New Year’s Eve in Ras Al Khaimah: 9 of the Best Places to Stay
This holiday season, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) will welcome 2025 with its biggest fireworks spectacular yet. After setting two GUINNESS…
Ras Al Khaimah is a must-visit for travelers and professionals, offering exciting activities and cultural experiences. This Emirate boasts a rich history and stunning natural landscapes, providing the perfect backdrop for unforgettable events.
Let’s explore some of the most anticipated events in Ras Al Khaimah, from lively festivals to thrilling athletic competitions. Whether you’re seeking adrenaline-pumping adventures or peaceful relaxation amidst breathtaking scenery, these events to check out in Ras Al Khaimah have something to offer everyone.
In the heart of the United Arab Emirates, the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival (RAKFAF) stands as a beacon of artistic expression and cultural exchange. This nonprofit community arts festival is dedicated to showcasing the talents of local and emerging artists, photographers, and filmmakers and engaging the community through a diverse calendar of cultural and creative programming.
Established in 2013, RAKFAF has grown from a modest gathering of 30 emerging artists based in Ras Al Khaimah to the Emirate’s premier cultural event. Since 2019, the festival has found its home in the Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village, hosting a large-scale, outdoor exhibition modeled after France’s renowned La Gacilly Photo Festival.
The heritage village, once the home of the Al Zaabi tribe, now serves as a bridge between cultural heritage and contemporary art. It brings together art lovers, history enthusiasts, and the wider community to engage with new art forms and learn about Ras Al Khaimah’s rich history. In a nod to the Emirate’s connection to the desert, mountains, and sea, RAKFAF also hosts satellite exhibitions on the UAE’s highest peak, Jebel Jais, and the luxury beach destination, Marjan Island.
RAKFAF is deeply rooted in the community and believes in democratizing art. The festival champions the idea that art should be accessible and enjoyed by everyone, regardless of race, nationality, or income. As the festival grows, it aims to use art to expose audiences to new ideas and ways of thinking, fostering connections across borders and boundaries and creating a more cohesive society.
The 2022 Festival is a testament to this mission, showcasing the work of over 150 artists from 45 countries. Emirati, UAE-resident, and international artists have contributed their work in Fine Art & Photography, Sculpture, Film, and Poetry. Each artist brings their unique interpretation of the 2022 Festival theme, “The Journey,” furthering RAKFAF’s mission to connect countries, cultures, and communities through art.
The Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of art, a platform for cultural exchange, and a testament to the power of creativity. It invites everyone to embark on artistic discovery and cultural enlightenment.
Get ready to run along the stunning Arabian Gulf coastline at the prestigious Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, an event that attracts athletes and fitness enthusiasts worldwide.
Whether you’re an elite runner or a beginner, there’s a category for you, including 10K and 5K runs.
The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon promotes fitness and giving back to the community. The event often partners with local and international charities, allowing participants to raise funds for various causes.
Help make a difference – not only for your health but also by contributing to charitable causes through participating in the race. What are you waiting for? Visit Ras Al Khaimah and join the race.
Prepare for an adrenaline rush as the Tough Mudder 2023 returns to Ras Al Khaimah, the adventure capital of the UAE. This fitness and endurance challenge, branded as ‘probably the toughest event on the planet,’ is designed to test physical strength, stamina, and grit.
The Tough Mudder 2023 in Ras Al Khaimah is not just a race but a celebration of teamwork and fun. The courses, designed by specialized engineers, feature a variety of challenging obstacles to conquer. There are four courses to choose from, including 5K and 10K courses, a timed race, and a course for kids, ensuring everyone can join the fun.
Participants can expect a variety of challenging obstacles at the RAK Tough Mudder 2023. From crawling through 1,000 gallons of mud under barbed wire in the ‘Kiss of Mud to climbing a slippery incline in the ‘Pyramid Scheme,’ each obstacle is designed to test physical and mental strength. The ‘Black Widow’ obstacle, consisting of 30-feet long tightropes over water, will test balance, while ‘Trench Warfare’ will challenge participants to crawl through 60 feet of tunnels in complete darkness.
The Tough Mudder 2023 in Ras Al Khaimah is set to take place on March 18, 2023, at a brand new location at the Mina Al Arab. Ticket prices range from AED 140 per person for the 5KM course to AED 190 per person for the 10 km course. There’s also a special course for kids priced at AED 70.
The Tough Mudder 2023 in Ras Al Khaimah is open to participants aged 13 and above for the 5K and Classic courses and Tougher Mudder. Participants between the ages of 14 and 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult over 18. Kids aged 5 to 12 can participate in the Mini Mudder 2023 in RAK, accompanied by an adult above 18 with a chaperone ticket.
For more information about the event, interested participants can email [email protected].
The Tough Mudder 2023 in Ras Al Khaimah is more than just a race; it celebrates strength, endurance, and teamwork. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a fitness enthusiast, this event promises an unforgettable experience. So, gear up and get ready to embrace the challenge!
The Global Citizen Forum (GCF) is a dynamic platform that unites leaders worldwide, all committed to enhancing global citizenship for future generations. This nonprofit organization, based in Canada, is driven by a worldwide community of leaders and catalysts, all striving to unlock the potential of global citizenship.
The GCF operates under five pillars: governance, technology, mobility, sustainability, and culture. These pillars are seen as the fundamental building blocks of global citizenship, and they serve as channels for dialogue and action, leading to traceable, transparent, and measurable impact.
The governance pillar focuses on the ability of governments and societies to trigger policy changes to address the most pressing challenges faced by global citizenship, including forced migration, displacement, inequality, corruption, and climate change.
Recognizing freedom of movement as a core component of global citizenship, this pillar focuses on current migration processes, challenges, opportunities, and failures.
Culture is the fabric of society that can connect or disintegrate people. The culture of acceptance, tolerance, understanding, love, and care for each other is what global citizenship genuinely stands for.
Technology is revolutionizing the way our world is evolving. Its immense transformational power can solve some of the most imminent challenges global citizenship faces today.
The sustainability pillar focuses on the deeply intimate relationship between today’s global challenges and tomorrow’s repercussions.
Through events, workshops, experiences, and training, the GCF focuses on harnessing the power of dialogue and action within each pillar. The fields of action range from supporting refugees, IDPs, and people with no access to identity, education of children in rural communities, empowering women entrepreneurs in remote economies, and others.
Members of the Global Citizen Forum enjoy a range of benefits, including the opportunity to broaden horizons through specially curated global events, expand networks with global leaders, shape international policies, further knowledge through pioneering research publications, connect with diversity, and leave a lasting mark by contributing to robust, measurable impact on an annual basis.
The Global Citizen Forum’s Annual Summit is set to take place on December 6-7, 2023, in Ras Al Khaimah. This event promises to be an exciting step in the global movement, offering exclusive access to those interested in making a difference.
The Global Citizen Forum is more than just an organization; it’s a movement, a community, and a platform for change. It’s a place where global citizens can come together to discuss, learn, and take action on the most pressing issues facing our world today.
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and the Organising Committee of the Emirate’s New Year’s Eve celebration are preparing to welcome 2023 with a spectacular musical firework display and new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ attempts. The #RAKNYE2023 event promises to be a mesmerizing spectacle that will light up the sky with pyro drones, nano lights, and a choreographed display of colors and shapes set to electric beats.
The firework performance will span a 4.7km stretch along the waterfront between Al Marjan Island and Al Hamra Village. Visitors will be captivated by a stunning pyro-musical that aims to break new records. The gates will open at 4 pm for the fireworks display, with more than 15,000 car parks available for visitors.
The fireworks, designed in European factories and hand-crafted by historic fireworks families, will be launched from 130 sea pontoons. The display will feature over 15,000 fireworks and hundreds of drones with pyrotechnics; all choreographed to a stunning orchestral, electronic music score. The fireworks stage will span a massive 4.7 kilometers, with lights dancing to the energetic music flowing from one side of the bay to the other.
In addition to the fireworks, residents, and tourists can enjoy a packed program of family-friendly activities and events in the New Year’s Eve run-up. A host of festivals will occur in the Emirate from November to December.
Ras Al Khaimah, a destination gaining momentum in sports tourism, is set to host the 2023 Minifootball World Cup. This mega international football competition, held every two years, attracts thousands of spectators and fans from around the globe. The event will take place from October 26 to November 4, 2023.
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) won the bid to stage the 2023 tournament, with the World Minifootball Federation (WMF) selecting the destination over other shortlisted contenders, including Manila and Budapest. The official draw for the tournament was held on June 20 at the Movenpick Resort Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
The official draw set the stage for an exciting tournament to unite talented teams, football enthusiasts, and sports fans worldwide. The event saw 32 participating national teams drawn into eight groups of four teams each. The host UAE will face off against Kazakhstan, Ghana, and India in Group A while defending champions Mexico are in Group B with Guatemala, Georgia, and Ireland. Favorites Brazil headline Group E includes Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Japan. The USA, hosts, and winners of the inaugural Minifootball World Cup in 2015, are in Group D and will battle for the round of 16 against Romania, Spain, and Lebanon.
In addition to the significant tourism development and economic benefits that hosting the 2023 WMF World Cup will deliver, RAKTDA believes the tournament will act as a springboard for promoting mini-football in the UAE. This aligns with the Emirate’s objectives to foster livability and engage with local schools and sports clubs within the local and broader UAE community.
Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of RAKTDA, said, “Winning the bid to host the 2023 WMF World Cup marks another milestone in our strategy to promote Ras Al Khaimah as a destination for athleticism and major sporting events. We consider this a major win for the community, not only in Ras Al Khaimah but the UAE and wider Middle East region.”
Ras Al Khaimah is known for its vast outdoor spaces, attractive all-year-round climate, and many tourist attractions. With the destination served by four international airports across the UAE, including Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, it is easily accessible to two billion people within a four-hour flight radius.
The Emirate’s credentials as a community-focused and safe destination also played a role in securing the 2023 WMF World Cup. The UAE ranks seventh worldwide for safety and security in the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness report. Moreover, the UAE has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates globally at 98% of the population.
With the official draw completed and the teams set, the stage is set for an exciting tournament. The 2023 WMF Minifootball World Cup promises to celebrate the sport and showcase the skills and passion for minifootball worldwide. With its stunning scenery and vibrant culture, Ras Al Khaimah provides the perfect backdrop for this prestigious event.
Ras Al Khaimah is a must-visit for travelers and professionals alike, offering exciting activities and cultural experiences.
Visit Ras Al Khaimah to experience a wide range of events Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, Tough Mudder, NYE, Minifootball, and more! You can explore historical sites like Dhayah Fort and Jebel Jais Mountain, shop at Manar Mall, and visit the National Museum. These are just some memorable experiences if you check out Ras Al Khaimah events throughout the year.
For more information on Ras Al Khaimah and its attractions, visitrasalkhaimah.com.
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