The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is the most unique emirate of the United Arab Emirates and is just a 45-minute drive from Dubai International Airport and 100 km from Dubai city center. The emirate is still completely unknown to many people.
Ras Al Khaimah literally means “Top of the Tent” which is a reference to its location on the northern tip of the United Arab Emirates. The emirate borders the eastern side of Oman. Ras Al Khaimah is the fourth largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah and tourism in this emirate is still in its initial phase. Don’t expect many shiny skyscrapers, artificial islands, construction sites and large amusement parks in Ras Al Khaimah. Ras Al Khaimah takes a different tack and is best known for its authentic architecture, low-rise buildings, a beautiful coastline with white sandy beaches, a desert with terracotta tones and rugged mountains.
Discover the unique emirate of Ras Al Khaima
The emirate is the only emirate that has desert, green nature, mangroves and mountains on its territory. This makes Ras Al Khaimah a unique destination for a holiday. Although tourism in the emirate is still in its initial phase, Ras al-Khaimah already has a luxury resorts, mainly located on the coast. This will only increase in the coming years as tourism in Ras Al Khaimah shows significant growth.
The unique thing about Ras Al Khaimah is that all resorts on the coast are mainly low-rise and built with the preservation of nature. This makes the destination an ideal place for people looking for sun, sea and beach combined with peace and beautiful nature. If you go on holiday to Ras Al Khaimah you can also count on a warm and hospitable welcome from the Emirati.
Climate of Ras al Khaimah
Because Ras Al Khaimah has a desert climate, it is warm in the summer and the winters are mild. Compared to the other emirates in the country, there is a lot of rain in Ras Al Khaimah, which seems like a disadvantage, but because of the rainwater, nature in Ras Al Khaimah is slightly greener compared to the rest of the emirates.
Due to the wind that often comes from the sea and the height of the mountains, the temperature in Ras Al Khaimah is slightly lower than in Dubai.. In the mountains it can be 10 degrees cooler than the temperature at sea level. The average temperature in Ras Al Khaimah is between 18 and 25 degrees in January, in summer the temperature often rises to a maximum of 45 degrees, with an average temperature between 29 and 45 degrees in July.
Ras Al Khaimah, a unique destination
Ras Al Khaimah offers over 7,000 years of history. This history is making it a unique holiday destination. Due to this rich history, the emirate has proven itself for years as the most authentic destination in the Middle East. Archaeological excavations reveal that people have lived in the region since 5000 BC. This makes it one of the few places in the world where people have lived for more than 7,000 years. As a result, the emirate has centuries-old buildings, eighteen to be precise.
The many fortifications, forts, castles and towers also reveal the emirate’s turbulent history. For example, the area has historically been occupied by the Sasanians, Islamic groups from the Arabian Gulf, and Portuguese, Dutch and British forces. One of Ras Al Khaimah’s most visited historic sites is Dhayah Fort, which sits on a hill in a fertile bay that has been inhabited since at least the 3rd century BC. The fort is the only fort in the United Arab Emirates built on a hill and dates from the 19th century. Thanks to its location, Dhayah Fort offers stunning views over the surrounding palm gardens, the sea and the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah.
Al Jazirah Al Hamra is the last traditional city of the United Arab Emirates. This is one of the best places in the region to admire authentic coral stone buildings. In the past, the city was an island and the residents mainly lived from the sea and pearl trade, hence the construction in coral stone. The city still contains many elements of a traditional Arab city with a defensive fortress. The city has a small market in the middle with mosques and houses built around it. The houses in the city vary from very small to large with ornate courtyards. These large houses with courtyards were mainly owned by wealthy pearl traders.
Go on an adventure in Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is a large natural playground with plenty to do. You can go dune bashing in the rolling sand of the vast terracotta desert or go sandboarding or camel riding in the desert.
You can go hiking, cycling or climbing in the rugged mountains of the country. Do you prefer the water? Then you can choose activities on the water of the Arabian Gulf. You can go sailing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing, flyboarding or kayaking. Most hotels along the coast offer opportunities to undertake these activities.
Desert in Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is one of the most beautiful deserts in the world, known for its sand with a beautiful and unique terracotta color. A popular activity for locals and tourists alike is exploring the desert on a dune bashing trip in a 4×4. Beside to an exciting trip through the desert, you can also go sandboarding, ride a camel or ride a quad. The desert safari in Ras Al Khaimah is often concluded with an Arabic buffet in an attractive, Bedouin-inspired location.
There are several providers of desert safaris through the desert of Ras Al Khaimah. You can easily book the excursions on the GetYourGuide website. You can pay safely and quickly via iDeal or credit card, where you pay in your own currency, so you are not affected by the exchange rate of the Dirham.
Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the country
One of the biggest attractions of the emirate is the impressive mountain range of Ruús Al Jubal, which is part of the Hajar Mountains. This area is in the east of the emirate and right next to the city of Ras al Khaimah. The mountains of this area were formed more than 70 million years ago. This mountain range also includes the Jelba Jais, with a height of 1934 meters this mountain is the highest mountain in the United Arab Emirates. At the top of the 1934 meter high mountain you have a beautiful view of the region and thanks to the cool mountain air it is wonderful to stay here, especially in the summer. The mountain has a particularly good road to the top, where you can stop at several viewpoints along the way to enjoy the view. The mountain and the area around it are also a unique place for mountain biking, climbing, hiking and off-roading.
Do you love adrenaline? Then you should not miss the unique and exciting attraction of Via Ferrate. This climbing, hiking and zipline route runs along a steep rock face at the foot of Mount Jebel Jais. During the entire route you will be clicked onto a cable and you will walk/hang along the mountainside for the entire route. During the trip along the mountain you will reach dizzying heights of 130 meters and fly over three different cable cars, the longest of which is 300 meters long. A unique experience! Do you want to experience the Jebel Jais zipline? You can book tickets online on the GetYourGuide website.
Discover the nature of Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is known for its fertile soil and many palm forests. These palm forests have provided shelter and food in the region for centuries. Due to the above-average rainfall, the emirate is one of the most fertile regions, which is immediately reflected in living nature.
The emirate’s more than 64 kilometre long coastline has beautiful and unspoilt sandy beaches, natural lagoons and various islands. In the village of Khatt there are natural springs that can reach temperatures of 38 degrees and are known for their benefits for well-being and health.
What is special about the city of Ras Al Khaimah is the fact that the city is divided in two by a natural waterway, the Ras Al Khaimah Creek. The mangroves therefore extend right into the center of the city. This gives the city a unique mix of nature, greenery and urban landscape. Various types of animals live in the mangroves, including flamingos and many other birds. You can easily discover the mangroves along the Ras Al Khaimah Creek with a kayak, which can be rented in several places. The area is a great experience for nature lovers thanks to the large amount of birds that live in the mangroves.
On holiday to Ras Al Khaimah
Thanks to its excellent location just 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport and with an average temperature of 26 degrees in January, Ras Al Khaimah is a perfect place for a wonderful winter sun holiday during the cold winter months.
There are numerous luxury resorts and hotels where you can experience why Ras Al Khaimah has quickly become a popular holiday destination in the region and is called the pearl of the Middle East. The emirate is the ideal place to spend a holiday for anyone who has already been to Dubai and wants something different, without giving up his or her beloved Dubai. You can easily take a day trip to Dubai from Ras Al Khaimah, within an hour you can reach the heart of Dubai from the emirate. This emirate is also an ideal holiday destination for anyone looking for peace, nature, sun, sea and beach.
There are numerous hotels in Ras Al Khaimah, often in the more luxurious 4 and 5 star segment. Our favorite is without a doubt the Ritz Carlton Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert which is in the middle of the desert and features a swimming pool, spa and rooftop bar with breath taking views over the desert. Also recommended is the Ras Al Khaimah beach Resort with 253 detached chalets right on the beach. The resort has its own private beach, three swimming pools and four bars. View the complete range of hotels on the website of Booking.com.
How to get from Dubai to Ras al Khaimah? (shuttle bus)
Travelers landing at Dubai International Airport (DXB) can use the Ras al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA) Shuttle Bus for a transfer from the airport to the emirate of Ras al Khaimah. The shuttle buses depart from terminals 1 and 2 and connect Dubai International Airport with the many luxury hotels in Ras al Khaimah. The shuttle service was created to make the rapidly growing emirate more accessible to tourists.
A ticket can be purchased for 7.35 US Dollar per single journey, children aged twelve and under can use the bus for free. If you want to use the shuttle bus, you must make a reservation online in advance via the website rakshuttle.com. Here you must indicate your arrival date and select your preferred pick-up and drop-off time. After all information has been entered, you must pay for your ticket(s) online and you will receive the tickets via email. You can then print the tickets or show them digitally. The drive from Dubai International Airport to Ras al Khaimah.
Khaimah takes an average of 45 minutes. On board the RAK shuttle buses you can use free WiFi so that you can look up the sights of the emirate along the way or send the first photos to home via social media. Luxury coaches run daily between the airport and the emirate and the shuttle service stops in Ras Al Khaimah at hotels including Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa, Hilton Garden Inn, Bin Majid Beach Hotel, The Cove Rotana Resort, Jannah Resort & Villas – Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Convention Center, Bin Majid Beach Resort, Rixos Bab Al Bahr, Tulip Inn Ras al Khaimah, DoubleTree By Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island and Marjan Island Resort & Spa. For more information about the shuttle service, visit the RAK shuttle website.
Privet transfer from Dubai Airport to Ras Al Khaimah City
There are several options to get from the airport to your destination. One of them is this transfer. Here you will be picked up at terminal 3 from Dubai airport. The driver will hold a sign with your surname on it so you can recognize the driver in question. This ensures a worry-free transfer and no sorting work at the airport. Arrive at your destination relaxed. Assume it will take 2 hours of your day. They provide water for the road and they drop you off at Ras Al Khailman City. But of course also in consultation with the hotel you indicate.
Important information is to provide your flight details and arrival times. This private ride can be booked on the GetYourGuide website. And costs 177 US Dollars per person. And it’s good to know that your driver can speak English.
Copyright header image: Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
