Vacations are crucial to family happiness. They strengthen bonds and create lasting memories. They open up kids to new experiences and cultures. They also reduce stress and anxiety over work or family life. The best part about vacations is that you don’t need to set aside days or weeks for them. A shorter break, taken several times a year, versus a lengthier one may even be more beneficial.
If you only have a weekend off, plan your mini break with the family with these top things to do in Ras Al Khaimah.
Is Ras Al Khaimah Good for a Weekend Trip?
Ras Al Khaimah is perfect for a weekend trip with the family. The northernmost emirate sits in a magnificent variety of landscapes, from deserts and mountain ranges to lush mangroves and shimmering seascapes. The combination of these landscapes makes for a wide range of activities, destinations, and attractions, creating an exceptional itinerary for your weekend trip.
Although the emirate is mostly known for its adventurous pursuits, there are plenty of kid-friendly things to do. Ras Al Khaimah is also home to some of the best restaurants in the UAE, offering mouth-watering options like traditional Arabian cuisine, Asian delights, European dishes, and everything in between. If you’re wondering where to eat in Ras Al Khaimah after enjoying the sights and attractions, you’ll have several spots to dine in.
In the meantime, what can your family enjoy during your weekend trip to Ras Al Khaimah?
5 Family-Friendly Activities in Ras Al Khaimah
With Ras Al Khaimah destinations and activities blending fun, relaxation, and adventure, your itinerary is bound to be filled with unforgettable things to do.
1. Soar and Glide on the Jais Flight
Jebel Jais makes an excellent first stop to your weekend in Ras Al Khaimah. The mountain, which is part of the spectacular Hajar mountain range, is the highest peak in the UAE. And it offers several activities, from high-speed thrills to quiet trails.
Everyone in the family may want to try their hand at the world’s longest zipline, Jais Flight. At 1,680 meters above sea level, you’ll soar and glide at hair-raising speeds of 150 km/h. This must-do adventure takes all of three minutes. As a high-profile attraction, Jais Flight brings speed, distance, height, and spectacular views of Jebel Jais.
The minimum age requirement for riding the Jais Flight is 12, with a minimum height of 122 centimeters and a minimum weight of 40 to 120 kilograms.
2. Conquer the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp
Here’s an activity that’s not only exciting but also educational. The Bear Grylls Explorers Camp offers extreme survival courses, adrenaline-pumping activities (e.g., archery, abseiling, and axe throwing), and comfortable cabins. It’s the first Bear Grylls-branded camp accommodation in the world, so expect to learn extreme survival skills from some of the best instructors.
You can book a half-day course with the Essential Survival program or the 24-hour outdoor adventure with the Family Primal Survival course.
Located in Jebel Jais, the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp features comfortable cabins built from repurposed shipping containers. A trained first-aid responder and security personnel are on-site 24/7, ensuring guest safety and well-being.
3. Discover the Suwaidi Pearls Farm
Take a tour of Suwaidi Pearls Farm aboard a traditional pearl fishing boat. Located in the fishing village of Al Rams at the foothills of Jebel Jais, the pearl farm is powered by solar panels and follows eco-friendly practices to protect the marine environment.
During the tour, you’ll learn about the shallow bay, the mangroves, and the fishermen whose lives and livelihoods depend on pearl farming. Your guide will also teach you about the innovative techniques of pearl farming and show you the farmhouse, which sits on a floating pontoon.
Before your tour ends, you and the family will have a chance to open oysters, some of which may contain treasure.
4. Reconnect with Nature at Al Wadi Desert
Set within a breathtaking conservation area, it offers wide-open landscapes, soft sand dunes, and peaceful desert trails where you can wander together and soak up the quiet. Kids will love spotting Arabian wildlife — like oryx, gazelles, and desert foxes — while parents can enjoy the calm, unspoiled scenery.
If this is the kind of weekend you’re looking for, book your stay at the posh Ras Al Khaimah hotels like the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah. The luxury resort is set within the Al Wadi Nature Reserve. You and the family can enjoy a number of exhilarating activities, such as desert biking, horseback riding, archery, falconry, and stargazing.
5. Explore the Mangroves
For a scenic and calm weekend activity with the family, try kayaking around the mangroves. Navigate the gentle waterways, spot rich birdlife, and bask in the peaceful surroundings of Ras Al Khaimah’s lush mangrove forest.
Sixty-eight kilometers of the emirate’s coastline is dominated by mangroves, which protect the shores from erosion and support marine life in the coast’s shallow waters. To kayak, head to Al Qawasim Corniche up to the Nakheel waterfront, where you’ll find many guided tours. Anantara Mina Al Arab and InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Resort and Spa, both in Mina Al Arab, also offer kayaking experiences around the mangroves.
Ready to plan your Emirates weekend getaway? Whether you’re soaring over mountains, exploring hidden natural gems, or simply slowing down in the desert, this is a short family vacation in Ras Al Khaimah that you’ll remember for a long time.
