With kids · Ras Al Khaimah · United Arab Emirates
Ras Al Khaimah with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: almarjanisland.com, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Ras Al Khaimah is a strong family beach destination, with calm, shallow resort beaches, kids' clubs and easy outings to the Jais Sledder, the pearl farm and the forts. The main limits are summer heat and the distances between sights, which make a car useful. Top picks: Al Marjan Island beaches, Jais Sledder and Suwaidi Pearls farm. Families usually base themselves in Al Marjan Island.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Al Marjan Island
- Rainy-day options
- 1
- Busiest months
- December
Best things to do with kids
Beach · Al Marjan Island
1.Al Marjan Island beaches
The man-made islands are fringed with wide sandy beaches and shallow, calm water, most of it attached to resorts that sell day passes. A promenade along the causeway and the islands' edge is used for walking, running and cycling with views back to the mountains.
Buy a resort day pass on a weekday for the quietest beach and pool access.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Experience · Jebel Jais
2.Jais Sledder
A rail-mounted toboggan winds about 1.8 km down the mountainside through bends, waves and loops, with riders controlling their own speed. Children can ride with an adult, making it a family alternative to the zipline.
Combine it with the Viewing Deck Park and lunch on the mountain to make a full day of Jebel Jais.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Slots can sell out at weekends; book ahead and check age and height rules.
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Experience · Al Rams
3.Suwaidi Pearls farm
In the fishing village of Al Rams, a family-run pearl farm takes visitors by traditional boat to its oyster rafts in a lagoon. Guides explain the history of Gulf pearl diving and cultured pearls, and each visitor opens an oyster to find the pearl inside.
Book in advance and allow time for the short boat trip; it combines well with Dhayah Fort nearby.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Tours run by reservation; book ahead online or by phone.
- Kids
- History
- Off the beaten path
Castle · Ras Al Khaimah City
4.Dhayah Fort
This mudbrick fort crowns a steep hill above date palms north of the city and was the site of a battle in 1819 when British forces attacked the coast. A climb of a couple of hundred steps leads to the walls and a wide view over the plain, the Gulf and the Hajar Mountains.
Climb in the late afternoon for the softest light and cooler air; wear shoes with grip on the gravel path.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Views
- Free
- Photo spot
- Kids
Waterfront · Ras Al Khaimah City
5.Al Qawasim Corniche
The city's waterfront promenade runs along the creek and lagoon with walking and cycling paths, play areas and cafés. On cool evenings it fills with local families, and it is the easiest place to see everyday life in the emirate.
Come at sunset and pick up karak chai from a nearby cafeteria.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Kids
Experience · Ras Al Khaimah City
6.Manar Mall
The emirate's main shopping mall, by the creek in the city, has fashion stores, a hypermarket, food court, cinema and children's entertainment. It is the default indoor option on hot afternoons.
Use it for a midday break from the heat, combined with the Corniche in the evening.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Kids
Rainy-day ideas
- Manar Mall — Use it for a midday break from the heat, combined with the Corniche in the evening.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, beach, luxury and first-timers
Al Marjan Island
Four connected man-made islands about 25 km south-west of the city hold many of the emirate's large beach resorts, with sandy beaches, pools and kids' clubs. The causeway promenade is used for running and cycling, and the islands host the New Year's Eve fireworks. Restaurants outside the hotels are limited.
- Good
- Wide sandy beaches; Resort facilities and kids' clubs; Calm sea for swimming
- Watch out
- Little to do outside the resorts; About 45 minutes from Jebel Jais
- Nearby
- Al Hamra Village, Al Jazirat Al Hamra
Family travel tips
- Choose a resort on Al Marjan Island or in Al Hamra for calm water and kids' clubs.
- Check age and height limits for the Jais Sledder and zipline before promising them to children.
- Bring layers for Jebel Jais, which can be much cooler and windier than the coast.
- Plan outdoor sightseeing for the early morning or late afternoon, even in winter.
- Car seats should be requested in advance from car-hire companies.
Day trips for families
- Dubai (About 1 hour 15 minutes–1 hour 30 minutes by car) — The Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, the historic Al Fahidi district and the creek's abra boats are all reachable for a full day.
- Sharjah (About 1 hour by car) — The UAE's cultural capital has the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, the restored Heart of Sharjah heritage district, the Arts Area and the Al Noor Island art garden.
- Fujairah and the east coast (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Across the mountains on the Gulf of Oman coast, the east coast has snorkelling at Snoopy Island near Al Aqah, the small Al Bidya Mosque, considered the oldest surviving mosque in the UAE, and Fujairah Fort.
- Musandam (Khasab) (About 1 hour 30 minutes plus the border crossing) — Oman's Musandam peninsula has fjord-like inlets (khors) between steep mountains, explored on traditional dhow cruises from Khasab with stops for swimming and snorkelling and frequent dolphin sightings.
When to go with children
The best months overall are November–March. December is the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Ras Al Khaimah good for kids?
Ras Al Khaimah is a strong family beach destination, with calm, shallow resort beaches, kids' clubs and easy outings to the Jais Sledder, the pearl farm and the forts. The main limits are summer heat and the distances between sights, which make a car useful.
+What can kids do in Ras Al Khaimah?
Al Marjan Island beaches, Jais Sledder, Suwaidi Pearls farm, Dhayah Fort and Al Qawasim Corniche.
+Where should families stay in Ras Al Khaimah?
Al Marjan Island: Man-made islands lined with all-inclusive and family beach resorts.