What to do in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE United Arab Emirates

If you’d first asked me where Ras Al Khaimah is, I honestly wouldn’t have had a clue!

Situated in the United Arab Emirates, it’s the northernmost emirate and a short 45-minute drive from Dubai Airport.

Ras Al Khaimah is starting to turn into the adventure capital of the UAE with its ideally located mountain Jebel Jais that borders onto Oman and is the highest mountain range in the UAE.

30 km of newly built roads have opened up towards the peak of Jebel Jais, where you will find scenic driving routes, viewing platforms, food trucks on the weekends and communal facilities to enjoy the mountain range. It’s also a nice escape from the heat of the beach resorts, with temperatures around ten degrees cooler than sea level.

Enjoy endless hiking opportunities, mountain bike tracks, and via Ferrata routes, and head down to the coast for snorkelling and kayaking. Ras Al Khaimah has it all for adventure and outdoor lovers.

Offering more than deserts and beaches, Ras Al Khaimah emerged as the most exciting emirate among its siblings. You can see majestic mountains, lush mangroves, and therapeutic hot springs in addition to terracotta dunes and pristine white beaches there. It is the destination of choice for travellers looking to explore off the beaten path in the UAE.

But when you think everything is fantastic, they go and put the cherry on top by building the longest zip line in the world, which we will talk more about later in this blog post.

I hope you enjoy this guide for adventure seekers and find the information useful. Here is my guide to Ras Al Khaimah:

How to get to Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

As Brunei’s national carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines serves not only as of the coming of age of this tiny Sultanate but today cements itself as a competitor in the region.

Royal Brunei Airlines offers daily flights from London to Dubai, and then it’s a 45-minute transfer away by road to Ras Al Khaimah.

Royal Brunei Airlines and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism have continued their successful partnership to promote this exciting destination.

The airline also flies across four continents to 17 destinations. Every passenger is offered a truly personal service and can expect the highest standards of hospitality and travel on modern aircraft.

Royal Brunei’s economy flights to Dubai start from £327.00. For more information about destinations covered by Royal Brunei and to book your flights, visit their Fly Royal Brunei website.

Dubai Airport transfer to Ras Al Khaimah

A new shuttle service can be booked online at RAK Shuttle. It will take visitors from DXB airport – Terminal 1 & 3 and drop them at all the main hotels located in Ras Al Khaimah for an inaugural offer of 20 AED one way.

Wi-Fi, water bottles and maps are included onboard, and visitors can sit back, relax and enjoy the scenic desert views.

Where to stay in Ras Al Khaimah, Ritz Carlton

The Ritz Carlton has two properties worth checking out in Ras Al Khaimah: the Al Wadi Desert resort, located on a private nature reserve, and the newly opened Al Hamra Beach, which is located on its beach area by the coast.

If you fancy adding a hint of luxury to your trip, then these two resorts are just the places to be in Ras Al Khaimah.

The Ritz Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, the Al Wadi Desert resort.

The Ritz Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach

Both properties are located within an easy driving time of each other and show two different sides to Ras Al Khaimah.

If you fancy staying at both properties and can’t decide between the desert life or the beach life, you can stay at both, which can easily be arranged.

Jebel Jais Flight by Toroverde and Ras Al Khaimah

The Jebel Jais Flight is certified by Guinness World Records as the longest zip wire in the world.

The Jebel Jais Flight, measuring a single unbroken span of 2.8 km, is achieved by Toroverde and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. The zip line flight is located across the Jebel Jais mountain, in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and was opened on the 31st of January 2018.

The zip line comprises two main cables, allowing friends and family members to experience and race together, adding to the fun and competitiveness of the Jebel Jais Flight.

After giving the flight ago, I can say the feeling is incredible. You’re going so fast that you start to feel like you’re a jet plane or a falcon speeding past the Jebel Jais mountain range.

Super fun experience, extraordinarily safe and worth your time if you have a free day to give it a go in the UAE.

My top tip would be: don’t forget to enjoy the incredible mountain scenery of the Jebel Jais as you zoom past it. It’s easy to forget to look up and enjoy the views as your adrenaline kicks in.

The Jebel Jais Flight doesn’t stop here as they aim to expand and open more zip line routes this year and even add a nighttime zip line, which will be coming soon – this summer.

You can watch my Jebel Jais Flight video here:

My flight was number 2646, and I expect this number to keep growing. Stay tuned as the adventure keeps getting better in RAK.

Try some local cuisine on your visit to RAK

It can be tough to locate an authentic local dining experience in the UAE as international cuisine is most popular to find around this area.

Look no further than Al Fanar Restaurant & Café for authentic Emirati cuisine on your visit to Ras Al Khaimah. It aims to take you back to the past time of the 1960s in the UAE.

Emirati cuisine is a blend of many Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines and is fun to try on your next visit.

I’d highly recommend ordering a few fish dishes as they are sourced from local fishers close by in the area. The king prawns were worth trying.

Be sure to make room for dessert so you can try the sweet fried balls, camel ice cream and traditional coffee, which is shared around in small cups so everyone can enjoy some.

Explore the desert and go dune bashing on a 4×4 safari

A popular visitor attraction in the UAE – jump in a Toyota Land Cruiser and get a local guide to take you around the desert dunes.

A fun thrill that will have you on the edge of your seat. Don’t forget to put on your seat belt because you will be chucked around as your driver very smoothly rides the dunes in his 4X4.

Best done just before sunset so you can escape to the middle of the desert and watch as the sun disappears amongst the dunes.

You will then be transported back to a Bedouin Oasis Camp close by to enjoy some evening entertainment and dinner under the stars.

Falcon show at Al Wadi

Al Wadi Nature Reserve houses the region’s most diverse and interactive group of falcons, hawks, kestrels, owls and eagles.

Resident professional falconers fly their dedicated birds of prey using traditional Arabic and “modern” western techniques.

Great fun to watch these incredible birds of prey swoop down for their evening meal.

Pearl farming and the coastlines of Ras Al Khaimah

The pristine 64 km coastlines of Ras Al Khaimah are pretty exquisite. Traditionally these areas have been used for pearl farming along the gulf and can now be enjoyed by visitors to the region.

The emirate also boasts several natural lagoons and spectacular stretches of open coastline.

Perfect for water sports lovers and offers a massive choice of activities from windsurfing, sailing and banana boat rides to wakeboarding, water skiing, fishing and kayaking.

Why not go out on a boat ride in the area and see if you can spot pink flamingos grazing in the area along clear waters. Something for everyone along the coastlines.

Thank you for reading my blog post about Ras Al Khaimah

I hope you’ve enjoyed my take on Ras Al Khaimah. It truly is an adventure paradise waiting to be discovered. Pack your hiking boots, and be sure to head to the UAE – Jebel Jais is waiting for you.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask away in the comment section below or even better still, send me a tweet at @traveldaveuk; I’ll be happy to answer your questions. Before you go, feel free to check out my Instagram and YouTube videos:

Check out my adventure on YouTube