Jebel Jais, Mountain summit in Musandam Governorate, Oman

Jebel Jais rises to 1,934 m, its summit on the Omani side of the border; the highest point in the United Arab Emirates lies just west at 1,892 m. The photograph shows a broad, bare mountain of dark gray and brown rock, loose stones and low shrubs, with faint dirt tracks winding diagonally toward a flat-topped summit ridge.

The range formed roughly 70 million years ago when continental plates collided near the Arabian-Eurasian boundary. These tectonic movements shaped the folded layers and steep formations visible today.

The mountain lies in the territory of the Al-Hajari tribe in northern Ras Al Khaimah, about 25 km from Ras Al Khaimah city. Isolated villages and farms between the peaks use rainwater to grow fruit and vegetables and to raise livestock.

Temperatures at the top run about 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler than in surrounding areas, with winter readings sometimes dipping to minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit). Proper clothing and an early start help visitors make the most of favorable weather conditions.

The rocks here contain fossils and sediments that record transformations of the Arabian Peninsula over long geological spans. Careful observers can spot fossilized marine deposits in some of the exposed layers.