New World Record: The Longest Zip-Line In The World Has Opened In The UAE

The Guinness World Record for the world's longest zip-line has been broken on the highest mountain in the United Arab Emirates.

The line stretches across the Jebel Jais Mountain in Ras Al Khaimah (the highest mountain in the UAE) for 1.7 miles (2.8km) which is a bloody long way to go across a zip-line.

It won't take you long though. The zip-line gets you across the distance in about two or three minutes at speeds of between 74 and 93 miles per hour (120-150kph).

The previous record holder is in Puerto Rico and goes for 1.36 miles (2.2km) which is still pretty good.

The line is 1,680 metres above sea level and if you want to take a ride it's gonna cost you about £125 for a go. You can travel down next to your screaming mate, if you like, as there are two lines set up.

You travel headfirst in the 'superman' position down a cable that weighs more than six tonnes. It's all part of a tourism project that will cost the UAE millions and is called the 'Jebel Jais Flight'.

The whole thing took about four months to make and was a joint venture between the local tourism board and Toro Verde - a company that specialises in making giant zip-lines.

One of the most special things about it is that the journey ends on a specially made landing platform that is suspended above the mountain. From there you get on a second line to go down to ground level.

The first guy to go down the giant wire was the ruler of the Ras Al Khaimah emirate, Sheikh Ahmad bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi - so no pressure, eh?

He seemed to enjoy it though, even if he was a bit nervous before he started.

He said: "Now that I'm here, and I can actually see all of the way down there and now I'm really excited to try it. Hopefully it's going to defy my expectations and it looks like a lot of fun."

Once he got to the bottom he said: "I have no words to explain it - I am definitely going again."

Haitham Mattar, the CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority hopes that this will help turn the emirates into an adventure destination.

He said: "This is a great achievement for Ras Al Khaimah's international tourism ambitions."

Sure it is - but it's all downhill from there, mate.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Viral, World News

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a freelance journalist and LADbible contributor. He graduated from University of London with a BA in Philosophy before studying for a Masters in Journalism at the University of Salford. He has previously written for the M.E.N Group as well as working for several top professional sports clubs. Contact him on [email protected]

@TPWagwim