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Ras Al Khaimah · with Alana Annear Why Ras Al Khaimah?

Before you choose a home, choose the place. Watch how life here feels, then read why I chose Ras Al Khaimah, the facts worth knowing, and how to pick your community.

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What I say in the video

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  1. 0:00

    People think real estate is just about buildings, but here it is really about how you live. In Ras Al Khaimah, mornings begin with space, with light, with calm.

  2. 0:10

    There is time here. Time to breathe, time to move, and time to be present.

  3. 0:18

    You can feel the balance between nature and comfort, privacy and connection. That's why real estate here isn't just an investment. It's a lifestyle decision.

  4. 0:30

    You don't just own a home in Ras Al Khaimah. You belong to a way of life. And this way of life isn't just found by chance. It's curated.

  5. 0:38

    We at Hunt and Harris don't just sell homes. We open the door to how life can feel. Come live the experience.

Is Ras Al Khaimah a good place to live?

For many people, yes, especially if you want space, the sea and the mountains close by, and a slower pace than Dubai. Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost of the UAE's seven emirates, about 85 km from Dubai International Airport, with beaches, mangroves and Jebel Jais, the highest peak in the country.

About 400,000 people live here, according to the government media office. Foreigners can buy freehold homes in areas such as Al Hamra, Al Marjan Island and Mina Al Arab, and the emirate welcomed a record 1.35 million overnight visitors in 2025.

Key facts

Where
The northernmost of the seven emirates
Dubai airport (DXB)
About 85 km, around 45 minutes without traffic
RAK airport
About 20 minutes from the city
Highest point
Jebel Jais, 1,934 m, the highest peak in the UAE
Population
About 400,000 (2024)
Coming next
Wynn Al Marjan Island, opening September 2027

Drive times are approximate and depend on traffic.

Alana's view

Why I chose Ras Al Khaimah

I've lived in three countries and flown all over Africa. Ras Al Khaimah is the place I chose to stay.

I grew up in South Africa, flew as cabin crew for about four years, mostly from Mozambique, and came to the UAE to visit my dad. I stayed. Dubai came first, with a job in banking, but the pace wasn't me.

Ras Al Khaimah was. I can ride in the morning, walk Ellie, my Great Dane, on the beach in the evening, and still reach Dubai when I need to. There are mountains behind the town and the sea in front of it, and there is room: on the roads, on the beach, in the day.

I won't tell you it suits everyone. If you need to be in a Dubai office every morning, the drive adds up. If you want nightlife every night, Dubai has more. But if you want space, nature and neighbors who know your name, it deserves a proper look.

That is the decision I help with. You tell me how you want to live, and I show you which part of Ras Al Khaimah fits.

Tell me how you want to live

Life in Ras Al Khaimah

Mountains

  • Jebel Jais, at 1,934 m the highest peak in the UAE, about an hour from the coast
  • Jais Flight, certified by Guinness in 2018 as the longest zipline in the world
  • Cooler air up the mountain when the coast gets hot

Sea and nature

  • Long public beaches, and about 7.8 km of sand on Al Marjan Island alone
  • Mangroves and flamingos in Mina Al Arab, best seen by kayak in the cooler months
  • Calm, shallow water at Flamingo Beach between the city and Al Hamra

Heritage

  • Jazirat Al Hamra, the only historic pearling town in the Gulf to survive the oil era
  • It sits on UNESCO's Tentative List for World Heritage, next to Al Hamra
  • Old forts and villages in the mountain foothills

Weather

  • Warm, sunny winters: November to March is the most comfortable time outdoors
  • Hot summers: July and August average around 41°C
  • Life moves to mornings, evenings and the water from June to September

Honest notes before you move

  • It is not automatically cheaper than Dubai. Apartment prices per square foot in parts of Ras Al Khaimah, especially Al Marjan Island, now compare with some of Dubai's best-known areas. What you gain here is space and pace, not a discount.
  • You will need a car. Public transport is limited, and most daily trips are short drives.
  • The emirate is growing fast. Wynn Al Marjan Island opens in September 2027, and many new homes hand over between 2027 and 2029. That brings jobs and visitors, and building work.

Questions people ask me

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The questions I hear most from buyers, tenants and owners. If yours isn't here, ask me directly.

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  1. Is Ras Al Khaimah a good place to live?

    For many people, yes, especially families and anyone who wants space, nature and a slower pace than Dubai. Ras Al Khaimah has beaches, mangroves and the UAE's highest mountain within an hour's drive, freehold areas where foreigners can buy, and Dubai International Airport about 85 km away.

  2. How far is Ras Al Khaimah from Dubai?

    Ras Al Khaimah city is about 85 km from Dubai International Airport, around 45 minutes by car without traffic, according to Visit Ras Al Khaimah. At rush hour the drive into Dubai can take well over an hour, so a daily commute needs planning.

  3. Can foreigners buy property in Ras Al Khaimah?

    Yes, in designated freehold areas, including Al Hamra, Al Marjan Island and Mina Al Arab, where foreign nationals can own a home outright. A property worth at least AED 2 million can also qualify its owner for the UAE's 10 year Golden Visa.

    Compare the three communities

  4. Is Ras Al Khaimah cheaper than Dubai?

    Not always. Average apartment prices per square foot in parts of Ras Al Khaimah, especially Al Marjan Island, now compare with some of Dubai's best-known areas, according to 2025 market data. What Ras Al Khaimah offers is more space, a slower pace and nature close by, so I compare actual homes with you rather than averages.

  5. What is Ras Al Khaimah known for?

    Ras Al Khaimah is known for Jebel Jais, the highest peak in the UAE at 1,934 m, with Jais Flight, the world's longest zipline. It also has long beaches, mangroves with flamingos, and Jazirat Al Hamra, an old pearling town on UNESCO's Tentative List for World Heritage.

  6. Which area of Ras Al Khaimah should I live in?

    It depends on how you want to live. Al Hamra suits people who want to settle, with a golf course, a marina and a primary school. Al Marjan Island suits weekenders and holiday-home investors who want the sea. Mina Al Arab suits people who want calm water and nature.

    Compare the three communities

  7. What is the weather like in Ras Al Khaimah?

    Winters are warm and sunny, and November to March is the most comfortable time to be outdoors. Summers are hot, with July and August averaging around 41°C, so people swim early, walk late and head up Jebel Jais for cooler air.

Next: which part of Ras Al Khaimah fits you?

I work in three communities, each with a different rhythm. Start with the one that sounds like you, or compare all three.

Al Hamra Golf, a marina and village life, with the school and supermarket inside. See the community Al Marjan Island Sea on every side: beaches, resorts and weekend homes. See the community Mina Al Arab Lagoons and mangroves: quieter water and slower evenings. See the community Compare all three Al Hamra, Al Marjan Island and Mina Al Arab side by side, honestly. Open the comparison

Not sure yet? Tell me how you want your days to look, and I will suggest where to start.

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