You don’t have to stay overnight to make the most of Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah Resort.
The resort offers day access to its pool, beach, spa, water sports, and dining — which means you can spend a full day here without ever checking in. It is one of the better daycation options in the emirate, especially if you want something more refined than a public beach and more interesting than a hotel lobby.
Here is what a day at the resort actually looks like.
Key Takeaways
- Day guests can access the main pool, private beach, and resort facilities without an overnight booking.
- The Anantara Spa takes walk-in and advance bookings for treatments, including couples’ sessions and multi-hour wellness journeys.
- Water sports and mangrove kayaking are available directly from the resort’s beach, with no overnight stay required.
- Six dining outlets are open to day guests, ranging from a swim-up pool bar to a beachfront Mediterranean restaurant and an Asian dinner venue.
The Day Pass: Pool and Beach Access
The resort’s day pass gives you access to the main pool and the private beach on the peninsula.
The pool is temperature-controlled and has a dedicated swim-up bar — Jalabar — where you can order drinks and snacks without getting out of the water. Around the pool, there are sun loungers and shaded daybeds. Staff will set you up with towels and chilled water when you arrive.
The beach itself is on the Arabian Gulf side of the peninsula. It is wide, quiet, and calm — not the kind of beach where you are competing for space. The water is shallow and gently shelved, which makes it easy to wade in at any pace.
If you are coming as a couple, it is a genuinely relaxing way to spend a few hours. If you are bringing kids, the calm water and separate children’s pool section make it manageable without much effort.
Location: Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah
For Day Pass Enquiries: Call +971 72042222 or email [email protected]
Spa Treatments and Wellness
The Anantara Spa is open to day guests, and it is worth planning your visit around.
The spa has seven treatment rooms, two of which are dedicated couples’ suites. The wet facilities — sauna, steam room, and whirlpool — are included with most treatment bookings.
Three treatments worth knowing about before you go:
Rituals of Bedouin is the spa’s signature 150-minute journey. It starts with mineral-rich clay and dry body brushing, then moves into a rose-infused massage. It is the kind of treatment that takes most of the afternoon and leaves you not wanting to move afterward.
Himalayan Salt Stone Massage uses warm stones to work through deeper muscle tension. A good option if you have been active or traveling and want something more targeted than a standard massage.
Herbal Shirodhara is a traditional Ayurvedic therapy where warm herbal oil is poured in a steady stream across the forehead. It is used to calm the nervous system and is particularly effective for guests dealing with stress or sleep disruption.
Advance booking is recommended, especially on weekends.
Opening Times: Weekdays (Monday to Thursday) from 11:00 am – 9:00 pm and Weekends (Friday to Sunday) from 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fitness Center
The resort’s gym is available to day guests and is fully equipped for a proper workout. It is a useful option if you want to train before heading to the pool or spa, or if you are based nearby and looking for a better gym environment than what your apartment building offers.
Opening Times: Check with the resort for current hours
Water Sports and Mangrove Kayaking
The resort sits on a protected mangrove lagoon, and one of the best ways to spend time here is on the water.
Kayaks are available for guests to paddle through the mangrove waterways. The route takes you through a quiet, sheltered ecosystem that is home to flamingos, herons, egrets, and over 30 other species of migratory birds. It is a different side of Ras Al Khaimah that most visitors do not get to see, and it takes less than an hour to cover the main stretch.
For guests who prefer speed over stillness, the beach also has motorized and non-motorized water sports available. The team on the beach can advise on what is running on any given day.
Dining for Day Guests
All six of the resort’s dining outlets are open to day guests. Three are worth planning around depending on when you arrive.
Jalabar
This is the pool bar, and it is the most convenient option during the day. You can order from the water or from a lounger. The menu covers drinks, light bites, and snacks — enough to keep you going without needing to leave the pool area.
Opening Times: Every day from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
For Reservations: Call +971 72042222 or email [email protected].
Beach House
If you want a proper sit-down lunch, Beach House is the right call. It is right on the beachfront, with views of the Gulf and an open terrace that catches the breeze.
The menu is Mediterranean — grilled fish, fresh pasta, dishes from the grill. It is the kind of lunch that stretches into the early afternoon without feeling rushed. In the evening, the same space shifts into a livelier setting with a DJ, shisha, and cocktails.
Opening Times: Lunch & Dinner from 12:00 pm – 12:00 am and Brunchella Saturdays from 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
For Reservations: Call +971 72042222, email [email protected], or book online here.
Mekong
If your daycation runs into the evening, Mekong is the place to end it. The restaurant is built over the water, with wooden booths designed to sit above the surface like floating water lilies. The views of the mangroves at dusk are hard to beat.
The menu covers Southeast Asia — Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese dishes. The Som Tum salad, seafood stir fry, and mango sticky rice are all worth ordering.
Opening Times: Sunday Brunch from 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm and Dinner from 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
For Reservations: Call +971 72042222, email [email protected], or book online here.
Getting There
The resort is in the Mina Al Arab development, about 45 to 60 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Careem is the most practical way to get a taxi in Ras Al Khaimah — Uber does not operate here. Car rental is available from around AED 130 a day if you want more flexibility.
Make the Most of Your Day
A daycation at Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah Resort works best when you plan around what you actually want from it. Come for the spa and stay for dinner. Arrive early for the pool and spend the afternoon on a kayak. Or do very little at all — the beach and the mangroves do most of the work.
Browse the latest RAK Moments offers for seasonal day pass promotions and packages that make it even easier to plan your visit.
