Wadi Rahba – quiet, tranquil, and rather one of those less known wadis at the bottom of the highest mountain in the UAE – Jebel Jais. One can experience what it has to offer, just by taking a short trip there: a cave in Ras Al Khaimah with stairs leading to it, that could be confusingly similar to the one from the fairy tale about Ali Baba, recently built Al Rahba dam that fills up with water after rain, heritage stone houses, hiking trail, and, most importantly, perhaps the best climbing location in the UAE – Stardust climbing crag.
HOW DO I REACH THE CAVE IN RAS AL KHAIMAH?
Facing some minor difficulties when trying to reach the cave in Ras Al Khaimah, I want to highlight a few things: reaching this point: 25.928235, 56.066772 I mistakingly thought that GPS navigation is trying to take me through a private yard. After searching for another way, I noticed there is none and this pass between two houses that GPS navigation directs you to go through, is actually a public road. The next point is Wadi Rahba Dam (25.925148, 56.072163).
There is a road on the left, close to the mountain wall. You need to drive through that road and end up behind the dam area. Next, you will enter the area between the mountains, where you can spot an interesting heritage goat farm here: 25.928971, 56.078006. Look around for more heritage, well-preserved houses.
To reach the mysterious cave in Ras Al Khaimah you will need a car with four-wheel drive. It would be possible to drive with sedan car quite far inside the valley, however as the road goes through the dry river bed, loose rocks are lying around here and there and it might be impossible to pass in some places if the car does not have good ground clearance. Especially after rain, the road to the cave in Ras Al Khaimah can be destroyed by water. Maybe it would be not such a bad idea to leave the car behind and do a little hiking?
ARE THERE HIKING TRAILS IN WADI RAHBA?
The trail that goes through Wadi Rahba is a flat dirt road and, in some places, lies in the shadow in the late afternoon. Occasionally you will be passing by goats farms and old heritage houses. It is worth coming closer and having a look at the ruins, to get a better understanding of the harsh conditions of living here in the past that local people had to face.
Once you pass the cave in Ras Al Khaimah, you may decide to continue hiking, however, the trail might not be as clear here anymore. You will see a huge, nearly vertical wall in front of you in the distance. The view of Jebel Jais is in this region might be quite overwhelming due to the height of the mountains. About one hour away from the cave in Ras Al Khaimah, you might be lucky to find a water spring that has been used by a local tribe in the past.
ALI BABA’S CAVE IN RAS AL KHAIMAH
The last point that you can reach by 4×4 car is here: 25.925301, 56.091647 and it is also where the mysterious cave in Ras Al Khaimah is located.
Driving to the cave I passed by the huge heir of the goats pasturing near the local farm (25.926347, 56.088365). Shortly after that point, I finally noticed a cave in Ras Al Khaimah with lofty stairs climbing up. My eyes followed each step until they reach the cave that instantly brought to my mind these words: “sesame, open up!”. I thought to myself: it must be that place from One Thousand and One Nights.
At the base of the cave in Ras Al Khaimah, one can find a shaded area with a gazebo (perfect for a picnic) and toilets. There is no coverage for mobile phones here.
STARDUST – ONE OF THE BEST CLIMBING SPOTS IN THE UAE
This area among climbing enthusiasts is known as Stardust. The name is associated with David Bowie and was given as a tribute after his death.
Stardust climbing crag has many potentials for many routes, of many different grades for the climbing enthusiasts to enjoy. For more information about Stardust crag, you can check this guide.
Disclaimer: Stardust is not meant to be a campsite for large groups. It is very close to the farm that belongs to local people that have agreed to develop their land for recreational use of people visiting this area. Therefore, remember to respect the place, leave the place clean, do not let dogs run free as they may scare the goats, and keep the noise level down.
Check the video and drone shots of the cave in Ras Al Khaimah below:
REMEMBER:
- Do not leave any garbage behind, including food. Even organic waste can take months to biodegrade and meanwhile it will attract animals. It may make them stop eating their natural food and rely on what humans leave behind and make them sick.
- Have always a bag ready to collect trash left behind by other inconsiderate people – in the end, you are saving nature.
- Hike or camp over gravel and rocks. In some areas, the vegetation can take years to grow back.
- Leave natural and historical items where you find them.
- Minimize cooking over a campfire, use the stove instead – it is less impact on the wilderness.
UAE OFF-ROADER GUIDE
If you are looking for more off-road trails to discover around the United Arab Emirates, I can recommend this ultimate guide that is packed with many routes, giving very detailed information and answering all questions you could have about off-roading in the UAE.
You can get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eQMBbr
FIELD GUIDE TO EMIRATES
To learn more about UAE’s natural & archaeological treasures, check: https://www.fieldguidetoemirates.com
I hope you found this article about the cave in Ras Al Khaimah helpful and it gave you an idea of where to head to next weekend. If you are looking for more interesting places nearby, I recommend you to check: Nostalgia in the Stone Houses in Wadi Haqeel, Forgotten Story Buried in Wadi Haqeel, or Unraveling the Mystery of Hebs Stairs.
