THE LUB-DUB OF MY thumping heart grew louder with every passing second, until it seemed to drown the wail of the wind whooshing through the mountains. My throat was parched as I surveyed the landscape of the rugged Hajar mountains from my vantage point atop Jebel Jais (visitjebeljais.com), the highest peak in the UAE. Having done numerous hikes across the mighty Himalayas and the Alps, this 1,934-metre-high mountain should’ve barely caused any concern—if only I wasn’t about to fly down from it at hair-raising speed on the world’s longest zipline! The thrill coursing through my veins was electrifying, a feeling I’d soon get accustomed to through various adventures in Ras Al Khaimah.
The oldest of the seven emirates that
