The UAE's northernmost emirate has been included in Time magazine's World's Greatest Places of 2022. The annual list, which features 50 must-visit global destinations, picked Ras Al Khaimah for its adventure offerings and "stunning geodiversity".
"The UAE’s fourth largest emirate continues to attract thrill seekers with its superlative outdoor adventure offerings," the magazine says.
The list, compiled by Time's international network of correspondents and contributors, is put together every year to highlight places that offer new and exciting experiences.
Doha is the only other destination from the Gulf that made it to the list, picked for all the attractions associated with the coming Fifa World Cup 2022.
Other destinations include Dolni Morava in the Czech Republic, chosen for its views; Kerala in India for ecotourism; the Trans Bhutan Trail in Bhutan for "breathtaking pilgrimage" and even the International Space Station for its "out of this world" experience. The full list can be found here.
Top adventure destination
Home to Jebel Jais, the UAE's highest peak, Ras Al Khaimah has been building a reputation as a top adventure destination.
In February, Jais Sledder, the region's longest toboggan ride, opened to the public. The 1,885-metre alpine coaster winds down through the Hajar Mountains, offering riders panoramic views as they go.
Jais Wings, the first dedicated paragliding site in the Gulf, is also set to open later this year in Jebel Jais, as well as Jais Swing, which will offer unrivalled views and is sure to be popular with Instagram users.
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said the new attractions will "integrate seamlessly into the mountain ecosystem”. The enhancements on Jebel Jais are part of the Dh500 million investment announced last year by the authority.
Also set to open in 2022 is Earth Altitude, a pop-up hotel, with 15 eco accommodation units and a swimming pool, and Cloud7 Camp Jebel Jais, a sustainable glamping experience with 30 accommodation units.
Basecamp Jais, another planned attraction, will offer affordable stays and will be a leisure hub, with yoga and cultural experiences.
The world’s first Bear Grylls Explorers Camp, by the famous British adventurer, opened in 2020, equipping would-be adventurers with all the survival tips and skills they need to make it in the wilderness.
The courses are run by experts trained at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy in the UK, and include half-day options, lasting three to four hours, as well as eight and 24 and 48-hour options.
The world's longest zip line can also be found in Ras Al Khaimah. The 2.8-kilometre Guinness World Records-certified Toroverde zip line is set 1,680 metres above sea level, allowing visitors to enjoy breathtaking views across the Hajar Mountains.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make
When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.
“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.
This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).
|
Age
|
$250 a month
|
$500 a month
|
$1,000 a month
|
|
25
|
$640,829
|
$1,281,657
|
$2,563,315
|
|
35
|
$303,219
|
$606,439
|
$1,212,877
|
|
45
|
$131,596
|
$263,191
|
$526,382
|
|
55
|
$44,351
|
$88,702
|
$177,403
|
RESULT
Kolkata Knight Riders 169-7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals 144-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata win by 25 runs
Next match
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, Friday, 5.30pm
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
