Step gently aside, Dubai. There’s a new slice of UAE luxury that’s giving the megacity a run for its money - and it’s less than an hour away. Al Marjan Island, a man-made archipelago in Ras Al Khaimah, is offering an antidote to Dubai’s frenetic energy. I was told by a few friends who went there that it is “way quieter, has more culture... and is just better than Dubai.” Coupled with rising flight prices to Dubai, many in search of winter sun are turning their attention elsewhere.
![[The airconditioned Beach House at Movenpick]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2024/12/18/14/52/Screenshot-2024-12-18-141925.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
Air-conditioned yet floored with soft sand, the bar felt both convenient and bizarre. The chilled space was a welcome escape from the oppressive summer heat, but something about sinking my feet into cool sand while indoors felt oddly artificial. The tour, located in the foothills of the Jebel Jais Mountains, immerses you in the life of a pearl diver, a practice with a history in Ras Al Khaimah that dates back more than seven millennia.
![[Our pearl fishing guide was incredibly knowledgeable and charismatic]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2024/12/18/14/04/fish-pearl-guy-split.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
The practice of pearl fishing is one of the UAE’s treasured traditions, and on this tour, you travel out to a platform in the middle of the ocean, where you can even find your very own Arabian pearl to take home. The tour starts with a boat ride as the guide expertly scoops oysters from the water and demonstrates the pearl extraction process, sharing tales of the UAE’s pearl diving heritage.
![[You see the pearl first hand in the oyster shell]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2024/12/18/14/59/pearl-shell-needs-ed.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
