“LET ME OFF” my friend screamed at the staff. 

“I CAN’T DO IT. I DON’T WANT TO DIE,” she wailed, with tears and snot running down her face.

I have never seen her so petrified, nor heard this kind of fear in her voice. 

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I felt equally as scared, but was internalising it, trying to calm her down…while locked into a headfirst harness overlooking the deepest and longest abyss I could imagine – all the while screaming at my friend to calm down. 

WHY we agreed to try out the world’s longest zipline, in Ras Al Khamiah, was beyond me at this moment. 

The zipline has been covered in media outlets, including this one, across the region for its 2.8km length – the world’s longest zipline

Plus it gets up to speeds of 150kph. 

It sounds like the thrill of a lifetime, but in the moment I was aimed like a bullet, down the incline of the hill, looking into the gorge, I thought it was more like a death-wish. 

I’ve done the XLine in Dubai Marina – the longest urban zipline but this was another thing

My colleague and myself previously did the XLine in Dubai Marina – which is 1.2km long, and a 70m drop off the top of one of the JBR buildings. It was a little scary, but there was an element of excitement. 

Well, for me anyway. Casey not so much… 

But the zipline in RAK – I felt a fear for my life

Nothing I’ve done in the UAE has come close to being as scary as this. 

Anyway, cut back to screaming friend, fear of the drop, and the massive gorge in Jebel Jais.

Sweaty palms, and a genuine fear for our lives. 

After some back and forth with the operators, we were abruptly released from the platform, soaring down the line – well above the gorge. 

I was holding onto the harness for dear life, I wanted to scream, but nothing came out – there was no air in my lungs. 

I was trying to take in the stunning scenery, but every time I looked down, all I could think was if I fell, at least I’d die instantly. 

I was shaking with terror, my eyes watering from the wind (well I could have been crying) barely able to lift my head. 

And 2.8km turns out is a very long distance to whip down on a zipline

It would have been at about 2.5km that I started to enjoy it, I realised I was safe, and was able to take it in.

Jebel Jais is so beautiful – the rocky mountains go on for miles, and the feeling of flying on a zipline is exhilarating. 

At the end of the line, you slam/glide (depending on your speed) into another elevated platform, to be hoisted into a seated position harness for another little ride. 

This one is far closer to the ground, and the adrenaline of the first line has kicked in, so we felt on top of the world – no more fear.

Sliding down to the final checkpoint, we disembarked, invigorated with life, and far more relaxed than just 15 minutes earlier – bubbly chatting away celebrating our experience, taking selfies and cheering people as they landed.

My friend will never do it again, but she’s 100% glad she did it, it’s something we’ll remember forever – and a quality anecdote to share at parties. 

The RAK zipline is terrifying, exhilarating and an absolute must-do while you’re in the UAE.