Temperatures on the UAE’s highest peak, Jebel Jais, plunged to 3.5 °C in the early hours of 20 December, the lowest reading recorded nationwide this winter, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. In response to gusty winds and slick conditions, adventure-operator ‘Visit Jebel Jais’ suspended its flagship ‘Jais Flight’ zip-line and ‘Sky Tour’ until at least mid-day on 20 December, with reopening dependent on real-time weather assessments.
The decision follows a broader pattern of tourism-site closures across the Emirates during the current spell of unsettled weather. While domestic travel to mountain sites continues to boom—especially among weekend visitors and corporate team-building groups—the authorities prioritise safety over revenue when wind chill and visibility deteriorate.
Travel-risk specialists recommend that companies running incentive trips to Ras Al Khaimah include force-majeure clauses in contracts and brief participants on cold-weather gear requirements unfamiliar to many Gulf-based residents.
![Mountain cold snap closes Jebel Jais attractions, highlighting winter-season safety protocols]()
For international travellers keen to experience Jebel Jais’s alpine-like conditions, VisaHQ can fast-track UAE entry permits online and advise on the latest documentation rules—saving time that might otherwise be lost to embassy queues. Their step-by-step platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) is useful for individuals as well as corporate travel coordinators who need to secure multiple visas for team-building retreats in Ras Al Khaimah or elsewhere in the Emirates.
On the mobility front, road access up the mountain remains open, but motorists are advised to check tyre tread and allow extra braking distance on damp hairpin bends. The RAK Police have deployed patrols to enforce speed limits and assist with any breakdowns.
The episode is a timely reminder that the UAE’s winter micro-climates—ranging from coastal humidity to alpine frost—can impact last-mile logistics, event planning and employee wellbeing.
The decision follows a broader pattern of tourism-site closures across the Emirates during the current spell of unsettled weather. While domestic travel to mountain sites continues to boom—especially among weekend visitors and corporate team-building groups—the authorities prioritise safety over revenue when wind chill and visibility deteriorate.
Travel-risk specialists recommend that companies running incentive trips to Ras Al Khaimah include force-majeure clauses in contracts and brief participants on cold-weather gear requirements unfamiliar to many Gulf-based residents.
For international travellers keen to experience Jebel Jais’s alpine-like conditions, VisaHQ can fast-track UAE entry permits online and advise on the latest documentation rules—saving time that might otherwise be lost to embassy queues. Their step-by-step platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) is useful for individuals as well as corporate travel coordinators who need to secure multiple visas for team-building retreats in Ras Al Khaimah or elsewhere in the Emirates.
On the mobility front, road access up the mountain remains open, but motorists are advised to check tyre tread and allow extra braking distance on damp hairpin bends. The RAK Police have deployed patrols to enforce speed limits and assist with any breakdowns.
The episode is a timely reminder that the UAE’s winter micro-climates—ranging from coastal humidity to alpine frost—can impact last-mile logistics, event planning and employee wellbeing.
