The world's longest zip line has officially opened in the United Arab Emirates. It's not in Dubai or Abu Dhabi but in lesser-known Ras Al Khaimah. Officials there hope the zip line will help attract more international tourists. Rosanna Lockwood has the story.

Tall skyscrapers and sandy deserts dominate the UAE's landscape. But here, near its border with Oman is the highest peak in the country – known as Jebel Jais. This mountain is now home to the longest zip line anywhere on the planet - certified by Guinness World Records at 2.8 kilometers. This multi-million dollar tourism project represents Ras Al Khaimah's great hope of becoming the leading activity tourism hub in the Middle East.

HAITHAM MATTAR, CEO RAK TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY "The zip line is only one of the products in terms of adventures, we're just hardly scratching the surface now. So really building a cluster of events and activities in the mountains is our objective first before we go on and start developing other attractions on the coast."

And this has been their most ambitious project yet.

Starting from a height of 1,680 meters above sea level, thrill-seekers can ride this zip line head-first at speeds of up to 150kph for around two-to-three minutes. And while that might not sound that daunting, up here it certainly looks it.

But whether it's enough to make Ras Al Khaimah a primary destination in its own right remains to be seen.

RASHID ABOOBACKER, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR TRI CONSULTING "No, I don't think this will take away market share from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, but it'll certainly increase the average length-of-stay of tourists in Ras Al Khaimah, which is currently around 3.5 days."

The zip line is now open to the public and can accommodate a rider every five minutes - or around 100,000 people per year. And officials here are hoping adrenaline junkies will now be adding this part of the world to their bucket lists. Rosanna Lockwood, CGTN, Ras Al Khaimah.