shiva

http://gulfnews.com/business/tourism...sort-1.1179933

Ras Al Khaimah plans winter ski resort

After an artificial indoor ski slope at the Mall of the Emirates, the UAE might soon have a ski resort in a natural environment — and on a mountain peak that occasionally witnesses snowfall.

The Ras Al Khaimah government is developing a ski resort on its mountains bordering Oman’s Musandam peninsula where visitors can ski in a natural and open environment, a top government official said.

A road network to reach the peak where Jebel Jais Resort would be built is 70 per cent complete. It snows occasionally on the mountain during winter — which may not be enough for operating an all-year-round ski facility, necessitating artificial means to generate ice.

“We are currently experimenting with the technology to produce a large quantity of ice during winter,” Salem Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation of Ras Al Khaimah and Vice Chairman of RAK Air, told Gulf News. He is also involved in the government’s tourism development initiatives to realign the airline’s strategy for the growth of the industry in Ras Al Khaimah.
“Once it’s done successfully, we will have the region’s first winter ski resort in Ras Al Khaimah,” he said.

Meow

I saw that earlier and had to double check it wasn't written by the Pan Arabian Enquirer.

Blue Cat

Jesus wept they are mad

scot47

"Whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad."

jam25mack

It'll never happen.

I have been intimately involved with the Jebal Al Jais mountain development for the last 6 years so I can speak with a certain amount of confidence. The plans for this have been on the table for years, however, I cannot even think of an area on the mountain which is of a suitable topography for a ski slope. Don't get me wrong the area up there is lovely and if the plans for a 'national park' with bike trials etc ever comes off it will be wicked. As for the snoe...... well, in reality it is a moderate to heavy frost that occurs on the summit once or twice a year. There were similar plans for Jebal Hafit in Al Ain but that came to nothing.

Meow

I remember the Jebel Hafeet plans. There was supposed to be at least one covered slope down the mountain and a load of chalet residences that were being designed by Brad Pitt. A lod of money was thrown at the initial marketing and design, but as far as I know many people were never paid in full.

scrubbedexpat141

....would be mega though.

britexpat76

Could you not have a dry ski slope there? Seem to remember one in huddersfield years ago.

shiva

Of course not. There's absolutely nothing ridiculously extravagant about a dry ski slope

flares

We looked at Jebel Hafeet many moons ago and saw the secret model in Tamouh's Reem Island sales centre.

I told my board that we should not get involved as it was so far fetched and eco-unfriendly. Think I was labelled a 'tree hugger' in that meeting.

jam25mack

As far as I remember they were meant to be open air slopes as well, not covered. My old company were involved in it for quite a while. When questioned how they expected the snow to remain in the heat they were convinced that the technology was available..... thinking back maybe I should have tried to sell him some sand....

Welivehere

Or ice, talk about never ending demand....

Meow

I'm sure they planned a covered one all the way around the mountain.

All quite mad though

flares

It had an indoor ski jump!!

Ethos83

Wasn't one of the cancelled projects for a large indoor ski arena with multiple slopes and a 'winter village' complex, which would be surrounded by apartments on the exterior? It was supposed to be out in Dubailand somewhere, probably next to the proposed Mall of Arabia and the proposed Universal Studios theme park that never got built.

I remember the apartments being sold off plan and a British buyer may have even posted on here asking about what happened to his investment.