Ras Al Khaimah, found in the northernmost part of the United Arab Emirates, represents just 3.16% of the UAE’s total area. Nevertheless, its highly diverse landscape belies its relatively compact size.
The rugged limestone cliffs of Ru’us Al Jibal of the Hajar Mountains frame rolling terracotta dunes. Wadis seasonally get filled with rain and empty into the fertile alluvial plains. The emirate also has an unspoiled 68-kilometer-long coast lined with sandy beaches and dense mangroves, making it an excellent beach holiday destination.
Below, we outline a five-day Ras Al Khaimah beach holiday itinerary, with a bonus day zero included. Feel free to use it as is or modify it according to your personal circumstances and beach holiday preferences.
Important: Make sure to make dinner reservations and book experiences in advance.
Day 0: Hotel Check In
Day zero is the day that precedes your five-day Ras Al Khaimah beach holiday. Today, check into your preferred hotel.
Where should you stay for your beach vacation? Review the best beaches in Ras Al Khaimah and choose a resort from your preferred area. You’ll be spoiled for choice, as there are several luxury beach resorts in Ras Al Khaimah. Our list of Ras Al Khaimah resorts can help you evaluate your options.Insider tip: The beach and exclusive beach access are a prerequisite for a lovely beach holiday. This is why we recommend you stay at one of the private beach hotels in Ras Al Khaimah.
Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah, off Al Maareedh Street, stands out among your options because it gives guests exclusive access to a 1.5-kilometer sandy bay off the Arabian Gulf coast. It has the longest private beach in Ras Al Khaimah.
Day 1: Beach Day
Stay in and enjoy the beach at your resort.
Beach Stroll
Make your way to the beach for an early-morning stroll (could also be early-morning yoga, stretching, or calisthenics) and a dip into the Gulf once it’s warmer.
Breakfast
After your beach stroll and a dip, walk back to the hotel for breakfast. Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah is one of Ras Al Khaimah’s all-inclusive resorts, so expect a lavish breakfast, which you can enjoy indoors or outside in the al fresco dining area. By the way, breakfast is served 6:30-11:00 a.m. at the hotel’s international-cuisine, all-day-dining restaurant, Turquoise.
In-Hotel Leisure Activity
After breakfast, you can visit the hotel’s sports club, perhaps for a gym workout. The children, if you’re travelling with any, can pass the time participating in activities at the children’s indoor play area and teens’ activity area (which are the Rixy Kids Club and the Teens Club, respectively, at Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah).
Swimming
In the afternoon, when the sun has become less intense, change into your swim clothes and apply high-strength, waterproof sunscreen. Once your sunblock has been fully absorbed (approximately 20 minutes after application), proceed to the hotel swimming pool or directly to the beach for a refreshing soak, dip, or more active water activities (e.g., paddleboarding, jet skiing, etc.).
Happy Hour
Get changed and visit the hotel beach bar or pool bar (Rixos Al Mairid even has a cigar lounge) for some drinks, a good view and stimulating conversation.
Dinner
Cap the night with a sumptuous dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants. At Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah, you can have Turkish at Orient, Italian at L’Olivo, or steaks at Toro Loco.
Day 2: The Suwaidi Pearl Farm
Learn about Ras Al Khaimah’s rich pearling heritage.
Breakfast
Start with a room-service breakfast, preferably served on your balcony overlooking water vistas. Breathe in the early-morning sea breeze.
The Suwaidi Pearl Farm
Go to the Suwaidi Pearl Farm in the Al Rams Corniche for a farm tour or a full-day excursion. Learn all about pearl oysters, traditional pearl diving, and pearl farming and harvesting practices.
The comprehensive tour option includes cruising in a traditional pearling vessel, listening to captivating pearling stories, pearl diving, and lunch. At the end of this tour, open your oysters to see if they contain pearls. You may even end the day browsing through the gift shop for pearls.
Dinner
After a rousing day at the Suwaidi Pearl Farm, dine at one of the best restaurants in Ras Al Khaimah. You’ll probably be in the mood for something casual after your pearl farm expedition, so how about some burgers, steaks, and nachos, served with some drinks and some football or rugby action on television? For this type of dinner, The Huddle Sports Bar & Grill in Al Nakheel comes to mind.
Day 3: Arabian Gulf Cruise
Cruise the Arabian Gulf.
Beach Stroll
Start your day with an early-morning stroll or even a jog at Al Qawasim Corniche, a three-kilometer waterfront promenade that offers views of the water and a mangrove-lined coastline.
Breakfast
Have a big breakfast or brunch at Space Café, one of the best Ras Al Khaimah coffee shops along Al Qawasim Corniche. Try their Arabian Benedict, Shakshuka Croissant, or a full breakfast (Turkish, Indian, Arabic, or English). Sip on their lovely coffee and spend the rest of the morning soaking in the lush views.
Al Hamra Royal Yacht Club
In the afternoon, make your way to the Al Hamra Royal Yacht Club at the Al Hamra Waterfront for an exclusive yacht cruise. Your route will depend on the specific itinerary of the cruise you booked; for instance, it can take you north to Mina Al Arab. Savor the cooling sea breeze and enjoy the onboard refreshments and the beautiful views of the Ras Al Khaimah skyline.
Dinner
For dinner, try Lexington Grill & Bar, a New York steakhouse-style restaurant in Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, one of the private beach hotels in Ras Al Khaimah. It’s on Al Hamra Beach, near the historic town of Al Jazeera Al Hamra, and conveniently in the same neighborhood as the Al Hamra Royal Yacht Club.
Day 4: Spa Day
This Day 4 is what we call self-care day.
Beach Stroll
Start the day with an early-morning stroll at your resort’s private beach. Feel the soft sand between your toes and soak in the sun’s warmth.
Breakfast
Savor your hotel breakfast. Take your time.
Massage and Treatments at the Spa
Schedule a full day’s worth of massages and spa treatments at the hotel spa. The spa at Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah is next-level. Book a hammam bath and massage package, try various other spa treatments, and treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure. You’ll feel so relaxed and pampered.
Dinner
Go for a sumptuous dinner at a waterfront restaurant, such as the Beach House at Anantara Mina Al Arab. This restaurant has both indoor and al fresco dining areas; dine outside for enchanting ocean views. We highly recommend the seafood. Your options include raw oysters, seared tuna, seared scallops, seabass ceviche, grilled octopus, seafood gnocco vecchio, lobster risotto, crab salad, tiger prawn skewers, pan-seared sea bass, and salmon fillet.
Day 5: Dinner at the Desert
Even a Ras Al Khaimah beach holiday itinerary must include a visit to the desert.
Beach Stroll and Activities
This time, start the day with a morning walk on Flamingo Beach. Play beach volleyball and try paddleboarding and kayaking, too.
Breakfast
For breakfast, consider driving south to The Cove Rotana Resort, which has a stunning hillside hotel and sweeping views of the Gulf. You can have breakfast at Cinnamon, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. If you’re there at noon, enjoy some boards, mezzes, and succulent seafood at the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant, Basilico.
Beach and Pool Fun
The Cove Rotana Resort has its own private beach. You can get a day pass for infinity pool and private beach access, and spend the early afternoon lounging poolside and swimming in the ocean.
Sunset and Dinner at the Desert
In the late afternoon, proceed to Sonara Camp Al Wadi at the grounds of The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert. Opt for the full Sunset and Dinner package so you can end your fifth day with appetizers, a Falcon show, desert activities, live entertainment, and a mouth-watering dinner under the stars.
Perfect for a Beach Holiday
With an accessible 68-kilometer coastline, fine-sand beaches, dense mangroves, and luxury beach resorts, Ras Al Khaimah is indeed a perfect beach holiday vacation destination.
Start planning your beach holiday. Use the Ras Al Khaimah beach holiday itinerary outlined above as a baseline, and feel free to add and modify it to suit your requirements.
