Latest news with #JebelJais
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Eid Al Adha getaway: UAE expats say Jebel Jais' 10°C cooler air, views are 'perfect reset'
As the long Eid Al Adha weekend approaches, many UAE residents are looking for quick getaways to escape the summer heat. For those not planning international travel, Jebel Jais, the UAE's highest peak in Ras Al Khaimah, is proving to be a top pick among residents. About 10 degrees cooler than those in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the temperatures at Jebel Jais hover between 23°C and 30°C, the mountain offers a refreshing break from the city's heat. The cool breeze, winding roads, and peaceful views are drawing residents looking for a quiet and scenic escape. Unplanned trips Shadab Mannar, a digital marketing executive living in Al Nahda, visited Jebel Jais last weekend with a friend. 'We were just driving along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and decided to take a short trip last Sunday. We didn't really plan anything; we just felt like getting away,' he said. 'The city felt too hot and crowded, so we got in the car and ended up at Jebel Jais.' He added that the drive became more enjoyable as they climbed higher into the mountains. 'Honestly, the weather was so pleasant, especially as we went up. It didn't even feel like we were in Middle East summer. We stayed till after sunset, around 9.30 pm, just sitting there enjoying the calm. It was so peaceful and cool.' Shadab now plans to have a short trip with his cousins and friends during the Eid break. 'After that experience, we already decided to drive up again during the long weekend. It's just perfect,' he said. Similarly, Maria Fernandes, a PR executive in Dubai, also found herself at Jebel Jais earlier this week in an unplanned trip with her cousins visiting from Abu Dhabi. 'After lunch, we stepped out just to get some ice cream. One of our friends had to drive to Ras Al Khaimah for some work, so we tagged along,' she said. 'After his work, we were all thinking about what to do next, so we drove up the mountain.' Maria said the change in scenery and temperature was immediate. 'As soon as we hit the mountain road, the air felt cooler and lighter. We had brought sandwiches and tea in a flask, so we stopped at a viewpoint and had a little picnic.' 'It wasn't just the weather, it was the silence, the views, and the break we didn't know we needed. It felt like the perfect reset before starting the workweek again,' she said. 'Away from the malls' Zubair Ahmed, a father of three living in Abu Dhabi, is planning to take his family to Jebel Jais during the upcoming Eid break. 'We will be traveling to Dubai for lunch at my brother's place on Eid Al Adha and then head straight to Jebel Jais in the evening,' he said. 'We usually end up going to the mall or some indoor activity because of the heat. But this time, I wanted to do something different.' He added that several of his friends recently went to the mountain and had only good things to say. 'They told me it's much cooler there in the evenings. The kids are excited about the road trip, and I am just looking forward to spending some time outdoors with them, no screens, no noise, just fresh air and mountains.'
UAE Moments
4 days ago
- Climate
- UAE Moments
UAE Weather to Cool Down This Week After Hitting Near 50°C
After back-to-back days of intense heat, the UAE is finally expecting some relief. Weather officials say temperatures will start to go down from Monday, especially in coastal areas. Cooler air and light winds bring relief The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said the weather on Monday will be generally fair, with some patches of clouds. Temperatures are expected to drop gradually over the coming days, thanks to light to moderate southwesterly to northwesterly winds moving across the country. However, these winds might stir up some dust during the day. From almost 50°C to cooler mountain temps On Sunday, the hottest recorded temperature was 49.8°C in Mezaira, Al Dhafra, while the lowest was 22.5°C in Barakah 2, also in the Al Dhafra region. Meanwhile, temperatures in Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah could go as low as 25°C, offering a much cooler option for those looking to escape the heat. However, Abu Dhabi will remain hot, with highs still expected to hit 48°C in some areas. The drop may not be drastic for everyone, but for residents who've endured days near the 50°C mark, it's a step in the right direction.
UAE Moments
4 days ago
- Climate
- UAE Moments
UAE Weather May 26: Extreme Heat Reaches 48°C in Abu Dhabi
As of Monday, May 26, 2025, the United Arab Emirates is experiencing extremely hot weather conditions, with temperatures reaching up to 48°C in some areas. 🌡️ UAE Weather Overview – May 26, 2025 Abu Dhabi : Temperatures are expected to soar to 48°C (118°F) in certain areas, with clear skies and intense heat. Dubai : The forecast indicates sunny conditions with a high of approximately 35°C (95°F) and a low around 30°C (86°F). Ras Al Khaimah (Jebel Jais): A significant drop in temperature is anticipated, with lows reaching 25°C (77°F). 🌬️ Additional Weather Details Winds : Light to moderate southeasterly to northwesterly winds, freshening at times during the daytime, may cause blowing dust. Humidity : Humid conditions are expected in the morning over some coastal areas, with a probability of fog or mist formation. Sea Conditions: Seas are anticipated to be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea. ⚠️ Health & Safety Advisory Due to the extreme heat: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Avoid outdoor activities during peak sun hours (typically between 12 PM and 4 PM). Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Use sunscreen and wear a hat when outdoors. Be vigilant for signs of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke. For the most accurate and up-to-date weather information, consult the UAE's National Center of Meteorology at
Grazia USA
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Grazia USA
Inside The Middle East's First-Ever All-Women Supercar Rally In Dubai
Photo: Instagram @arabiangazelles The Arabian Gazelles aren't just revving engines – they're rewriting the rules of the road. Earlier this month, 20 trailblazing women from around the world came together to launch the Middle East's first-ever all-women supercar rally. Spearheaded by the pioneering collective Arabian Gazelles, the four-day journey was more than a showcase of luxury cars, it was a bold statement of visibility, power, and progress. From the sweeping coastlines of Fujairah to the mountain peaks of Jebel Jais and the golden dunes of Abu Dhabi, the group tore through stereotypes as much as it did tarmac. This wasn't simply about cars; it was about reclaiming space in a world that has long excluded women from the fast lane. The message was loud and clear: the supercar world is no longer a boys' club. The Arabian Gazelles have taken the wheel, asserting that elegance, ambition, and horsepower are not mutually exclusive – and that women belong in motorsport not as outliers, but as leaders. Photo: Instagram @arabiangazelles At the helm of this movement is Hanan Mazouzi Sobati, founder of Arabian Gazelles – the world's first all-female supercar owners' club. What began eight years ago as a bold response to the gender imbalance in car culture has become a global sisterhood fuelled by grit and glamour. 'We're not just behind the wheel,' says Sobati. 'We're leading the change, one powerful mile at a time.' She recalls the early days, attending car events alone, often on behalf of her husband, who wasn't even a car enthusiast. Back then, brands were hesitant to back an all-female initiative. Today, those same names are proudly on board, aligned with a movement that's shifting gears in the region and beyond. The rally launched with an adrenaline-fuelled BMW M Series track session at Dubai Autodrome before heading east along Fujairah's glittering coastline. Day two brought the group to the UAE's highest peak, where they tackled the sharp switchbacks of Jebel Jais. From there, it was on to the dreamlike desert landscape of Qasr Al Sarab in Abu Dhabi before a final glittering celebration at Delano Dubai. 'This is a rally with soul,' said co-organiser Ghita Mejdi, founder of The Kliff Project. 'Every detail was curated to honour the women driving it – trailblazers, storytellers, icons.' From engineers and entrepreneurs to creatives and mothers, the women behind the wheel carried with them a powerful message: inclusion, visibility, and fearless leadership belong in every lane. topics: Middle East, Dubai, ABU DHABI, cars, RALLY, WOMEN, SUPERCAR
The National
21-03-2025
- Business
- The National
RAKBank of the future: A tech firm with balance sheet, regulators and a big heart
After three decades of working with global lenders across the Middle East, western Europe, Asia and Africa, Raheel Ahmed felt the pace of change he had become so accustomed to in his whirlwind of a banking career was slowing. A new challenge was what was needed and that is exactly what he got when he chose Dubai over London to take the helm at RAKBank in January 2022. Rolling up his sleeves and diving in head first was what he did when he set about transforming the mid-tier lender into what he calls a 'digital bank with a human touch'. Plans are now in motion, targets are set, and the goal is to make RAKBank a Dh100 billion ($27 billion) asset lender by the end of the next year. Going by the progress so far, he may hit the goal before the deadline. 'If you ask my wife, she thinks I'm working harder and longer than I did in the past 10 years, but the good thing is, I'm excited to get out of bed every day because we are building something new,' Mr Ahmed tells The National. 'I'm absolutely loving it and I've not had a day where I thought why I made this decision.' The veteran banker was among the first few employees of Citi in Pakistan when consumer banking was launched in the early 90s. From there, he moved to Standard Chartered and then to Barclays, serving in senior roles across geographies. Before joining RAKBank, Mr Ahmed was an executive committee member and chief products and analytics officer at Barclays, where he oversaw the retail product portfolio and the data of more than 22 million customers. After a year-long conversation with RAKBank, when Covid-19 travel restrictions were still in place, Mr Ahmed decided to take the plunge, as he thought RAKBank 'was small enough to be like a scale-up company, and big enough because it had pedigree, history and solid footing for it to be transformed', he says. 'So, I came here, and [now], I tell people I most probably am working as hard as I used to as a graduate.' After taking reins, his first order of business was to put a growth plan in place and, in October 2022, the board approved its 2023-2026 Jebel Jais strategy. The end of last year marked the mid-point of the plan, one of the main targets of which is to hit the Dh100 billion mark. 'It's almost touching Dh88 billion now and it is a very important milestone, becoming a Dh100 billion asset bank,' he says. 'If you go back four years, we were at Dh57 billion, so it's been a very good success story for us.' The growth in balance sheet will allow RAKBank 'the room and the lever to play, to get more aggressive', he adds. The asset mix of the bank, which is 49.35 per cent owned by the government of Ras Al Khaimah, has also changed over the past five years. Its mortgage book has been growing at a rapid pace within its personal banking business. The lender has also expanded its corporate business by boosting funding for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as its commercial lending to diversify its risk profile. 'The highest risk products have grown the least, so it's not a run for 'let's grow wherever we can', rather it's a run for 'let's grow sustainably',' Mr Ahmed says. 'So, if there is a correction … it doesn't impact [us that much] and now, I think we are big enough and diversified enough that even if there is a slowdown, it's not like you suddenly go into a dip, into a crisis.' RAKBank which has tripled its profit in the past three years and crossed the Dh2 billion profit threshold after tax for the first time in 2024, expects to continue outperforming the average market deposit and asset expansion this year. The lender's 2024 net income climbed by about 16 per cent on an annual basis, driven by 'substantial growth across all business lines'. RAKBank continues to maintain focus on SMEs and with a 25 per cent annual growth in new accounts, its SME clientele climbed to 92,000. It also lent money to 13,000 entrepreneurs, who launched their businesses in 2024. However, despite record income and expanding client, deposit and asset base, RAKBank does not want to grow 'just for the sake of growth'. 'You will not see us adding 500,000 customers … because when you scale at that level, a lot of those customers are just opening an account because you have made it easy with three clicks,' Mr Ahmed says. 'Yes, we want to have more customers, and the customers we already have – we want to do more with them. If I have 91,000-plus SMEs, I also want to bank those individuals, their families, their children.' RAKBank, like its peers in the UAE, has grown at a rapid pace since bouncing back from the Covid-driven slowdown thanks to sustained economic momentum in the country with the Arab world's second-largest economy. The UAE's economy grew by 3.8 per cent during the first nine months of last year, growth driven by a strong expansion in non-oil sectors as the country continues to diversify away from oil. The country's real gross domestic product climbed to Dh1.32 trillion, with the non-oil economy growing by 4.5 per cent annually to Dh987 billion, accounting for nearly 75 per cent of overall economic activity, latest government data shows. 'The thing I feel very good about this economy is that it is significantly diversified,' Mr Ahmed says. 'Now, the UAE has positioned itself at the frontier of future growth, whether it's AI, digital, FinTech, or tech start-ups.' With economic tailwinds supporting growth, the bank is focused on strengthening its market share in the UAE and has no immediate plans to expand beyond the country's borders. Establishing a foothold in international markets is a long-term goal, but for the time being, the lender is content with managing its financial institution business with international FIs from other markets. For now, RAKBank remains a 'pure-play UAE bank', with a strong FI business, worth almost Dh10 billion, Mr Ahmed says. 'From this strategy perspective, until 2026, the focus is that you have to become big enough in the UAE to have the right to go and look [at other markets]," he says. 'It's about getting the foundations right', and in the next strategy cycle, the lender will explore international expansion. RAKBank is opening three wealth centres in the UAE that will manage investments for its retail and affluent clients and aims to attract new clientele from the influx of millionaires into the UAE. Despite global macroeconomic headwinds and regional geopolitical uncertainty, the UAE's appeal as a centre for international wealth has grown. Local banks are strengthening their wealth offerings in the face of growing competition from international banks and asset managers who have flocked to the Emirates. Dubai alone is home to the Middle East's highest concentration of resident millionaires at 72,500 and is ranked the 21st wealthiest city in the world. The city has recorded a 78 per cent growth in its millionaire population over the past 10 years, according to a report by Henley & Partners, which tracks private wealth and investment migration trends worldwide, and global intelligence provider New World Wealth. One of the fastest-growing commercial, trading and leisure centres in the region, Dubai is also home to 212 centi-millionaires (people with a net worth of $100 million or more in investable assets) and 15 billionaires, the research found. Debt and equity capital market advisory is also part of RAKBank's longer term strategy but for the time being, the new centre will remain a 'pure play wealth management' hub for the bank, Mr Ahmed says. While the bank remains focused on growing its traditional business, Mr Ahmed is keen to explore what he calls 'moon shots', which means investing in new entities to diversify the bank's revenue base. 'We keep on thinking about what are the new revenue models that may not be very big now, but in five to seven years [can grow],' he says. The bank has already launched Protego, a digital insurance aggregator, while Skiply, which provides secured transaction for schools in the UAE, is also in a high growth phase, he adds. 'We are building new assets and propositions and they are all different brands. A lot is going on, which will probably reshape how the bank makes money,' Mr Ahmed says. While RAKBank hit Dh2 billion in profit last year, it will need to consider mergers and acquisitions if it wants to more than double that. 'If I think about how this bank becomes a Dh5 billion [profit] bank, we have to consider both organic and inorganic options … it could also be portfolio [acquisitions],' Mr Ahmed says. 'We are always open to acquisitions, collaboration, commercial arrangements and joint ventures.' The bank is already working with some 'good FinTechs' and is happy to invest in companies to grow with them and secure commercial agreements at an early stage. RAKBank's capital expenditure over the past few years has also risen significantly and the Dh234 million spent last year is about four times higher than the pre-pandemic level. 'This year, we are looking to go even higher,' with up to 85 per cent of capex going to technology for customers and improvement of the bank's tech infrastructure. RAKBank's urge to become a digital platform with a human touch is what drives investment in technology, Mr Ahmed says. 'For us, the human touch is a very critical component. If I just said to you, I want to be a digital bank, I'm no different than anybody else,' he says. 'The way we think about it is that the customer should be able to do anything, anywhere, anytime … [and] should also have access to a human being at all times to advise and support them.' Customer expectations, a fast-changing regulatory landscape, intensifying competition with the advent of open banking and the tech evolution are among the challenges that require a modern-day bank to become a "liquid" organisation. 'When we made the strategy in 2022, generative AI was not even under discussion. Today, it looks like it will be the main thing that will be used everywhere,' Mr Ahmed says. People as well as financial institutions will have to adapt and continue to self-reorganise as 'the more rigid you are … the harder it will be to turn and, trust me, we will all be turning left, right and centre over the next 10 years,' he adds. RAKBank is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year and Mr Ahmed is confident it has the right foundations for a rapid ascend in decades to come. 'I see RAKBank being a much larger financial institution in the next decade, and I think, it should be a Tier-1 bank' that will continue to grow above the market average. Even the word 'bank' will be 'too restrictive' to describe the RAKBank of the future, as 'I see ourselves as a tech company with a balance sheet, regulators and a big heart', he says.
