Sunset moments to wow your Insta followers can be snapped all over Ras Al Khaimah, from its mountain peaks and desert dunes to hilltop forts and beachside bars.
Get your camera at the ready and if the mood strikes, grab a sundowner to sip as you watch a kaleidoscope of colours light up Ras Al Khaimah’s sky before the day turns into night.
Jais Viewing Deck Park
Where better than the UAE’s tallest mountain, Jebel Jais, to watch the sunset with dramatic effect? One of the best spots to experience this spectacle is the Jais Viewing Deck Park, located 1,250 metres above sea level, just shy of the summit.
Throughout the year, the sun tends to set early, between 17.30 and 18.00, so arrive in plenty of time for nature’s show, and if you stay a little longer, be dazzled by the star constellations lighting up the Ras Al Khaimah sky.
If you are feeling peckish, grab a coffee or snack at Puro Express and Muse Café, both located at the Jais Viewing Deck Park, which is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm, Sunday to Thursday, and from 08:00am to 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday.
1484 by Puro
One of the most impressive views in the United Arab Emirates, and therefore one of the country’s top sunset locations, is at mountain-top restaurant 1484 by Puro, named after its exact height – 1,484 metres above the Arabian Gulf.
Enjoy a late afternoon tea or early dinner and take in the extraordinary panorama as the sun casts breathtaking shadows and a warm glow over the mountain range.
Dine on the terrace during the cooler months or when it’s hot, retreat to the modern air-conditioned interior with retro-inspired furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows that ensure your sunset views are not interrupted. The menu is packed with healthy and hearty dishes using locally sourced organic ingredients, promising a sensational dining experience to rival the sunset.
The Cove Rotana Resort
At The Cove Rotana Resort, a hotel with an extraordinary hillside location, the top spot to watch the sun sink into the Arabian Gulf is a beachside venue with a name that says it all – the Sunset Bar. Located by the resort’s upper pool, you can relax and sip on iced drinks, juices and cocktails and enjoy nature’s daily show.
Sink into the contemporary rattan furniture with comfortable cushions and let the sea breeze wash over you, and perhaps be tempted by the casual restaurant’s snacks and nibbles or for something more substantial, a tasty pizza.
Dhayah Fort
Grab your camera and head out of the city to Dhayah Fort, a castle‑like structure standing proudly on a 70-metre hill at the centre of an oasis, with date-palm gardens on one side and the Jebel Jais mountains on the other.
Just before the sun goes down, climb the 239 zig-zagging steps to the top to witness the remarkable 360-degree views of arid mountains, palm trees and even neighbouring Oman.
As you fill your Insta feed, get some shots of the fort too, with its golden walls illuminating in the sunset glow.
Desert dunes
For an out-of-this-world experience, the Ras Al Khaimah desert at sunset is truly magical. Whether you take a break from your off-road adventure or camelback trek to watch the sun dip below the flame-coloured dunes or experience it at one of the emirate’s many desert camps, accompanied by a glass of fizz, you won’t forget the moment.
As the night sets in, dine around a roaring campfire and watch the stars light up one by one in the desert sky, with camps including Bedouin Oasis, Bassatta Village and Sonara Camp Al Wadi showing true Arabian hospitality.
