Ras al Khaimah for families

Ras al Khaimah has an impressive array of family-friendly hotels and attractions. From beach resorts with fantastic kid's facilities to desert oases with fun family-orientated activities, Ras al Khaimah holidays are created with all ages in mind. Active families will find a vast array of adventurous and cultural pursuits from archery lessons and falconry shows to boat trips and camel safaris. Golf and sailing enthusiasts can bring the whole family along with lessons and sessions geared towards little ones and juniors, while shopaholics will find fun kids facilities and themed play areas at most of the emirate's malls.

As you would expect from a region lined with countless sandy beaches, aquatic sports are a popular family pastime in Ras al Khaimah, where you can try everything from parasailing and jetskiing to banana boat rides and snorkelling. Of course, there's also the simple pleasure of long sunny days relaxing on clean and safe sandy beaches and playing in the shallows of calm, crystal-clear seas.
 

Family activities and attractions

Top of the hit-list for a family day out in Ras al Khaimah, the Arctic-themed Iceland Water Park is the perfect place to cool off in the heat. Its rides, slides and water chutes offer endless fun for children of all ages and there's a Kids Cove dedicated to toddlers with miniature slides and shallow water. Saqr Park is another amusement park that will keep youngsters entertained with rollercoasters and funfair rides that include the Big Splash.

Ras al Khaimah also offers family activities with a more Arabian flavour that touch on the region's heritage and offer a chance to explore the desert landscapes to get a real sense of place. Joining a camel train through valleys and sandy dunes is a fantastic way to experience traditional Arabia, while you can also discover the desert on the back of a famous Arabian horse. For children who love ponies Ras al Khaimah Country Club offers pony rides, guided rides for kids and horseback lessons.

Birds of prey also play a part in the region's culture and you can take the family to falconry shows in Ras al Khaimah where you can see trained owls, hawks and falcons in flight and even have the chance to handle one yourself. The ancient art of archery is also a popular pastime in the emirate, and you can spend a day learning to use a bow and arrow on a shooting range amid dunes and shady trees before following the archery trail into the Al Wadi Nature Reserve.

If you are staying in a beach resort, you can find a fantastic range of watersport's facilities nearby. Doughnut and banana boat rides are readily available, while you can also learn to wakeboard or sail. RAK Sailing Club offers sailing lessons for children as young as five, while Al Jazeera Diving and Swimming Centre caters to youngsters and adults alike. The calm crystalline waters of the Arabian Gulf are the ideal environment for the whole family to discover the underwater world by learning to scuba dive together, but for a less technical glimpse under the waves all you need is a snorkel, mask and fins. Catamaran trips with lunch and snorkelling kits can be booked from most resorts and you can even charter a yacht for a day of swimming and snorkelling along the coast.

Ras al Khaimah for couples

Ras al Khaimah is an idyllic place to nurture romance, where you can be woven into a colourful tapestry of bewitching, star-spangled Arabian nights and sultry sunny days spent exploring desert landscapes, relaxing at the beach and trying a range of tempting activities. From sunset cruises along the coast and camel caravans through twisting ravines to chopping across the waves on a jetski or discovering the ruins of an Arabian fortress, couples holidays to Ras al Khaimah are full of variety and adventure. In short, on Ras al Khaimah holidays you can combine deep relaxation and romance with picturesque scenery and cultural experiences.

Couples can choose from a clutch of modern, purpose-built hotels – exclusive beach retreats, luxury spa hotels and spectacular desert enclaves – with excellent facilities. A range of attractive dining venues set the scene for Arabian romance. You can enjoy intimate meals in rooftop restaurants with panoramic views, aboard graceful yachts at sunset, amid tranquil desert dunes or by candlelight at the beach. High-quality dining options tend to be hotel based, serving a wide range of international and regional foods. Ras al Khaimah also has a good reputation for its delicious Arabian cuisine and meze, which can be lacking in the neighbouring emirates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a visa?
British citizens can obtain a free 30-day visa on arrival at the airport. To stay longer, you can visit an immigration office to obtain an extension and pay the relevant fee.

How can I get there?
There are many direct flights from London, Birmingham and Manchester airports to Dubai International Airport, which is a one-hour drive from RAK City and the surrounding resort areas. The flight time to the UAE is around seven hours. Among the airlines that fly to Dubai are Emirates, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Royal Brunei.