Ras al Khaimah is the most northern of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, and borders the Omani exclave Musandam. Ras al Khaimah, colloquially known as RAK, is commonly referred to as the adventure hub of the United Arab Emirates and the Arabian peninsula, with various activities such as the longest zip-line in the world, kayaking, water skiing, Go Karting, golfing, mountain climbing and multiple mountain hiking trails available in the emirate making the emirate a common destination for adventurists.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Ras al Khaimah means "headland of the tent" in English. It is nestled between the Hajjar Mountains on the East and the Persian Gulf on the West and shares mountainous borders with the Musandam Peninsula of Oman. With the completion of the E311 Highway (Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road), RAK is only about one hour from the emirate of Dubai. The Emirate has been in existence since 1708 under the ruling Al Qasimi clan.
For tourists, getting around with public transport or walking is rather difficult, and it would be better to go by either taxi or car. In February 2026 there are four local bus lines. One from Al Nakheel to Jazeera, that covers the main road parallel to the beach. Bus O1 connects the RAK Bus Station with the Al Naheel Bus Station every 30–60min during the day. The buses are air conditioned. You can pay in cash (12 dirham) or with the Sayer Card. The Sayer card costs 30 dirham with 20 dirham balance included. With the card every ride costs 8 dirham and transfers are not included. The RAKTA buses intersect at the Al Nakheel bus station. The timetables in Google Maps are outdated.
Ras al Khaimah Old City - the oldest residential area in the city of Ras al Khaimah with an old souq, old mosque, fishing harbour and Al Hisn Fort, which now host RAK National Museum. 1 Ras al Khaimah National Museum. the RAK National Museum is situated in Al Hisn Fort. It presents the history and culture of Ras al Khaimah. AED 5. (updated Jan 2024) 2 Jebel Jais. the highest peak in the UAE, at 1,934m, and is home to the world's longest zipline (updated Jan 2024) 3 Al Jazirah al Hamra Heritage Village, ☏ +971 507060820.
Beach Fishing Ice land Waterpark - it offers more than 50 rides and numerous water games. Saqr Park - the Saqr Park is the Emirate’s biggest public park. It has some slides, electrical cars, computer games and other attractions for the young ones. Camel race track – camel race is an attraction not to be missed. The races take place on Fridays, early in the morning from October till March. Camping and picnicking – done everywhere, although mountains are particularly popular for camping and beach, Saqr Park, Corniche Road and Emirates Road are often chosen for picnicking. Golf – there are two golf clubs in Ras al Khaimah.
A typical Emirati food is not widely available but it can be found in so called ‘popular kitchen’ types of restaurants. Lebanese cuisine mixed with some Arabic and Indian influences is often considered a local food. What you can expect in the restaurant is traditional Lebanese mezze (hummos, mutabal, salads, falafel), kebabs, biryani, fish or lamb. Ras al Khaimah's different cultures brought different tastes for food, restaurants of many types and origins are opened in the city. Considering a large number of Indians in Ras al Khaimah, there are plenty of great Indian restaurants.
Arabic coffee and tea are available almost everywhere. So are the juices made from freshly squeezed fruits. You can only get alcohol in the hotels, although you can buy it for your private use.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Ras Al Khaimah typically sees ~39°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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