There’s more to this emirate than the flashy makeover that has made it a resort and adventure destination over the past several years. Here are ways to discover RAK’s well-preserved traditions — but with a modern twist.
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Jebel Jais, the tallest mountain in the UAE, delivers all the stillness and serenity you could hope for from a natural behemoth that stands 6,345 feet above sea level and delivers over 70 million years of history during one hike.
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During racing season, the colorfully adorned camels stretching their legs on this lengthy track are marvelous to watch — and so are the racers who control their robot jockeys from their air-conditioned 4X4s as they drive alongside the track.
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For over 100 years, the inhabitants of Al Jazirah Al Hamra earned their living from the flourishing pearl trade. Following a tribal dispute, one day the villagers upped and left, leaving behind what is tantamount to an open-air museum.
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The Al Marjan Night Market was created in the style of a traditional Arabic flea market, and it’s where you can cut a deal on pieces you won’t find in stores, as well as enjoy nightly entertainment and food from light bites to sit-down meals.
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At Al Fanar Restaurant and Café, patrons come for the dishes — highlights include the Beidh wa tomat and the Machboos deyay — and stay for the traditional architecture and ambience, which the restaurant likes to describe as “Dubai in the 1960s.”
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