Explore beautiful Mangroves at sunset at this pet friendly Hidden gem in the UAE

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The promise of cooler weather in the coming months in the UAE is something we all are looking forward to. And while there is still some time till we get some respite from the summer heat, all is not lost for those who want to explore the great outdoors. Next on our #UAEHiddenGem  list of places to explore in the UAE is this beautiful Mangrove beach location in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain.

Sunset at Mangrove Beach at Umm Al Quwain (Image courtesy: The National)

Umm Al Quwain, literally translates to ‘the mother of two powers’, referring to the land and sea because of the Emirate’s coastal location. Umm Al Quwain is also the smallest emirate in the UAE with only around 750 square kilometers area. This fairly quieter Emirate is blessed with shores that adorn beaches with crystal clear waters and mangroves amongst several other cultural landmarks. And while there are several forts and museums to explore, in this article we want to spill the secrets about this relatively little know summer pop up.

Not a space at The Mangrove beach is a pet friendly location.

Located about an hour’s drive from Dubai, ‘Not a Space in the Wild‘ is a pet friendly pop up at the newly opened Mangrove beach. The pop up opens everyday from 5 pm to 12 am for visitors to unwind at sunset, explore the mangroves and swim and with their furry ones. Sometimes there are horses there for rides but these need to be booked in advance. Visitors can also enjoy kayaking and windsurfing. A volleyball court and another area for paddle tennis is also expected to come up in the area soon.

As the sun sets, the beach area is dotted with neon and solar powered lights and you can unwind on the many wooden chairs and white bean bags on the beach. Not a Space is just a part of the Mangrove Beach in Umm Al Quwain so there is more to explore in the area with your four legged friends. You can reach the location in any car (a 4X4 is not necessary) by following signs for the Mangrove Beach. For easy navigation to the destination, you can search for ‘Not a Space in the Wild’ or drive to these coordinates. The area is open for all with free entry and no bookings required.

Kayaking at Sunset at Not a Space, Mangrove Beach in Umm Al Quwain

If you would like to explore more before visiting, you can find out more on Not a Space’s Instagram here. The pop up is open till March 2022 and has a food truck and live entertainment along with other scheduled events. The pop up’s permanent home is in Muwailih in Sharjah where they also have a community area with a cafe, salon and parlour.

There are many other attractions to explore in Umm Al Quwain that we will share with you in our forthcoming articles. We hope you enjoyed this recommendation. If you have a recommendation or suggestion about a hidden gem in the UAE, please write to us at outpost.uaeiraq@shell.com.

Please note that this information shared by Outpost UAE Iraq is provided as a service to our community. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented at the time of publication, it cannot be guaranteed. All information should be verified with the relevant UAE authorities. External links are selected and reviewed when the guide/article is published. However, Outpost UAE Iraq is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Walk through the rain at the Rain Room in Sharjah #UAEHiddenGems

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Our second pick in the #UAEHiddenGems Series is the Rain Room in Sharjah. Located in the ‘Heart of Sharjah’ district, just a half an hour drive away from the Dubai Shell Office in non-peak traffic times, the Rain Room is a great escape, rather ‘experience’ to check out this summer. The project explores human interaction with Artificial Intelligence and gives visitors the illusion of being in control of the rain but it is much more than that.

We first heard of this Rain Room when we interviewed our Emirati colleague Khulood Qayed in 2019 for the Your UAE newsletter’s Other Emirates issue. When we  asked this Sharjawiya (A lady who is a Sharjah resident in Arabic) what is a must visit place in her Emirate, she recommended the Rain Room at the Sharjah Art Foundation. The Sharjah Art Foundation is located in Sharjah’s art and heritage district- Heart of Sharjah, and organises events and activities throughout the year featuring work of Arab and international artists, performances, music, film screenings and artist talks as well as extensive art education programmes for children, adults and families.

You won’t get wet in this Rain Room

The Rain Room is an immersive installation where you can walk through a downpour but without getting wet. Imagine walking through a dark environment where it rains everywhere else except where you stand or walk. You and others around you in the Rain Room will remain dry as you move, run, hop or stay stationary. Most UAE residents long for the occasional rain in the region that brings temperatures down and relief from hot desert weather. This indoor experience is a great way to cool down as the summer heat rages on the region.

Pro Tip: If you want to avoid getting wet, walk slowly through the room. If not, walk faster to evade the motion trigger sensors and you may catch a few drops!

 

 

How it works

The Rain Room installation uses 2500 litres of self cleaning recycled water which is controlled through a networked 3D tracking cameras. If you are worried about getting drenched, don’t worry because you won’t, some contact with water is of course possible. There is no need to pack an umbrella for this trip, in fact umbrellas are not even allowed inside the Rain Room. If you think you can get away by wearing a raincoat then you will definitely get drenched because dark, shiny, reflective or impermeable clothing may affect the functioning of the sensors resulting it in raining on you! Oh, and please avoid wearing thin high heels as it is not allowed for being deemed unsafe.

The installation is made by Random International, a studio set up by two Royal College of Arts graduates in 2005, Florian Ortkrass and Hannes Koch. There are other Rain Rooms in the world by the Random International studio.

The installation first opened at the Barbican Centre in London in 2012, then travelled to the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Yuz Museum in Shanghai. In Los Angeles, it opened eight months into a major drought, and coverage there was also dominated by the spectacle of falling rain in an environment starved of water. Similar concerns are relevant here, although the water is purified and reused in the installation, meaning that the actual usage is quite low. In the UAE, the Rain Room is a permanent installation.

Before you visit

It is important to book your ticket online through Sharjah Art Foundation’s website here. Adult tickets cost AED 25, while students and teachers enjoy discounted rates at AED 15 if they can show proof. Children and visitors with disabilities with their attendants can enter for free. Prior booking through website is still recommended. The other option is buying tickets at the Rain Room Sharjah ticketing booth. Since the installation requires regular maintenance, it is subject to sudden temporary closures during the day sometimes, we recommend planning your trip in advance by booking tickets online to avoid any disappointment.

In terms of Covid safety guidelines, the experience is limited to 15 minutes only and at a time only 6 people can be in the Rain Room. Wearing a mask is encouraged at all times during the visit. Guided tours are not available for the time being. Temperature checks are conducted before entering the venue. If you plan to use your camera and mobile phone at the Rain Room, you do so at your own risk. Read more about terms and conditions here.

We hope you enjoyed this recommendation. In case you visit the Rain Room and would like to share any pictures with the Outpost UAE Iraq community through our website, mail us at outpost.uaeiraq@shell.com so that we can feature the same. In case you have recommendations for a #UAEHiddenGems that you would like to tell others about, please do let us know at the same address or through our Contact page.

 

Please note that this information shared by Outpost UAE Iraq, is provided as a service to our community. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented at the time of publication, it cannot be guaranteed. All information should be verified with the relevant UAE authorities. External links are selected and reviewed when the guide/article is published. However, Outpost UAE Iraq is not responsible for the content of external websites.