Getting around · Ras Al Khaimah · United Arab Emirates
Getting around Ras Al Khaimah
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: wilhelmtittes, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Ras Al Khaimah is spread out between the coast, the desert and the mountains, so most visitors use a hire car, taxis or hotel transfers. Public transport is limited to city buses and intercity coaches. Strongly recommended for exploring: the mountains, forts, wadis and east coast are hard to reach without one.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Car
- Airports
- RKT, DXB, SHJ
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Car
Renting a car is the easiest way to reach Jebel Jais, Dhayah Fort, Wadi Shawka and the east coast; roads are good and well signposted.
The Jebel Jais road is steep and winding; use low gears on the descent.
Taxi
Metered taxis operated under the RAK Transport Authority are available in the city and at resorts, and ride-hailing apps such as Careem also operate.
Bus
Intercity buses connect Ras Al Khaimah with Dubai and Sharjah, and a small number of city routes serve main roads, but services are infrequent for sightseeing.
Walking
Walking is pleasant only along promenades such as the Al Qawasim Corniche and within resort areas, and only in the cooler months.
From the airport
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is about 20 minutes by car from the city and around 30 minutes from Al Marjan Island. Many visitors arrive through Dubai International, about 100 km away and roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car, or Sharjah, about an hour away; resorts commonly arrange transfers.
Do you need a car?
Strongly recommended for exploring: the mountains, forts, wadis and east coast are hard to reach without one. If you stay in a resort and only plan one or two trips, taxis and tours are enough.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | About 1 hour 15 minutes–1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car, taxi or intercity bus |
| Sharjah | About 1 hour by car | Car, taxi or intercity bus |
| Fujairah and the east coast | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car through the Hajar Mountains |
| Musandam (Khasab) | About 1 hour 30 minutes plus the border crossing | Car or organised tour via the Tibat border crossing |
| Abu Dhabi | About 2 hours 30 minutes–3 hours by car | Car or organised tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Ras Al Khaimah?
Strongly recommended for exploring: the mountains, forts, wadis and east coast are hard to reach without one. If you stay in a resort and only plan one or two trips, taxis and tours are enough.
+How do you get from the airport to Ras Al Khaimah?
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is about 20 minutes by car from the city and around 30 minutes from Al Marjan Island. Many visitors arrive through Dubai International, about 100 km away and roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car, or Sharjah, about an hour away; resorts commonly arrange transfers.
+What is the best way to get around Ras Al Khaimah?
Car: Renting a car is the easiest way to reach Jebel Jais, Dhayah Fort, Wadi Shawka and the east coast; roads are good and well signposted.