Events not to miss in 2023

Ras Al Khaimah has an enviable social calendar with seemingly endless events throughout the year. From world-renowned sporting events to extraordinary art festivals, classic car rallies, pet-friendly fêtes and music celebrations, there is something every resident or visitor can enjoy.

Ras Al Khaimah Triathlon

Start the year as you mean to go on with the fourth edition Ras Al Khaimah Triathlon on Sunday, 15 January. It’s fast, it’s flat and suitable for all levels of budding athletes. The line-up of races includes junior super sprint, adult super sprint, sprint, and challenging Olympic distances. The triathlon will take place on the breathtaking archipelago Al Marjan Island, with headquarters and accommodation at the multi-award-winning  DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island. Competitors will swim in the calm waters of the Arabian Gulf, cycle along palm-fringed traffic-free roads and run along the shores on designated running tracks. Managed by Super Sports Events, there are various categories for different age ranges and fitness levels.

Ras Al Khaimah Triathlon, Super Sports Events, +971 50 164 6967

[email protected], https://supersportsuae.com/

Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon

For the last 15 years, Ras Al Khaimah has welcomed over 5,000 participants to the ‘fastest in the world’ half marathon and attracted elite athletes from across the globe. 2023 is no different. The 16th half marathon expects to attract over 60 of the fastest international runners from across the United Arab Emirates and the four corners of the world on Saturday, 18 February 2023. Not only is the half marathon the world’s fastest, but it’s thought to be the most picturesque. The flat course commences at 7 am from Al Marjan Island Boulevard in front of DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island. Runners will take to the roads that wind spectacularly across the island, passing shorefront world-class hotel destinations and luxury apartments as they head along Sheikh Mohammed bin Salem Road and circle through Al Amwaj Avenue before heading back to the starting point to cross the finish line. The dedicated Race Village boasts a host of exciting and interactive experiences throughout the race, from sporting activations to live music, family entertainment and delicious food from trucks and pop-up stands.

Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, Al Marjan Island,  [email protected], https://www.therakhalfmarathon.com/

Exotic Wedding Planning Conference

The 11^th edition of the Exotic Wedding Planning Conference, EWPC, will be between Wednesday 1 and Friday 3 March at the Al Hamra Conference Centre. The three-day event will attract tourism boards, travel experts, top-class wedding planners and suppliers from around the world. The conference aims to create an open forum for discussions with big-name experts, collaborative business set-ups and impressive entertainment to showcase the industry in one place. The delegates will, first-hand, experience a variety of unique venues and experiences embracing the terracotta dunes, formidable mountains and white sandy beaches. Ras Al Khaimah is ideally placed to host a myriad of weddings with its proximity to Europe, Asia and Africa.

Exotic Wedding Planning Conference, Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre,  https://weddingplanningconference.com/rak/

Arab Aviation Summit

The 10^th edition of the Arab Aviation Summit, AAS, the leading aviation and tourism industry event, will take place at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre between Tuesday, 14 and Thursday, 16 March. The annual event highlights trends, opportunities and insights to drive continuous development and growth in the industry. The 2023 summit will explore new areas and present innovation that will inspire the industry and the AAS participants. Described as the ‘voice of the industry’, global industry partners, including Airbus, CFM, Collins Aerospace, Turkish Teknik and the T3 Aviation Academy, support the summit. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority expects the event to be attended by over 700 international and local industry experts who can participate in various industry workshops hosted by high-profile leaders to discuss tourism, aviation and airports.

Arab Aviation Summit, Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre,  https://arabaviationsummit.net,

Twighlight XC

Twighlight XC is an extreme race that challenges wit, strength and stamina. The rugged MTB course is a bone-shaking 5 kilometres long and timed at 90 minutes. Participants will be challenged to complete as many circuits as possible on the daringly fast double tracks at Showka Dam in Ras Al Khaimah. Showka dam is the UAE’s oldest MTB event location with its adrenaline-pumping descents, lung-bursting climbs, and bone-shaking rocky steps. The mass start race commences at 5 pm on Wednesday, 29 March. It continues as the sun sets over the mountains and into complete darkness as mountain cyclists complete the race by torchlight. The course requires grit, determination and extreme fitness levels to tackle the rocky terrain. The formidable mountains give riders access to rare wadis, ancient ruins and trails, curious goats, timeworn paths, and formidable jagged peaks.

Twighlight XC, https://rakcalendar.ae/events/twilight-xc/

Minifootball World Cup

Ras Al Khaimah will host the 2023 Minifootball, World Cup, a mega football competition held bi-annually that will attract thousands of spectators and fans from around the globe. The tournament will bring together 24 national teams cementing the destination’s reputation for staging world-class international sporting events. The world-class event will take place between Thursday, 26 October, and Saturday, 4 November, in a purpose-built shorefront stadium in the heart of Al Hamra Village.

Minifootball World Cup

Global Citizen Forum

The Global Citizen Forum’s Annual Summit in Ras Al Khaimah will again occur on Wednesday, 6 and Thursday, 7 December, at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre. Discussions are rooted in the future of humanity, supporting evolution and connecting with planet Earth. The forum will continue from the exciting 2022  Human Metamorphosis to the second chapter, The Butterfly Effect, as they encourage the transition from looking within to looking around. Conversations about building a sustainable world will tackle hot topics with the current social and political landscapes.

Global Citizens Forum, Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre, https://www.globalcitizenforum.org/