Ras Al Khaimah Holidays

Sand dunes, mountain peaks and beaches that go on for miles, all without the Dubai price tag. Ras Al Khaimah is where you go when you want Arabian Gulf sunshine with a slower pace and a lot more adventure.

Ras Al Khaimah holiday highlights

• 64km of white-sand coastline with calm, shallow waters perfect for paddling, plus beach resorts lining Marjan Island and Al Hamra

• Seriously good value for the region with hotel rates, restaurants and days out costing noticeably less than neighbouring Dubai

• All-inclusive resorts that actually deliver with properties like Rixos Bab Al Bahr running ultra-all-inclusive packages that cover everything from 24-hour dining to beach club access

• Desert safaris, camel treks and starlit dinners with the Al Wadi Nature Reserve and Sonara Camp putting you in the dunes without the crowds

• Pearl diving heritage and ghost villages from the Suwaidi Pearls Farm to the abandoned coral-stone houses of Al Jazirah Al Hamra, there is proper history here beyond the beach

Good to Know About Ras Al Khaimah Holidays

• ☀️ Weather Hot and sunny year-round. Winter sits around 24 to 28 degrees with barely a cloud, making October to April the ideal window for sightseeing. Summer pushes past 40 degrees, so you will spend a lot of time in the pool (no bad thing).

• 💶 Money A sit-down meal runs around £8 / €9, a beer at a hotel bar is about £7 / €8, and a coffee is £4 / €5. Noticeably cheaper than Dubai across the board.

• 🏔️ Fun fact Jebel Jais, the country's tallest mountain at 1,934 metres, is home to the world's longest zipline. You can hit speeds of 150km/h while staring down at the desert and the sea at the same time.

Ras Al Khaimah is perfect for you if...

• You want the Arabian Gulf sunshine and the fancy hotels but your budget says "not quite Dubai"

• You want a desert safari, a mountain zipline and a beach day all in the same week

• You want a winter sun destination with guaranteed heat

• You want great things to do during the day, but don't need banging nightlife

• Your family needs a waterpark, kids' clubs and a buffet that never closes, you want something that feels upmarket but need to avoid re-mortgaging the house

What are the best beaches to visit on your Ras Al Khaimah holiday?

RAK might be quieter than Dubai, but that just means more sand, space, and serenity for you whether you're here on your Summer holidays, or you've booked something last-minute with the other half. With 64km of coastline, you’ve got calm waters for paddling, secret coves for escaping the crowds, and plenty of soft beachy sands for your towel takeover. Here are our fave spots:

Al Hamra Beach Soft sand, volleyball nets, watersports hire and a shoreline stroll that takes you past some of the nicest resorts in the emirate. It is the beach most visitors end up on, and there is a good reason for that.

• Flamingo Beach Named after the flamingo statues dotted along it (not actual flamingos, although you might spot real ones in the nearby lagoons). The shallows here are properly gentle, making it a top pick for families with small paddlers.

• Al Marjan Island beaches The man-made island chain has some of the most polished beach setups in Ras Al Khaimah. Most are attached to the big resorts, so expect sun loungers, beach bars and watersports rental all within stumbling distance.

• Al Jeer Beach If you want peace and quiet with zero watersports buzz, this is the one. It is low-key, barely developed and perfect for a sunset sit without any soundtrack except the waves.

• Al Mairid Public Beach A proper public beach with sunbathing space, swimming and the odd volleyball game. Good for a morning dip when the resort pool feels too predictable.

• Saraya Island Beach Remote, golden sand, and genuinely tourist-free. You will need to make a bit of effort to get here, but that is the whole point.

Where to Stay in Ras Al Khaimah

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best areas in Ras Al Khaimah for families?

Al Hamra is the main resort strip with beachfront hotels, calm shallow waters and the biggest concentration of kids' clubs and family pools in the emirate. Most of the big-name chains are here.

Marjan Island is a man-made island chain just off the coast with modern beach resorts, private sandy beaches and watersports hire. The resorts here tend to be newer and flashier, with family suites and splash parks as standard.

💑 What are the best areas in Ras Al Khaimah for couples?

Mina Al Arab is the quieter, more upmarket stretch with luxury resorts set along lagoons and mangroves. If you want sunset views without a single kids' club in earshot, this is the one.

Jebel Jais is the mountain zone, 30 minutes inland and noticeably cooler. There are luxury glamping setups, hiking trails and 1484 by Puro, the country's highest restaurant, for a dinner date you will not forget.

🎉 What are the best areas in Ras Al Khaimah for groups?

Marjan Island works well for groups wanting beach resort vibes with bars, pools and watersports all on-site. The newer resorts have interconnecting rooms and larger suites.

Al Hamra is the liveliest base with the most going on after dark, including beach clubs, rooftop bars and hotel nightlife venues within walking distance of each other.

What are the top hotels to stay at on your holidays to Ras Al Khaimah?

Ras Al Khaimah has a properly varied range of hotels, from ultra-all-inclusive beach resorts to boutique mountain retreats. Whether you want a family mega-resort on Marjan Island or a quiet luxury hideaway on the mainland, the range here punches well above what you would expect from a quieter emirate. See all hotels in Ras Al Khaimah or browse our top picks below...

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in Ras Al Khaimah?

• Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island is one of the world's biggest Hamptons and it is built for families. There is a huge pool, a spa, soft play for the little ones and direct beach access. The price point is hard to argue with for what you get.

• DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa Marjan Island sits on its own stretch of private beach with a massive pool complex, an inflatable climbing wall for kids and 13 restaurants. Five-star territory at a price that does not feel five-star.

• Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort and Spa has an all-inclusive option that families love, plus a kids' pool area, multiple restaurants and a beach that shelves gently into the Gulf. A proper all-rounder.

• BM Beach Resort is a solid mid-range beach hotel with family rooms, a pool and direct sand access. It does exactly what it needs to without overcomplicating things.

💑 What are the best hotels in Ras Al Khaimah for couples?

• InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort and Spa is the showpiece. Infinity pool overlooking the mangroves, six restaurants, a swanky spa and the kind of quiet that luxury couples holidays are made of.

• Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort is a newer arrival with overwater villas (yes, in the Arabian Gulf), a lagoon beach and spa treatments that border on theatrical. The sunset from the deck is worth the entire trip.

• Movenpick Resort Al Marjan Island has a rooftop sky bar with views across the Gulf, a beachfront pool and a spa that offers a chocolate body wrap (it sounds ridiculous but apparently it is excellent).

🎉 What are the best hotels in Ras Al Khaimah for groups?

• Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island is well set up for groups with interconnecting rooms, a big pool area and direct beach access. The bars and restaurants on-site mean nobody needs to organise a taxi.

• DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa Marjan Island also works brilliantly for groups. Thirteen restaurants means nobody argues about where to eat, the beach is huge and the pool scene is lively without being chaotic.

• Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island is the value pick for groups who want a good base without blowing the budget. The pool, the beach and the location on Marjan Island all deliver, and the room rates are some of the friendliest in the emirate.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels in Ras Al Khaimah?

• Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is the kind of hotel where you check in and immediately wonder whether you can afford to extend. Private beach, a golf course, multiple pools, a world-class spa and rooms that feel like they were designed by someone who actually likes staying in hotels.

• The Ritz Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Hamra Beach sits on Al Hamra Beach with its own stretch of sand, a spa village and suites that open directly onto the Gulf. If you want the beach-resort version of luxury, this is the benchmark.

• Sofitel Ras Al Khaimah Al Hamra Beach Resort brings a French-accented luxury touch to the Al Hamra strip, with a private beach, stylish interiors and a spa that takes its job seriously.

👉 All hotels in Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah Holidays 2026/2027 - Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Ras Al Khaimah family holiday?

• Meet camels, falcons and Arabian oryx at Al Wadi Nature Reserve, where guided walks let the kiddos get up close without the animals minding too much

• Build sandcastles and splash in the shallows at Flamingo Beach, where the water is warm, calm and about as threatening as a paddling pool

• Try the Jais Sledder on Jebel Jais, a roller-sled ride that hurtles down the mountain at 40km/h with panoramic views the whole way (kids love it, parents secretly love it more)

• Book a desert safari with a family-friendly package that includes dune bashing, sandboarding and a BBQ dinner under the stars

• Spend a morning at Suwaidi Pearls Farm in Al Rams, where the little ones can learn about 7,000 years of pearl diving history and you can pick up something nice from the gift shop

💑 What are the best things to do for couples on a Ras Al Khaimah holiday?

• Ride the Jais Flight zipline together at 150km/h across 2.83km of mountain canyon, then celebrate surviving with champagne at the top of Jebel Jais

• Book a sunset dinner at 1484 by Puro, the country's highest restaurant, perched on the side of the mountain with views that make the food (which is excellent) almost secondary

• Take a kayak or paddleboard through the mangrove forests, where the silence is only broken by kingfishers and the occasional eagle overhead

• Book the Sonara Camp experience for a luxury desert evening with slow-cooked lamb, live music and fairy-lit tables under an absurd number of stars

• Wander the Al Jazirah Al Hamra ghost village at golden hour, where 14th-century coral-stone houses and empty mosques make for the most atmospheric photo walk in the emirate

🎉 What are the top things to do for groups on a Ras Al Khaimah holiday?

• Hire a private boat and spend the day island-hopping around the coast, stopping for swimming, snorkelling and general showing off

• Hit up Purobeach for an afternoon of pool lounging, cocktails and live DJ sets overlooking the Arabian Gulf

• Take on Jebel Jais as a group with hiking or mountain biking trails that range from "gentle stroll" to "why did we agree to this"

• Book a desert safari package with quad biking, dune bashing and a traditional BBQ that will feed even the hungriest group

• Spend an evening at one of Marjan Island's rooftop bars, where the sunset views, shisha menus and cocktail lists are all designed for long nights with mates

Local Lingo

Arabic is the official language, but English is spoken almost everywhere in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas.

• Marhaba - Hello

• Shukran - Thank you

• Afwan - You’re welcome

• Sabah al khair - Good morning

• Kam al hisaab? - How much is the bill?

• Yalla! - Let’s go!

All-inclusive holidays in Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah is one of the best destinations in the United Arab Emirates for an all-inclusive holiday, and the value here compared to Dubai is significant. The emirate has a strong line-up of all-inclusive resorts along the coast, ranging from ultra-all-inclusive properties where literally everything is covered to standard all-inclusive packages that handle your food, drinks and pool access.

The all-inclusive proposition works particularly well here because Ras Al Khaimah is a resort-led destination. You are not constantly hopping between attractions the way you might in Dubai, so having everything on-site, the beach, the restaurants, the bars, the kids' clubs, means you genuinely use what you are paying for. Families benefit the most: locking in the food and drinks for the whole group before you fly means no surprises, no mental maths at every meal and a lot less stress.

The resorts themselves range from the premium end (Rixos Bab Al Bahr's ultra-all-inclusive, which covers 24-hour dining, beach club access and entertainment) to more affordable options where a standard all-inclusive upgrade adds food and drinks to a solid beachfront hotel. Either way, you are getting the sunshine, the beaches and the service standard without the Dubai bill at the end.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Ras Al Khaimah for families?

• Rixos Bab Al Bahr runs an ultra-all-inclusive package that covers everything from 24-hour dining to beach club access, with kids' clubs and entertainment included. It is the all-inclusive benchmark in the emirate.

• Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort and Spa offers an all-inclusive upgrade that families rate highly. Multiple restaurants, a kids' pool area and a beach that shelves gently into the Gulf make it a solid family pick.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Ras Al Khaimah for couples?

• Movenpick Resort Al Marjan Island has all-inclusive packages available with beachfront dining, a rooftop sky bar and a spa. The couples angle here is the sunset views from the bar and the general grown-up atmosphere.

• Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah offers the same ultra-all-inclusive concept as its sister property, with a more intimate feel and a location that suits couples looking for a quieter base.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Ras Al Khaimah for groups?

• DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa Marjan Island has all-inclusive options and thirteen restaurants, meaning nobody in the group has to compromise on what they eat. The pool scene is lively and the beach is big enough for everyone.

• Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island offers all-inclusive upgrades with interconnecting rooms and a solid on-site setup. It is a practical choice for groups who want everything in one place without paying luxury prices.

Other Places to visit nearby

• Abu Dhabi

• Ajman

• Dubai

• Fujairah