch of about 10 kilometers are on unmarked stretches of broken, dusty and slightly rocky roads. Mind you, signs are very limited) and from then on it’s a wonderful ride, mostly on a smooth paved surface.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism is now actively investing to promote Jebel Jais as a weekend getaway destination in the United Arab Emirates. The Emirate has begun building a modernist hotel and a paragliding runway at this location.

We were grouped in three cars, including a Toyota Corolla, a Nissan Altima, and a Mitsubishi Pajero. Although you may read that it is not, it is quite possible to use a sedan car to reach Jebel Jais. But don’t wander off the roads, stay on the beaten path if you drive a vehicle that is not an SUV.

The view on this 25 kilometer stretch to the top (or almost to the top) is simply breathtaking. Jaggy tops rise on three sides of you as you drive into the lap of the mountains, panoramic views of rocky valleys stretch out on one side, gorges can be seen in different directions, and we tackle around eight hairpin turns. until we got to the top. It takes about 45 minutes from the RAK city area to get here. We have driven to most places in the UAE and this forty odd minute scenic drive beats the others hands down. It is fantastically stimulating.

As you get to the top you will find that the last 5 km or so have been blocked off (as of March 2015) as the paved roads were still being built. It was mostly stretches of rocks and rubble, from the last checkpoint on the route up. Along the highest sections of the route, in different turns, parking lots and toilets have been set up for those most in need. Again, the state of these toilets was not a cause for joy, but it’s still an option. Parking spaces have been built at vantage points along the route, where it feels great to park for a while and absorb the beauty and serenity of the mountains that surround you.

The temperature drops continuously as you climb to the summit, and the drop is almost 10 degrees Celsius compared to the city below, and that was a very welcome change. It has been reported that the summit of Jebel Jais received quite a few inches of snow in 2004 and then in 2009. This is surely the coldest point in the United Arab Emirates.

Once we got to the end of the black Armac road, where the last checkpoint prevents you from venturing any further, we turned around and drove through a couple of curves until we came into view of this hilly side road. The hilly road led us to a ridge on the side of the mountains which gave us a great vantage point along with some privacy. Over the ridge we could see the sea near the “ghailah” area of ​​the United Arab Emirates at the end of the horizon down over the mountains on the other side.

We parked our cars and unpacked our supplies and got ready for our big cookout. Mind you, there are no shops or cafes on this route (as of March 2015). Every drop of water and every morsel of food that is needed has to be brought here. We quickly spread out our supplies on the mat and got ready to fire up the charcoal grill. There were also some waste collection pits around here. Mats were placed on the floor and the women on our team helped us prepare the ingredients for the grill. In about 20 minutes we had a beautiful BBQ fire ready to grill. The sun warmed our backs in the middle of the little bite in the air.

The food was very good, the charcoal grill always has that special aroma and brings that exquisite softness to the chicken or lamb that you roast. We had also brought plentiful supplies of water and soft drinks to quench everyone’s thirst, and we also had sandwiches to nibble on until the grilled food was ready. We then all sat down and ate this hearty meal along with some hummus and garlic paste for the Lebanese wheat rolls we brought. The atmosphere was one of joy, people laughing, jokes and nonsense fun all the time. We enjoyed the great views all around us, the calm and serene rocky mountains, a rocky valley and gorge in front of us, and great views of the blue ocean below. The weather was fantastic and it was a time to relax and unwind from our stressful life in the city.

As evening approached, we boiled a pot of hot water to make ourselves some instant coffee. The adults shrugged it off too and had their few moments of extreme fun, tackling extreme rocks and boulders for a better panoramic view. and the cold increased with the setting of the sun.

With the approach of darkness, we could slowly see the lights of the cities below us come to life. Major highways looked like glowing ribbons on the evening horizon, while little trinkets of lights illuminated residential and business districts. When night fell, we packed our things in the car. Note that the street lights are very few and the parking areas have their lights on until it was around seven, after which they were turned off.

Navigating back up the steep paths and hairpin turns towards the civilizations was guided by the moon. All in all, Jebel Jais is probably the best driving and mountain location in the United Arab Emirates. It needs more infrastructure at the moment, but it has already become a magnetic attraction for travel lovers in Dubai or the United Arab Emirates. Both visitors and residents, if you have a car, be sure to visit this destination. You would love it!!!