The northernmost of the emirates, located about an hour from Dubai. This is a very picturesque place, where the mountains almost come close to the shore. The city of Ras al-Khaimu, the capital of the emirate, is divided by the bay into two parts connected by a bridge. The western part of the city with many attractions is Old Ras al-Khaimah. Eastern – Al-Hamranya, where the international airport is located. See BRIDGAT for climate and weather information of United Arab Emirates.
On the territory of this emirate (unlike the rest) there is no dry law at all.
Ras al-Khaimah (or simply RAK, as locals fondly abbreviate the name of the emirate) is a region underestimated by tourists, rarely mentioned in tourist guides. The picturesque mountains approaching the old city, rich nature and mild climate for some reason recede into the background, after the cliché that “Ras al-Khaimah is the entrance gate to Oman” has set the teeth on edge.
In fact, this emirate is fraught with many surprises. At first the city seems dusty and dilapidated, but everything changes when you drive closer: then the pristine beaches, unique to the UAE, open up to your eyes. Even wilder and more pristine scenery is at the Al Hamra Fort & Beach Resort, 25 km south of the RAH center, which gives tourists excellent opportunities for water sports.
How to get there
Nestled between the Hajjar Mountains in the east and the Persian Gulf in the west, Ras Al Khaimah has a natural border in the form of mountain ranges with the Sultanate of Oman. And thanks to the modern Emirates Highway, this emirate is located just an hour from Dubai.
Ras Al Khaimah Airport is located 22.5 km south of Al-Nakheel. Transfer will be the fastest and most comfortable way to get there. You need to choose a car of a suitable class and capacity in advance, and the driver will meet you at the airport with a name plate. The cost indicated at the time of booking will be fixed: for example, traffic jams will not affect it.
Bus service connects Ras Al Khaimah with Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai and Umm Al Quwain (40-50 AED per ticket). The Sheikh Mohammad bin Salem St taxi stand is located in front of the Cove Rotana Resort. A taxi to Dubai will cost 190-230 AED, and to Sharjah, Ajman or Umm Al Quwain from 150 AED. Taking a taxi to Fujairah is quite expensive – 250-300 AED.
Apart from taxis, there is no public transport in Ras Al Khaimah.
Shopping and shops
There are many shopping centers in Ras Al Khaimah, and you can buy almost everything there. The oldest Manar shopping center in the city center, better known as Carrefour, enjoys stable popularity. Safeer and Al Hamra malls also do not complain about the lack of buyers.
Ras Al Khaimah Hotels
Although the hotel base of the emirate cannot be called extensive, there are hotels of all categories in Ras Al Khaimah. Chic “five”: Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resort on the coast of the Persian Gulf, The Cove Rotana Resort & Spa (also by the sea) and Hilton Hotel Ras Al Khaimah (urban). More economical threes and fours are, for example, Bin Majid Beach Resort and Bin Majid Beach Hotel, both beachfront.
Restaurants
Al Shafah Bakery, an Afghan bakery, makes good pizza. Inexpensive and tasty – in the Al-Sahari restaurant, and in the Lebanese House eatery, which is near the Al Nakheel hotel, they serve true Arab delicacies: soup of lentils and grilled pigeon “in Egyptian style”. Locals also often hang out at the cozy Al Fakher Popular Café, which is famous for views of the bay, free drafts (on request), excellent coffee and fragrant hookah. The cafe is located near the Mina Saqr square.
Entertainment and attractions of Ras al-Khaimah
In Al-Hamranya, in the southeast, there is the Khaat tourist area, famous for its healing mineral waters, as well as the Masafi area. In Old Ras al-Khaimah, a dilapidated fort, an ancient mosque made of coral blocks in Jazirat al-Hamra, the National Museum in the fort, Falaya Fort, as well as ancient watchtowers on the outskirts of the city are interesting. However, the main attractions of the emirate are still outside the capital. This is, first of all, the largest old city of the Digdag emirate, vast reservoirs among palm groves in Wadi Azima and Iron Age tombs in Wadi Qawr.
Museum
The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah is housed in an 18th-century fort built of plaster and stone. The fort and its powerful tower until 1970 were the residence of the rulers of Qawassim. Later, a museum was opened here, in the exposition of which you can see exhibits related to nature, archeology, ethnography and the history of the family and the Qawassim region. Special attention should be paid to mosaics, terracotta urns of the 18th century and other interesting exhibits from the excavations of Julfar, the largest ancient port of the emirates (13-18 centuries).
Address: Al-Hisn Rd, phone: 07 233 3411, opening hours: 09:00-17:00 Wed-Mon from September to May, 08:00-12:00 and from 16:00-19:00 Wed-Mon from June to August. Entrance: 5 AED, for children admission is free.
Ice Land Water Park
In autumn 2010, a new water park, Ice Land, opened in Ras Al Khaimah, which is located 80 km north of Dubai and covers an area of just under 0.5 square meters. km. In addition, Ice Land includes an amusement park for children and adults, as well as a shopping center.
The most popular attraction is Penguin Falls, which is considered the world’s largest artificial waterfall with a height of 36.5 m and a width of 164 m. The water park also has Slide Zone water slides (a total of 24 slides emerging from towers over 33 m high): Tornado Spin Slides, The Boomerango and others; the Aqua Games play area with a soft-surface football field filled with a thin layer of water.
Also interesting are the Coral Reef attraction (a pond with artificial coral reefs and real live fish), the Kids Cove with small pools, miniature slides and sandboxes, the Wave Pool with artificial waves of more than 3.5 thousand square meters and the Whirl Pool (“ Whirlpool”) of Olympic size.
