Ras Al Khaimah is the emirate people go to for what Dubai doesn’t have: real mountains, cool air at the top and quiet by the sea. It has the country’s highest point, the world’s longest zipline, a fort on a hill and resorts where you can spend a week all-inclusive.
It’s the fourth-largest emirate in the UAE and the last to join the federation: Ras Al Khaimah joined on 10 February 1972. Below is what to see, a realistic plan for the day and when it’s better to stay the night.
Ras Al Khaimah in brief
- Distance: about 110 km from Dubai Mall, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes on the E311.
- To Jebel Jais: about 2 hours from Dubai and 45 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah city.
- Character: the Hajar Mountains, history, beaches and resorts.
- How long: one packed day, or 2–3 days with a hotel.
- Best season: October to April. At the summit it can drop below zero in winter.
Jebel Jais: the highest point in the UAE
Jebel Jais is a 1,934 m mountain, the highest point in the country. The road up is paved and you don’t need a 4x4. But the hairpin road is long, and in fog, rain or darkness you need to drive very carefully. It’s noticeably cooler at the top than on the coast. In winter I always ask guests to bring a jacket: the temperature here can fall below zero.
What to do on the mountain:
- Jais Viewing Deck Park, the highest viewing-deck park in the UAE, with picnic tables and views over the gorges.
- 1484 by Puro, a restaurant at 1,484 m, the highest in Ras Al Khaimah. Book ahead for weekends.
- Hiking trails, from short morning walks to full-day treks with guides.
- Camping at Camp 1770, the highest campsite in the UAE, with hiking and stargazing.
The mountain itself is open around the clock, while the zipline and restaurants keep their own hours.
Jais Flight: the longest zipline in the world
Jais Flight is 2.83 km of cable. You launch at 1,680 m, reach up to 150 km/h, and the flight lasts about three minutes.
What to know as of October 2026:
- Price: from 325 AED per person, depending on the season. A camera is 150 AED extra.
- Days: Wednesday to Sunday and on all public holidays. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Hours: in winter, October to April, flights run from 9:30 to 16:00. The schedule changes during Ramadan and in bad weather.
- Restrictions: weight 40 to 120 kg, height at least 130 cm. Under-18s need a parent or guardian and a signed consent form.
Book ahead, and don’t take the last slot of the day: if the weather turns, flights can be pushed back.
Dhayah Fort: the only hilltop fort
Dhayah Fort stands on a hill about 70 m high. It’s a mud-brick fortress built in the 19th century and restored in the late 1990s. Here, in 1819, the local Qawasim tribes fought British forces. People used the site for settlement and defence as far back as the late Bronze Age, 1600–1300 BC. The fort is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Dhayah Fort. 239 steps lead to the top, and from there you can see the palm groves and the coast. Photo: Fatima Alzaabi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
239 steps zigzag up to the top. The path is uneven and rocky, and it isn’t suitable for pushchairs or people with limited mobility. There’s no lighting, so come in daylight, ideally early in the morning: there’s almost no shade on the slope. Here and at other historic sites, cover your shoulders and knees.
Al Jazirah Al Hamra: the ghost village
Al Jazirah Al Hamra is an abandoned coastal village of about 500 houses. Its residents left between 1968 and 1971. Today it’s an unstaffed open-air museum where you can wander the lanes between coral-stone houses. The best time is towards sunset, when the light is soft. Be careful: these are old buildings.
In February 2024 I came back to Ras Al Khaimah after a two-and-a-half-year break and didn’t recognise the emirate: new residential complexes, hotels, and the ghost village patched up and tidied. In winter it hosts an art festival: in 2025 it ran until 28 February, with free entry. Check the dates of the new season before you go.
The museum, pearls and mangroves
- The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah is in the old fort. As of October 2026 tickets are 5 AED for adults, 1 AED for students and 15 AED for a family.
- Suwaidi Pearls pearl farm: a trip on a traditional pearl divers’ boat from the fishing village of Al Rams.
- Mangroves by kayak: guided tours through the mangrove channels, where greater flamingos are sometimes seen.
Beaches and all-inclusive resorts
Ras Al Khaimah is the country’s main all-inclusive emirate. Its tourism authority lists these resorts:
- Rixos Bab Al Bahr and Rixos Al Mairid, family resorts with their own beaches;
- Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, full board and all-inclusive;
- DoubleTree by Hilton Marjan Island, on Al Marjan Island next to the Mövenpick;
- InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah, on Hayat Island;
- The Cove Rotana, a resort on a hillside by the sea;
- SO/ Ras Al Khaimah, opened on 15 November 2025, with eight restaurants and bars.
Al Marjan Island is a man-made archipelago with hotels by the water. Wynn Al Marjan Island is also being built here; its opening has been moved to September 2027.
The beach, the pool, the restaurant three times a day, and mountains an hour away. That’s an all-inclusive week in Ras Al Khaimah. Photo: Timothy K, Unsplash (illustration).
My usual advice: an all-inclusive beach plus two or three days of sightseeing, such as Jebel Jais, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. If you’re choosing between the Emirates and Turkey, read our UAE or Turkey comparison.
Musandam: Oman next door
Ras Al Khaimah is the closest emirate to Oman’s Musandam peninsula, with its fjords. The road to Khasab goes through a border post, so you need your passport and an Omani visa under the rules for your nationality. Oman’s visa rules change, so check them before the trip. The simplest option is a Musandam cruise from the port of Khasab.
A one-day plan from Dubai
This plan is for Wednesday to Sunday, when the zipline operates.
| Time | What we do |
|---|---|
| 7:30 | Leave Dubai |
| 8:45 | Dhayah Fort: the climb while it’s cool |
| 9:45 | Drive up Jebel Jais (about 45 minutes) |
| 10:30 | The viewing deck and a walk |
| 11:30 | Jais Flight (slot booked ahead) |
| 13:00 | Lunch at 1484 by Puro (booked) |
| 14:30 | Drive down the mountain |
| 15:45 | Al Jazirah Al Hamra |
| 17:00 | Sunset on the beach or dinner at a hotel on Al Marjan |
| 18:30 | Back to Dubai, about 1 hour 15 minutes |
If you don’t need the zipline, Monday or Tuesday works too. And if this is your beach holiday, it’s better to stay in Ras Al Khaimah and drive up the mountain in the morning from your hotel.
Where to eat
- On the mountain: 1484 by Puro; book ahead.
- By the sea: the resort restaurants on Al Marjan and in the Al Hamra area.
- On the way: in Ras Al Khaimah city there’s Manar Mall, with cafes and a cinema.
What to know
- Clothing: layers on the mountain, and a jacket in winter. At historic sites, cover your shoulders and knees.
- The road: start up the hairpins with a full tank.
- Without a car: RAKTA buses run from Union bus station in Dubai from 7:30 to 23:00, and the ride takes under two hours. A taxi costs roughly 200–250 AED.
When to go
October to April. In winter it’s fresh and clear on the mountain and comfortable for the beach down by the sea. In summer the zipline runs on a reduced schedule, and it’s very hot below.
How I can help
I help plan Ras Al Khaimah so the day isn’t lost to driving: I book Jais Flight and a table at the mountain restaurant, and suggest where to stay if you want an all-inclusive beach plus excursions. From Ras Al Khaimah it’s easy to head out to sea: a Musandam cruise or the Fujairah cruise on the other coast. And in Dubai I’ll be waiting for you on my city overview tour. How all the emirates differ is in The seven emirates of the UAE.
Checked on 11 October 2026. Sources: Visit Ras Al Khaimah, Visit Jebel Jais, The National, Gulf News. Zipline prices and schedules change, so check before you go.
Practical answers
Frequently asked questions
What can you do in Ras Al Khaimah in one day?
In the morning, Dhayah Fort before the heat, then up Jebel Jais: the viewing decks, the Jais Flight zipline and lunch at 1484 by Puro. In the afternoon, the abandoned village of Al Jazirah Al Hamra and sunset by the sea.
How long does it take to drive from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?
About 1 hour 15 minutes on the E311, or about 1 hour 25 minutes on the E611. The top of Jebel Jais is about 2 hours from Dubai. RAKTA buses also run from Union bus station in Dubai.
How much is the Jebel Jais zipline?
As of October 2026, from 325 AED per person depending on the season, plus 150 AED for a camera. Riders must weigh 40 to 120 kg and be at least 130 cm tall; under-18s need an adult and a signed consent form.
Do you need a 4x4 to drive up Jebel Jais?
No. The road is paved, so an ordinary car will manage. But drive very carefully on the hairpins in fog or rain, and at night.
Are there all-inclusive hotels in Ras Al Khaimah?
Yes, it is the UAE's main all-inclusive emirate. Its tourism authority lists Mövenpick and DoubleTree on Al Marjan Island, Rixos Bab Al Bahr, Rixos Al Mairid, InterContinental on Hayat Island, The Cove Rotana and the new SO/ Ras Al Khaimah.
Can you go to Musandam from Ras Al Khaimah?
Yes, Ras Al Khaimah is the closest emirate to Oman's Musandam peninsula. You need your passport and an Omani visa under the rules for your nationality. The rules change, so check them before you travel.
