Al Rams Beach

The Hajar mountain range seems to languidly submerge themselves into the crystalline waters and sigh at the peaceful harmony of this bay. Stone spits separate over 20 beaches along this coastline that meanders its way to Oman. Pay homage to the ancient pearl diving history and explore the bustling fishing community that forms a more traditional city settlement in the shadows of ancient archaeology.

Historically, Al Rams was once home to the Tanaij tribe. At the turn of the 19^th century, it was believed that there were over 4000 fiercely political tribesmen in the Northern Emirates. Nothing much has changed in the community, there is still a limited number of shops, and the land is home to thousands of protected date palms. Many of the original homes are still standing and a prime example of building with local materials such as acacia wood and coral blocks.

If you are a lover of nature, then the 1.6km Al Rams Beach and Saraya Island is the ideal location to pitch a tent and settle down for a near Robinson Crusoe experience. The pristine water is shallow and calm and perfect for peaceful watersports like kayaking and paddleboarding. You’ll need to drive a 4X4 onto the beach and island, or at least have a guide to drive you there if you are an inexperienced off-roader. The sand can be deceiving, and you’ll need to deflate the vehicle’s tyres to navigate rutted tracks.

Al Rams Beach and Saraya Island are the juxtaposition of the modern metropolis of Dubai. Its nature is breathtaking as the 70-million-year-old mountains reflect in the shallow waters of the sea. If this isn’t Instagram worthy, then nothing is. Imagine fleets of age-old pearl and fishing boats taking to the waters to gather their catch.

On rare occasions, a pink lake appears on the shores of the sea. It’s a known phenomenon known as a sabkha, a coastal sandflat in which saline minerals accumulate due to evaporation of trapped seawater and the arid climate. As a result, the lake’s salinity levels will be much higher than usual, which causes red algae to feed on the magnesium-rich nutrients. This bloom doesn’t last for long, it vanishes when the algae have consumed all of the nutrients from the water and die off, or the tide rises and washes it back to the sea.

To get to Al Rams and Saraya Islands, you’ll cross a bridge at the northern end of Al Rams town and head towards the military base. Cross over the bridge and turn left; if you have a 4X4, you can drive all the way to the end of the island to find a picture-perfect spot.