New hotels in Ras Al Khaimah

This guide is now tracking its first confirmed opening in Ras Al Khaimah: Hard Rock Hotel & Residences Ras Al Khaimah, announced for 2028 in the emirate's Beach District next to Al Marjan Island. The emirate is in the middle of a genuinely large resort building wave (most visibly Wynn Al Marjan Island, a $5.1 billion integrated resort due to open in September 2027 as the UAE's first licensed casino) and the Hard Rock project adds a second major branded arrival to that pipeline.

Beach and desert an hour from Dubai

Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost of the UAE's seven emirates, roughly an hour's drive up the coast from Dubai. Its main resort strip runs along Al Marjan Island, a man-made archipelago of reclaimed islands lined with beachfront hotels and under continued development, including the Wynn project and, on the adjacent mainland Beach District, Hard Rock's own hotel and residences. Established resorts already operate along this coast (the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, on the mainland by its own golf course near Al Hamra Mall, is one of the better-known examples) giving the emirate a functioning luxury-hospitality base well before its newest projects open.

The mountains behind the coast

What separates Ras Al Khaimah from Dubai and Abu Dhabi is the Hajar Mountains rising directly behind the coastline. Jebel Jais, at 1,934 metres, is the UAE's highest peak, and its slopes host the Jais Flight, the world's longest zipline at 2.83 kilometres, where riders reach speeds up to 160 km/h across the canyon below. A shorter, multi-line course, the Jais Sky Tour, and a network of hiking and via ferrata routes give visitors gentler ways to experience the same terrain.

Desert and history

Inland from both the coast and the mountains, Ras Al Khaimah's desert supports dune-bashing, camel trekking and overnight camp stays, a more low-key version of the desert-tourism experience better known from Dubai. Dhayah Fort, on a hilltop near the northern tip of the emirate, is the best-preserved historic fort in the UAE and one of the few pre-oil-era sites open to visitors in the region.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a new hotel opening in Ras Al Khaimah?

Yes: Hard Rock Hotel & Residences Ras Al Khaimah, roughly 300 rooms plus 395 branded residences in the emirate's Beach District next to Al Marjan Island, is targeted to open in 2028. Wynn Al Marjan Island, a $5.1 billion resort due in September 2027, is also under construction nearby but not yet tracked on this guide pending independent confirmation closer to opening.

What is Ras Al Khaimah known for?

Beach resorts on Al Marjan Island, the UAE's highest mountain, Jebel Jais, and the world's longest zipline, alongside a growing reputation as a lower-key, lower-cost alternative to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

How far is Ras Al Khaimah from Dubai?

About an hour's drive north along the coast, or roughly 30 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport itself.

Is there skiing or mountain activities in Ras Al Khaimah?

No skiing, but Jebel Jais offers the Jais Flight zipline, a via ferrata, hiking trails and a mountain-top viewing area: all reachable by road from the coast in under an hour.

When will the Wynn Al Marjan Island resort open?

September 2027, according to Wynn Resorts. It will be the UAE's first fully integrated resort with licensed gaming, though this guide will only track it as an opening once that date is confirmed closer to the time.