Marjan Lifestyle is developing an 80km Grand Loop trail on Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak, alongside a five-day Via Ferrata route, as part of a broader expansion of the mountain’s trail and climbing network in Ras Al Khaimah.
The programme was announced by Marjan Lifestyle, a subsidiary of Marjan, the investment, hospitality and lifestyle company behind major Ras Al Khaimah projects including Al Marjan Island and RAK Central. Work on the trail network is ongoing through the 2026–27 season.
What the Jebel Jais Grand Loop trail involves
The Grand Loop will link existing trails across Jebel Jais with new connections, creating a multi-day route for hiking, climbing, camping, cycling and exploration. No opening date has been announced.
The second major addition is a five-day Via Ferrata spanning up to 20km across four sections of varying difficulty along the cliffs of northern Ras Al Khaimah. A network of mountain shelters, accessible only on foot, will support the route.
Work is also under way to develop new climbing routes and establish standards for a more consistently managed climbing network across the mountain.
Trail rehabilitation and environmental baseline
Rehabilitation is progressing at Wadi Khammed–Hidden Oasis, where teams are improving existing sections and adding interlinking trails. Professional trail builders are working on trail width, grade mitigation and rock crossings. Wayfinding signage is being introduced ahead of the season opening, and mountain rescue support will be provided across the network.
The programme draws on a biodiversity assessment by Ajaz Environment Consultants, which recorded 45 plant species, 29 bird species and eight mammal species across the Jebel Jais survey area. Species documented included the Arabian red fox, Afro-Asiatic wildcat, Brandt’s hedgehog and Arabian spiny mouse. The findings will serve as a baseline for future environmental monitoring and inform trail planning and habitat protection.
Donald Bremner, CEO of Marjan Lifestyle, said the aim was to make the mountain itself the destination. ‘The Grand Loop and Via Ferrata give people the ability to experience it over a longer journey, but getting the fundamentals right is just as important,’ he said, adding that this covers how trails are built, how people navigate them, how climbing is managed and how the surrounding environment is protected.
Context: Ras Al Khaimah’s broader tourism push
Marjan’s portfolio, detailed on Marjan’s leadership and project page, spans Jebel Jais alongside coastal developments including Al Marjan Island and Marjan Beach. Al Marjan Island covers four coral-shaped islands with 23 kilometres of coastline, and Marjan has said development plots there are sold out.
Tourism figures cited by Marjan and attributed to the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority show the emirate recorded 1 million overnight guests in 2025 and is targeting 2.75 million by 2030. Hotel key capacity stood at more than 7,700 in 2025, with a forecast of 19,800 by 2030.
For those wanting to visit Jebel Jais before the new routes open, Visit Jebel Jais lists guided hikes at Dh200 per person, including a 3.5km beginner route and a 9km loop, both separate from the Grand Loop and Via Ferrata under development.
Marjan Lifestyle has said trail and climbing improvements will continue through the 2026–27 season, with the biodiversity data from the Ajaz assessment to be used as a benchmark for subsequent surveys.
