RAS AL KHA IMAH
Emerging emirate A low rise city surrounded by white beaches, green oases and the spectacular Hajar mountain range, Ras Al Khaimah is brimming with history, culture, luxury and adventure. Holly Patrick plans an itinerary in the UAE’s most northern emirate
Above: Sonara Camp Al Wadi
Day one Getting there: While there aren’t currently any direct flights from the UK to Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai International Airport is just a 45-minute car journey away. Check-in: Ras Al Khaimah prioritises luxury, with a range of high-end hotels and privately owned, hireable properties. One of the most popular business hotels is Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah with 346 guest rooms and suits and 11,000 sqm of meeting space. For an incentive group, the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa features 475 guest rooms, including 151 villas. Morning conference: The Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre (AHIECC) the first dedicated meetings and events facility in the region. The 4,500 sqm convention centre contains 2,700 sqm of exhibition space. It’s conveniently located close to hotels, a championship golf course, a shopping mall
and restaurants. Team building activity: The Jais Flight is the longest zipline in the world at 2.83km and a favourite among visitors. Delegates can soar across mountain peaks and swoop through deep ravines at more than 90 mph. Pre-dinner drinks reception: 1484 by Puro is the highest restaurant in the UAE. Located up in the Jebel Jais mountains, the restaurant and its terrace provide breathtaking lunar-esque views. In this otherworldly restaurant, the menu has been created to reflect the multiculturalism of the UAE withThai, Italian, Korean and Arabic flavours on offer. Day two Networking lunch: The Marina Muse at the Al Hamra Yacht Clubhouse offers private space, ideal for networking and meetings in an exclusive setting. It boasts an open-air terrace shaded with oversized sails where
food and drink can be served. Incentive idea: Take a seaplane tour from Dubai Creek, a 45-minute car journey from Ras Al Khaimah, and fly high above the famous skylines of the UAE. Up the coastline, across the deserts and over the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah. A stop off at Al Marjan Island provides refreshments before flying back across the UAE. Gala dinner venue: It’s sacrilege to visit a desert region and not explore the terracotta sand dunes and all their wonders. A gala dinner in the middle of the desert is a popular way to wrap up an event and the Sonara Camp Al Wadi, set in the grounds of the Ritz Carlton Al Wadi in the beauty of the Arabian wilderness, is the perfect place. Guests can enjoy dinner surrounded by sand dunes, oryx and gazelle. Extra entertainment including camel rides, sandboarding, volleyball and falcon shows can also be laid on.
Below: 1484 by Puro provides breathtaking views
Good to know
Ras Al Khaimah has launched a series of new initiatives to support business tourists in 2022, including: flexible rates at Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre facility; waive of permit fees; free PCR tests for delegates; free extension of hotel stay for those who test Covid positive; free medical coverage; and reduced delegate rates for attractions. UK passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in the UAE.
62 SPRING/SUMMER 2022 mitmagazine.co.uk
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