Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) entered into agreement with Mantis to operate the upcoming ‘Luxury Camp’ project on Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE. The announcement was made yesterday by Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and John Hannah, MD of Mantis UK during a signing ceremony at the annual ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair.

The luxury mountain camp will be located at the height of approximately 600 to 700 metres above sea-level – on Jebel Jais offering visitors spectacular mountain views of the Hajar mountains, and a year-round retreat with temperatures around 10 degrees cooler than the rest of UAE.

Expected to be completed in 2020, the tented camp will comprise a total of 47 luxury units – 34 deluxe tents, 11 one-bedroom tented suites with a private pool, and 2 two-bedroom tented suites with a private pool – complemented further by state-of-the-art facilities such as a health club, heated pool, spa & wellness center, kids’ play area, fire pit, and a restaurant.

The eco-tourism project complements the array of adventure tourism attractions currently on offer in the Emirate and will feature the latest technology to minimize energy use and conserve water.

Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said: “ITB Berlin is a significant platform to interact with the global travel market, and to promote Ras Al Khaimah’s breadth of outdoor offerings that range from pristine beaches and stunning desert landscape to the spectacular mountain range of Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak. Jebel Jais remains core to Ras Al Khaimah’s proposition as we capitalize on the global adventure tourism industry to secure further interest from investors in this growing segment. With the right investment and the use of best practice to develop sustainable tourism, we envision a globally recognized destination attracting close to 1.5 million visitors by 2021, and 3 million visitors by 2025”.

“The launch of the luxury camp project further demonstrates the Emirate’s commitment to attracting investments in eco-friendly and sustainable tourism products. Ras Al Khaimah has already made many significant steps towards affirming its position as a sustainable destination, and through the continued collaboration with hospitality partners, the Emirate is on track to realize its vision to become a sustainable and competitive tourism destination, and a leading contributor to Ras Al Khaimah’s economy,” added Mattar.

John Hanna, MD of Mantis UK said: “We are extremely grateful to the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority for their trust in us in contributing to the Emirate’s ever-expanding tourism industry. The luxury camp is going to be a unique destination that aims to attract a broad range of guests. We look forward to its opening next year and hope to set a new benchmark in the fastest growing tourist destination in the region. With a growing number of visitors to Ras Al Khaimah, the luxury camp is a valuable addition to the unique outdoor experiences that the Emirate offers.”

Over the last few years, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority launched three new eco-friendly adventure-based projects on the UAE’s highest mountain Jebel Jais – positioning it as the nature adventure hub of the Middle East and complementing the offering of the neighbouring Emirates. These include the Arabian Gulf’s first commercial Via Ferrata (iron path) which features hiking and zip-line challenges, the viewing deck park and the Jebel Jais Flight: the world’s longest zip-line which has welcomed over 25,000 flyers since its launch a year ago.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority recently announced the launch of its new Destination Strategy 2019-2021. The strategic three-year programme will focus on diversifying the emirate’s tourism offering to attract a wider segment of tourists and higher yield visitors looking for authentic experiences. This will attract foreign and local investment within the tourism sector, nurturing home-grown small and medium enterprises to create further employment and business opportunities for Emiratis, whilst prioritizing sustainable nature-based adventure and authentic cultural experiences.