Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Recommendations
    • Eat & drink
    • Food culture
    • Culture
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Ras al-Khaimah
    Rankin73 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    United Arab Emirates

    Ras al-Khaimah

    City

    Ras al-Khaimah is the capital of the eponymous emirate on the Gulf coast in the north of the UAE. An inlet divides it into the Old Town in the west and Al Nakheel in the east, with mangroves growing along its banks.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. United Arab Emirates
    7. Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah
    9. Ras al-Khaimah
    Ras al-Khaimah is the capital of the eponymous emirate on the Gulf coast in the north of the UAE. An inlet divides it into the Old Town in the west and Al Nakheel in the east, with mangroves growing along its banks. The National Museum, located in the historic fort, Dhayah Fort, and the abandoned pearl fishing village of Al Jazirat al-Hamra tell the story of the Qawasim; to its west lie the hotels of Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island.

    Sights in Ras al-Khaimah

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Dhayah Fort
    Castle

    1Dhayah Fort

    The 19th-century mud-brick fort stands on a 70-meter-high hill between palm gardens and the Hajar Mountains; the site was already fortified in the late Bronze Age. In 1819, British troops fought the Qawasim here. The ascent is via uneven steps without lighting, so come during daylight.
    Open in Google Maps
    Suwaidi Pearls
    Attraction

    2Suwaidi Pearls

    Founded in 2005 by Abdulla Al Suwaidi, the pearl farm lies off Al Rams in the Emirate's north. The approx. 2.5-hour tour on a traditional pearl boat takes you through the mangroves to the floating farm, where you can open oysters and keep your finds. Pre-book your tour.
    Open in Google Maps
    National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah
    Museum

    3National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah

    The museum is housed in the former fortress of the Al Qasimi ruling family, which served as a residence until 1964 and became a museum in 1987. It showcases archaeological finds from the Stone Age to the Julfar period, weapons, as well as exhibitions on pearl diving and date cultivation. Parts of the house are being renovated, so individual galleries may be closed. The museum is closed on Mondays.
    Open in Google Maps
    Al Jazirat al-Hamra
    Historic Landmark

    4Al Jazirat al-Hamra

    The abandoned pearl fishing village is considered the last preserved historic pearl village in the Gulf region and is on the UNESCO Tentative List. Its inhabitants left after the discovery of oil between 1968 and 1971. A fort, watchtowers, mosque, Souq, and coral stone courtyard houses are preserved. The site is open Tuesdays to Sundays. Some buildings are dilapidated; do not enter them.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Ras al-Khaimah

    1

    Kibba & Tabbola

    Syrian-Lebanese restaurant in Al Dhait South, known for Kibbeh, Tabbouleh, and Mezze platters.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Skeek Restaurant & Cafe

    Cafe-restaurant in the Dahan district near the Corniche, offering modern Emirati cuisine. The menu features Umm Ali, risotto with vine leaves, Dynamite Shrimps, and Emirati breads.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food & Beverage

    Besides international restaurants in the resorts, you'll find establishments in the city offering Emirati and Levantine cuisine, plus fresh fish along the Corniche.

    Machboos

    The national dish of the Emirates: spiced rice with chicken, lamb, or fish, flavoured with dried lime (Loomi), cinnamon, and saffron.

    Harees

    Long-simmered porridge of wheat, meat, and salt, typically served during Ramadan and at family gatherings.

    Luqaimat

    Fried dough balls, which are drizzled with date syrup (Dibs).

    Balaleet

    Sweet vermicelli noodles with cardamom and saffron under a thin omelette, traditionally served for breakfast.

    Ashuk Ice Cream

    Ice cream parlor on Corniche Al Qawasim, selling ice cream, waffles, and juices since 1975.

    History and Culture

    City of the QawasimThe fortress of the ruling Al Qasimi family was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1621 and by the British in 1820, and subsequently rebuilt. The family lived here until 1964, after which the building served as a police station and prison, and has been a museum since 1987. The Mohammed bin Salem Mosque in the old town is the emirate's oldest place of worship and the only mosque there without a minaret.Al Jazirat al-Hamra Pearl Fishing VillageLocated on a former tidal island on the emirate's coast are approximately 500 houses, a fort, watchtowers, a souk, and a mosque. The inhabitants from the Zaab tribe left the village between 1968 and 1971. It is considered the last preserved pearl fishing village on the Gulf and is on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage List. The site is an open-air museum; guided tours with volunteer guides can be booked via the Heritage Village website.ShimalThe Shimal archaeological site includes Bronze Age tombs and the ruins of a palace from the Julfar period (13th to 16th century), popularly known as the Palace of the Queen of Sheba. A staircase follows the medieval ascent, though there is no historical connection to the Queen of Sheba.

    Getting Here and Around

    From DubaiBus: RAKTA buses run from Union Metro Station in Dubai to Al Hamra Bus Station, taking approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Additionally, the RAK Shuttle runs from Dubai Airport, taking about one hour.Car: Via the E311 (Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road), the tourism authority states it's about 45 minutes from Dubai Airport, but considerably longer during rush hour.In the CityThe Museum, Old Town, and Corniche are close to each other. For Dhayah Fort, Al Rams with Suwaidi Pearls, and Al Jazirat al-Hamra, you'll need a taxi or rental car. Guided kayak tours into the mangroves depart from the Nakheel shore of Corniche Al Qawasim, ideally early morning or late afternoon.

    Accommodations in Ras al-Khaimah

    Find perfect stay in Ras al-Khaimah

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Plan your trip to Ras al-Khaimah

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Ras al-Khaimah

      Live
      • 1Dhayah Fort3 days
      • 2Suwaidi Pearls4 days
      • 3National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Ras al-Khaimah
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah

    Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah

    The Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah is located in the north of the United Arab Emirates and stretches from 68 kilometres of coastline on the Persian Gulf up into the Hajar Mountains with Jebel Jais. According to the tourism authority, its eponymous capital can be reached from Dubai Airport in about 45 minutes by car; during rush hour, it takes longer. Mangroves, old fortresses, an abandoned pearl fishing village, and beach resorts on Al Marjan Island lie close together here.
    Jebel Jais

    Jebel Jais

    Jebel Jais is the highest mountain massif in the Emirates, located in the Hajar Mountains in the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, bordering Oman. A roughly 36-kilometer road leads up to viewing platforms, hiking trails, and the Jais Flight zipline, which, at 2.83 kilometers, is listed in the Guinness Book as the world's longest. At the top, it's about 10 degrees cooler than on the coast.

    Umm al-Qaiwain is the capital of the least populated emirate and lies on the Persian Gulf between Ajman and Ras al-Khaimah. The compact old town lies on a peninsula; at its entrance stands Fort Al Ali with the National Museum. Beyond it opens the Khor al-Beidah lagoon with mangroves you can explore by kayak, and Siniya Island.

    Al Bidiya and Dibba are located on the northern east coast in the Emirate of Fujairah, between the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman. In Al Bidiya, about 40 kilometres north of Fujairah city, stands the oldest preserved mosque in the Emirates, further north are Al Aqah beach with the snorkelling island Snoopy Island and the city of Dibba Al Fujairah. From Dibba, dhow trips depart into the fjords of the Omani Musandam Peninsula.
    Khor Fakkan

    Khor Fakkan

    Khor Fakkan, an exclave of Sharjah Emirate on the Gulf of Oman, facing the Hajar Mountains and surrounded by Fujairah. Home to around 43,000, the city boasts the region's only natural deep-water port and is known for its white sandy beaches. Waterfall, amphitheater, the expanded Al-Rafisah Dam and the Al Suhub viewpoint make it an east coast excursion destination.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI