Jebel Jais stands at 1,934 metres, making it the highest peak in the United Arab Emirates, but height is only part of its story. Jebel Jais has one of the region’s most dramatic landscapes, shaped by more than 70 million years of geological change. It’s soaring peaks, rock faces and trails contribute to making Jebel Jais one of the premier extreme sport and adventure destinations in all of the Middle East. Conversely, the mountain is a place of quiet inspiration. The fresh air, peaceful stillness and sweeping vistas as far as the eye can see provide a welcome respite to urban life—inviting you to embrace a slower pace—reset, explore, and reconnect.https://visitjebeljais.com/about-us
The weather in the UAE is eventually cooler and that familiar longing for fresh air and serenity with nature grew passionately in us. My husband and I decided that it was the ideal time to go camping and what better place to escape to than Jebel Jais. The highest mountain in the UAE. We spent Thursday night preparing everything we needed. My husband packed the camping gear,tent, lights, mats and cooking set. I prepared our food supplies, warm clothes and little things that bring comfort like coffee, blankets and a portable speaker. The elation in our hearts kept us awake longer than usual. We weren’t just preparing a trip, we were allowing ourselves the reflection we both needed.
Our plan was simple. Right after my husband ends work on Friday we go off the road. Our hearts were full of excitement. The drive was long but relaxing. The route to Jebel Jais is like path to another world. There were only a few cars on the way up. The silence of the mountains greeted us. We drove past quiet desert plains and soon small rocky hills began to appear beside us. The higher we went the more stirring the scenery became. Tall cliffs, rugged rock walls and giant formations carved by time and nature. Their layered cliffs showed millions of years of history. Some rocks had unique formations and I even spotted one with a small cave opening. Nature was telling its story through every stone.
The road twisted clasping the mountains as it ascended. My husband focused carefully while driving the sharp curves, while I admired the breathtaking surroundings, until motion dizziness forced me to put my phone down and stop taking photos for a while. The altitude, the turns and the excitement were too much at once! As we climbed higher, hazy began to appear, wrapping the mountains in a mysterious blanket. It's like entering another world, quiet and raw.
My husband checked a few spots along the way but none of them felt quite right. A few had uneven ground that wouldn’t be comfortable for our tent. We decided to keep going. We reached the last viewing deck, where the road ahead was blocked by a barrier. Vehicles could no longer go beyond that point. My husband saw a small area nearby that looked ideal for camping and we looked for a space to park our car. Fortunately we found a site just in front of the area he had chosen. It makes it easy to unload our gear and set up our tent while enjoying the awesome view surrounding us.
The sun had already disappeared and darkness slowly embraced the mountains. We pitched our tent infont of the two big rocks that acted as natural protection. My husband grilled pork for dinner. The charred smell of barbecue stirred with the cold mountain air. We sat outside our tent after dinner. We talked about life and how grateful we were for this moment. A simple escape, yet so meaningful. Nature has a way of prompting us how small we are but also how thankful we can be.
My husband awakened me early the next day. He already prepared coffee and noodles our favorite camping breakfast. The temperature had plopped to 18°C and the air was cold. I stepped outside, stretched and walked around to enjoy the morning calm. I sat on a huge rock sipping my coffee calmly. I could see boundless mountain crests perishing into the distance. An ideal spot to seize a photo of the winding road mounting the rocky barren mountainside. The multiple hairpin turns snaking alluringly up the sharp slant. I closed my eyes and gasped deeply. Peace. That’s the only word that describes that morning. Even the goats that walked freely around our campsite made the moment feel even more natural and peaceful.
After breakfast, we decided to hike uphill but then changed direction when we noticed a lower viewing area beneath the upper deck. Going downhill was risky because of loose gravel. So we walked carefully. The sight took our breath away. An awesome terrain of rough slopes, deep valleys and bedded mountains unbending endlessly. The sunrise had already passed but the sky still fetched a mystic glow of orange and gold along the horizon. The scenery made us pause and just take it in.
We continued walking until we reached a gated path where no cars were allowed. We entered and followed the quiet road the scenery took our breath away. It was surrounded by massive stone formations. Every step made us value the raw charm of the place even more. I told my husband to take some photos of me sitting in the middle of the empty road. Something about that moment felt free and memorable.
When we returned to our tent, we packed our things slowly. Before getting into the car, I halted. I looked at the mountains one more time and murmured a silent thank you. We came to Jebel Jais looking for venture but we found something deeper, lucidity, connection and peace. Sometimes, the mountains don’t just give you views, they give you moments that stay with you forever.
Photos taken using Samsung S25 Ultra
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