Ras Al Khaimah is set to see a significant upgrade of hiking and climbing infrastructure on Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak, including an 80 kilometre multi-day route known as the Grand Loop.
The main trail, which will link existing tracks on the mountain with new connections, will allow hikers, climbers, cyclists, campers and tourists to explore the area, said Marjan, the Ras Al Khaimah-based investment and hospitality developer that is responsible for some of the emirate’s key projects, including Al Marjan Island and RAK Central. It is part of a wider push to make the mountain a standalone tourism destination rather than a day-trip experience.
Alongside the Grand Loop there is a second key project – a five-day Via Ferrata that will stretch up to 20 kilometres across the cliffs of Ras Al Khaimah’s north, offering different grades of technical climbing and split into four sections.
Its trail will also be accompanied by mountain shelters accessible only on foot, for those more serious about multi-day mountaineering.
Beyond the two flagship routes, developers are also working on new climbing paths and stricter standards to bring greater consistency to the emirate’s climbing network.
Rehabilitation work is already under way at Wadi Khammed–Hidden Oasis, where existing trails are being upgraded and new interlinking paths added, using professional trail-building methods, improved wayfinding signage, and dedicated attention to trail width, grading and rock crossings. Mountain rescue support will also be extended across the network, working alongside the relevant emergency authorities.
The expansion is grounded in an ecological survey conducted by Ajaz Environment Consultants, which documented 45 plant species, 29 bird species and eight mammal species in the Jebel Jais area, including the Arabian red fox, Afro-Asiatic wildcat and Brandt’s hedgehog. The data will guide trail planning and habitat protection, and serve as a benchmark for future environmental monitoring.
“The opportunity on Jebel Jais is to make the mountain itself the destination,” said Donald Bremner, CEO of Marjan Lifestyle, adding that getting trail-building, navigation and climbing management right was central to preserving the mountain’s character for the long term. Development is expected to continue through the 2026–27 season.
