As we head in the winter season, holidaymakers will be thinking about their next travel adventure.
With data showing that travellers are prioritising quality experiences over cheap package deals – it’s clear that the modern traveller is becoming far more discerning with their holiday choices.
Ras Al Khaimah, with its pristine, white sandy beaches, stunning mountain backdrops and terracotta dunes is an untapped hidden gem, ideal for those looking for relaxation, adventure and history. No matter what your perfect holiday looks like, Ras Al Khaimah has the best of everything to offer. Beach lovers can swim leisurely in the 25°C crystal blue sea, adrenaline seekers can hike the UAE’s highest peak of Jebel Jais and experience the world’s longest zipline, and cultural enthusiasts can embark on a fascinating journey and discover the heritage of ancient pearl diving at Suwaidi Pearls, the only pearl farm in the UAE.
With direct connectivity from major cities in the UK, and only 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport, the Nature Emirate is the perfect destination for couples, friends and families alike looking for unforgettable holiday in 2025.
Why Ras Al Khaimah Should Be Top of Your 2025 Bucket-List
INCREDIBLE HOSPITALITY & RESORTS:
Ras Al Khaimah is already home to a wide variety of breath taking hotels – from ultra-luxurious resorts managed by some of the most notable names in the business, to family-friendly city-and beach resorts. 2024 saw the debut of the Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort and Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort. Surrounded by lush mangroves, the Anantara resort has garnered significant attention and demand since its opening. The resort offers 174 rooms, suites, and more exclusively, Maldives-style overwater pool villas which are the first of their kind in Ras Al Khaimah. Equally impressive is the Sofitel resort, a luxury beachfront property offering 292 keys, four outdoor swimming pools, and seven exceptional dining venues.
2025 will also welcome highly anticipated hotel openings including:
Rove Al Marjan Island Hotel
2025 will see the arrival of homegrown UAE brand, Rove Hotels to Ras Al Khaimah. Perfect for sun seekers Rove Al Majan Island Hotel will be located right on the waterfront in the heart of Al Marjan Island, home to stunning white sandy beaches, a bustling nightlife and exquisite dining options. Designed to be a home away from home, Rove offers modern comfort for all the family to enjoy. Guests will soon become accustomed to the familiar ‘Rove vibe’ as they enjoy everything the hotel has to offer including a piazza with a live DJ entertainment, a beachside beverage truck, a large pool and splash pad, play areas for kids, co-working spaces and a shisha lounge.
The Westin Resort Ras Al Khaimah
Relax, recharge and restore at The Westin Ras Al Khaimah set to open doors in 2025. Making its debut in the emirate, The Westin Resort, will be a haven for wellness seekers looking to escape the everyday. With 257 keys, guests will have the opportunity to experience The Westin’s signature wellness programmes, whilst basking in five-star luxury.
UNMISSABLE EVENTS:
This winter, Ras Al Khaimah transforms into a vibrant hub of cultural, sporting and adventure events. From the region’s largest art festival to international music acts and sporting events like RAK Championship, RAK Half Marathon and HIGHLANDER Adventure, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Ras Al Khaimah Championship – 22-26 January 2025. The Ras Al Khaimah Championship will return to the iconic Al Hamra Golf Club in 2025, further enhancing the emirate’s reputation as a premier golfing destination in the region. Watch as world-class talent tee-off and compete head-to-head!
RAK Art: 31ST January – 28th February 2025 .will see the return of RAK Art, one of the region’s largest outdoor art festivals. Ideal for culture vultures, the festival fuses the modern and ancient, bringing together a variety of art forms, whilst stimulating dialogue between artists, authors, creatives and the community. In 2025, the theme for the festival is ‘Memory’ with guests and contributors invited to explore the depths of memory.
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon – 1st February 2025. The region’s fastest half marathon, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, returns for its 18th edition on Saturday 1st February 2025. A firm favourite from community runners and international elites alike, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon has something for all ages and abilities to enjoy including the 21.1km half marathon race, 10km, 5km and 2km runs. Whether you want to partake or spectate, the bustling energy of the half marathon is not to be missed!
HIGHLANDER Adventure – 7th – 9th February 2025. An exhilarating trek returns to Jebel Jais (the UAE’s highest peak). Join a community of likeminded international adventure lovers and outdoor enthusiasts and take on the UAE’s longest developed network of hiking trails. The 2025 edition will offer participants unparalleled hiking experiences in three signature formats: HIGHLANDER Pegaus – a 40km three-day self-backpacking challenge; HIGHLANDER Orion – a 25m trek over two days and HIGLANDER Lyra – covering 20km in a single day.
A HAVEN FOR ADVENTURE:
Ras Al Khaimah is the ideal spot for travellers looking for adventure. From exploring the unique and diverse experiences on Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak, with the world’s longest zipline and hiking trails of 80km to exhilarating desert activities amongst the indigenous wildlife, Ras Al Khaimah will inspire you to embark on adventures of your own.
Jais Adventure Park: Located above the clouds at the top of the mesmerising Jebel Jais Mountain, sits the longest zipline in the world at 2,83km. Soar across the jagged mountain peaks and swoop through deep ravines at hair-raising speeds of up to 160 kmph with Jais Flight. Whether you’re a professional thrill-seeker or wanting to take a leap out of your comfort zone, experience a rush like no other with three minutes of adrenaline-pumping adventure 1680 metres above the Arabian Gulf/sea level. If Jais Flights leaves you with an intensified need for speed, the adventure doesn’t have to stop there. For a jampacked day of fun, experience the Jais Sky Tour with a series of six exhilarating ziplines stretching 5km, or take a ride on Jais Sledder, the longest toboggan ride in the region.
Bear Grylls Explorer Camp. If you are an inspiring adventurer, enjoy pushing yourself and want to learn survival techniques from instructors, hand-picked by the man himself – world-renowned Bear Grylls OBE, this is the place for you. Here you will learn all the essential skills needed to survive in the wilds of mountains and desert lands, with dynamic, high-intensity challenges that offer an unforgettable experience.
Explorers can also enjoy hiking, abseiling, rock climbing and archery, as well as the high ropes course, situated ten meters above ground, with two levels of endless challenge and fun. A new addition for this season is the introduction of the thrilling Via Ferrata adventure, which means “iron path” in Italian. It uses steel cables and equipment for safety, allowing explorers to venture through steep mountain terrain with ease. This heart-pounding adventure includes high-adrenaline zip lines, swinging Burma bridges, and vertical climbing sections that will test every explorer’s limit, and challenge them to overcome the obstacle they are faced with.
Action Flight – float over the Al Wadi Desert. Experience the gorgeous bird’s eye view of Ras Al Khaimah while you float in the air, with Action Flight’s brad-new hot-air balloon experience. Set afloat over the Al Wadi desert, in the 450,000 cubic feet balloon stands at a colossal 34.6m. Guests can marvel at the illuminated desert dunes, majestic Hajar mountains and glistening coastline and – if they’re lucky – spot special appearances from the indigenous wildlife.
Home to over 100 culture and heritage sites with four on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, protected conservation areas and the UAE’s only pearl farm, Ras Al Khaimah is ideal for cultural and sustainable experiences. From stepping back in time at one of its multiple historic and cultural sites to exploring the biodiversity of Al Wadi Nature Reserve, immerse yourself in its past and help safeguard its future.
Dhayah Fort. Visit the last hill-top fort in the UAE with the Dhayah Fort – forming the centre of a lush oasis and boasting spectacular breath taking views from the mountains and overlooking palm trees and desert, down to the crystal blue sea. The fort encapsulates all the different systems of land- and sea-use, which were typical for the northern part of the Oman Peninsula in the past and is the only hilltop fort still in existence in the UAE. It dates back to 1600 – 1300 BC when locals used it for settlement and fortification. It is an important historical monument where the 1819 battle between British troops and local Qawasim tribes took place.
The surrounding Dhayah area has been settled for thousands of years, resulting in its immense local historical significance. It encompasses diverse landscapes, including a lagoon protected by a sandbar, with an early Islamic harbour settlement, palm gardens and fort, mountain villages, terraced field systems, hill fort, gravel plain and prehistoric tombs.