Austrian man dies on hiking trip in Ras Al Khaimah

Search and rescue operation launched after hiker reported missing on Saturday

The 27-year-old Austrian reported as missing since the weekend told his sister he planned to hike Wadi Naqab, Ras Al Khaimah. Photo: Wikipedia

An Austrian man fell to his death during a weekend hiking trip in Ras Al Khaimah, police have confirmed.

The 27-year-old was reported missing after walking the Wadi Naqab trail on Saturday with a group of fellow hikers.

The man's sister told Austrian media that he had gone off on his own and failed to turn up an hour later at the arranged meeting point.

Ras Al Khaimah Police said a search and rescue operation was launched after the alarm was raised.

“Ras Al Khaimah Police rescue teams with help from Dubai Police and some residents were able to find the body of a young European man who died after falling down a mountain while hiking in the emirate,” police said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Police said they had received a missing person’s report stating the man went missing on Saturday evening.

Search and rescue operations began immediately but the man was found dead, police said.

Earlier, the Austrian Foreign Ministry confirmed an Austrian citizen had been missing since Saturday.

“We can confirm that an Austrian citizen has been missing since Saturday in the border area between the UAE and Oman,” the ministry told the Austrian Press Agency.

“The search and rescue operation for the missing person has been under way since then.

“The Austrian embassies in Abu Dhabi and in Muscat are in constant contact with the local authorities and are available to support the relatives.”

In winter months, the cooler weather typically prompts a surge in numbers of hikers exploring mountainous regions of the Emirates.

Wadi Naqab is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the UAE.