Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has entered into an agreement with Mantis to operate an upcoming luxury camp project on Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE.

The announcement was made by Haitham Mattar, chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, and John Hanna, managing director of Mantis UK, during a signing ceremony at the annual ITB Berlin.

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 ten 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 two 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 centre, kids’ play area, fire pit, and a restaurant.

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

Mattar 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.

“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 recognised destination attracting close to 1.5 million visitors by 2021, and three million visitors by 2025.”

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.

Hanna added: “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.”

More Information

Breaking Travel News caught up with Mantis Group UK managing director, John Hanna, during ITB Berlin to find out more about the upcoming project: