While it takes years of training to master the art of flying, there is still a way to experience the rush with virtually zero training and with safety. Opened January last year, Jebel Jais Flight sits atop the United Arab Emirates’ tallest mountain, Jebel Jais. Not only it broke the record as the world’s longest zipline, it’s also bringing the unprecedented number of visitors. Just last month, the region saw a record number of visitors amounting to 18,000.

According to Toroverde, the company who created the ride, flexible properties of steel were key in enabling the company to create a stunning example of modern engineering. Let’s explore! POSCO Newsroom presents worldsteel, “World’s Longest Zipline Built on Steel.”

A new tourist site in the UAE relies on the enduring properties of steel for the longest zipline in the world, resulting in a unique and thrilling experience.

The UAE’s remote Ras Al Khaimah mountain range is perhaps the last place you would expect to find the world’s longest zipline.

But by harnessing the power of steel, Toroverde Ecological Park overcame incredible logistical challenges to open the Jebel Jais Flight zipline in January 2018 and – thanks to its single unbroken span of 2,831.88m – was awarded with the accolade of being the longest on the planet by Guinness World Records.

Jebal Jais is the UAE’s highest mountain, and the zipline begins an impressive 1,680m from the ground. Even at its lowest point visitors will find themselves 400m above sea level.

The conditions that go hand-in-hand with constructing a zipline in such a challenging environment presented a tough set of challenges for the engineering and installation teams.

l The Best of Both Worlds

“Pretty much all of the construction was a challenge,” says Ricardo Lizano, COO at Toroverde. “We are talking about the longest zipline in the world, ending in a hanging platform 80 metres in the air, surrounded by very complicated topography in huge, rocky mountains.”

Undeterred by these difficult building conditions, the Jebel Jais team began work on the tourist attraction in August 201, taking just six months to complete the project. A combination of determination, engineering expertise and the flexible properties of steel were key in enabling Toroverde to create this stunning example of modern engineering.

“With steel, you can do beautiful architectural things and at the same time easily comply with demanding structural requirements.”

“For the zipline, we used a custom-made, compacted steel cable. We then used steel to build both the launching platform and the end platform,” says Lizano.

“We chose to use steel in the construction because it is a very user-friendly material that offers the best of both worlds. With steel, you can do beautiful architectural things and at the same time easily comply with demanding structural requirements.”

Lizano stresses that the most complicated challenge was fixing the cable in place from one side to another – an expanse equivalent to 28 soccer fields – and suspending the end platform.

He says, “It’s a nine tonne structure that hangs in the air, and there was no space for a crane, so we had to do it the old-fashioned way with working cables and pull lifts.”

l A Global Attraction

Zipline users are able to reach speeds of up to 150km per hour, and a special harness allows them to be positioned like birds in flight – just two of the features that are helping to attract adrenaline junkies from across the world. The steel-built suspended platforms also feature incredible transparent flooring, ensuring breathtaking views at any point during the experience.

Lizano says, “We have had stories of people travelling all the way from Europe just to do the Jebel Jais Flight, coming here directly from the airport, staying one night and then going back home.

“There has been a truly incredible reaction – not only to the ride itself, but to the location and the amazing steel platforms.”

Lizano stresses that the most complicated challenge was fixing the cable in place from one side to another – an expanse equivalent to 28 soccer fields – and suspending the end platform.

He says, “It’s a nine tonne structure that hangs in the air, and there was no space for a crane, so we had to do it the old-fashioned way with working cables and pull lifts.”

l A Global Attraction

Zipline users are able to reach speeds of up to 150km per hour, and a special harness allows them to be positioned like birds in flight – just two of the features that are helping to attract adrenaline junkies from across the world. The steel-built suspended platforms also feature incredible transparent flooring, ensuring breathtaking views at any point during the experience.

Lizano says, “We have had stories of people travelling all the way from Europe just to do the Jebel Jais Flight, coming here directly from the airport, staying one night and then going back home.

“There has been a truly incredible reaction – not only to the ride itself, but to the location and the amazing steel platforms.”

Images: Toroverde
Video: Red Robot – Intelligent Distribution

The original content published on the worldsteel’s ‘Our Stories’ section is available at: https://stories.worldsteel.org/construction-building/worlds-longest-zipline/

During the first week of the training program, nine PECSA employees took a tour of Pohang Works, participated in the Global EVI Forum and visited the construction site of the Songdo Convensia II. During the second week, they received job training at the Korea Institute of Construction Technology Education to build on the capabilities required for working at construction firms, such as project and contract management.

From October 31 to November 11, the POSCO HR Development Center trained the first set of new PESCA employees. Left, tea time with Chan-gun Han, the CEO of POSCO E&C. Right, the employees directly experience an aspect of Korean culture.

One notable meeting in particular, took place on November 9, when the new recruits had tea with Changun Han, the CEO of POSCO E&C, and talked about the history and the future direction of the company. At this meeting, the CEO explained the POSCO E&C 2030 plan, focusing on the company’s history and strengths, along with information on architecture, infrastructure and energy projects.

“POSCO E&C plans to concentrate on building stability through carrying out projects to advance into overseas markets while securing base nations through a selection and concentration strategy,” Han said. “I look forward to PECSA becoming the first business partner of POSCO E&C and the bridgehead to entering the overseas markets. I believe that PECSA and POSCO E&C will take the initiative in creating a success story in Saudi Arabia based on this sense of mission.”

PECSA’s new employees and POSCO Group University Educators pose for commemorative photos at the POSCO Global EVI Forum (left) and POSCO Center in Seoul (right).

Meanwhile, PECSA recently landed a $900 million hotel project in Madinah Hajj City near Medina City, Saudi Arabia in a construction and joint work system. PECSA is planning to become a “GCC* Top 5 construction company” by 2025 based on orders from the PIF and POSCO E&C’s advanced construction technology and know-how. In order to nurture the talent to support this, PECSA is planning to expand cooperation with the POSCO Group University.

GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council): A council consisting of six member countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.

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