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THE DUBAI EDIT · SEPTEMBER 2026
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RAS AL KHAIMAH · THE DESTINATION GUIDE · CHECKED 20 SEPTEMBER 2026

Ras Al Khaimah: the mountain is closed until October, and here is everything else

Fourteen things to do, from the world’s longest zipline to a pearl farm and a ghost town, with prices, hours, and the seasonal closures that matter this month. Then the restaurants and hotels to start with.

LVLuxury Verdict Editorial14 min read
Jebel Jais! winding roads and stunning mountain views are breathtaking. Definitely a must-do if you're in Ras Al Khaimah
The road up Jebel Jais. The mountain pauses every summer; since June 2026 it has been closed, with the zipline, the sledder and the 1484 restaurant waiting on cooler weather.

Photograph: Lintophilip, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Ras Al Khaimah sells itself on Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest mountain, and for a third of the year Jebel Jais is closed. The summer pause began in late June 2026 and had no published end date when we checked on 20 September; it reopens when the weather cools, historically in October. The zipline, the sledder, the via ferrata and the 1484 by Puro restaurant all go with it. If you are reading this in September, plan the mountain for a later trip and do the rest, which is more than most guides admit.

The rest: a pearl farm at Al Rams where you can open your own oyster; Al Jazirah Al Hamra, the abandoned coral-stone pearling town on the coast; Dhayah Fort on its hill; the National Museum at AED 5; the Al Wadi desert reserve behind the Ritz-Carlton; Wadi Shawka for a walk in the Hajar; and Al Marjan Island, where the hotels are open and the Wynn is not until September 2027.

One entry is missing on purpose. Khatt Springs, the hot springs every guide lists, has no official page and does not appear on the tourism board’s index. We could not confirm what is there in 2026, so it is not here.

Before you go

  • Jebel Jais: closed for the summer pause; reopens historically in October. Driving up then needs a booking or an AED 10 Viewing Deck ticket.
  • Jais Flight: from AED 325, 40 to 120 kg, minimum 130 cm.
  • The emirate is licensed; the hotels have bars.
  • Dubai to Al Hamra is about an hour; to the mountain another 45 minutes.
  • Wynn Al Marjan: September 2027.
01

Jebel Jais

Five entries for one mountain: access and season, the zipline, the sledder, the sky tour and camp, and the restaurant at the top. All closed for the summer pause when we checked.

Hajar Mountains, c. 35 km from RAK city

Jebel Jais (mountain) - access & season

Price
Viewing Deck Park AED 10 (incl. VAT) - required for drive-up access under rules introduced after the Jan 2026 reopeningper visitjebeljais.com
Hours / season
Deck: Sun-Thu 8am-8pm, Fri-Sat 8am-11pm (in season)
Status
Seasonal, currently closedchecked 20 September 2026

UAE's highest mountain; Jais Adventure Peak (~1,680 m) hosts Jais Flight, Sky Tour, Sledder, Via Ferrata, Bear Grylls camp, Viewing Deck Park and 1484 by Puro.

RAK's headline. Timing matters: the whole mountain pauses every summer.

Note: Since the 31 January 2026 reopening after the December rockslide, driving up needs either an activity booking or an AED 10 Viewing Deck ticket. The whole mountain has been in its summer pause since late June 2026 with no reopening date published when we checked on 20 September.

Official siteOpen in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: visitjebeljais.com, wow-rak.com, khaleejtimes.com, platinumlist.net.

Jais Adventure Peak, 1,680 m

Jais Flight (world's longest zipline)

Price
From AED 325 pp (seasonal); camera AED 150 (visitrasalkhaimah.com). Third-party 2025-26 grid: AED 329 weekday / 409 weekendper visitrasalkhaimah.com
Hours / season
Winter Oct-Apr 9:30am-4pm; summer slots 10:30am & 5pm - but see status
Status
Closedchecked 20 September 2026

2.83 km zipline, up to 150 km/h, ~3 min ride; 40-120 kg, min 130 cm; athletic wear, photo ID; under-18s with guardian.

Signature RAK experience.

Note: The world’s longest zipline at 2.83 km, from AED 325, 40 to 120 kg, minimum height 130 cm, winter hours 09:30 to 16:00. Closed for the summer pause; reopens with the mountain.

Official siteOpen in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: visitrasalkhaimah.com, rak.platinumlist.net, wow-rak.com.

Jais Adventure Peak

Jais Sledder

Price
AED 45 single / AED 100 three rides adult; AED 60 / 125 adult+child - unconfirmed officialper visitjebeljais.com
Hours / season
Walk-in, in season
Status
Closedchecked 20 September 2026

1.8 km alpine toboggan, up to 40 km/h, ~8 min; walk-ins only.

Family counterpart to the zipline.

Official siteOpen in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: visitjebeljais.com.

Jais Adventure Centre, 1,484 m

1484 by Puro (mountain dining)

Price
Min spend AED 100 adult / AED 50 child; mains c. AED 100-150 ppper puro.ae
Hours / season
Seasonal
Status
Closedchecked 20 September 2026

UAE's highest restaurant; modern-European 'mountain-to-table'; BBC Good Food ME 'Fine Dining Restaurant Northern Emirates 2024'. Puro Express at 1,300 m.

Sunset table with the zipline overhead.

Official siteOpen in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: puro.ae.

02

The coast

Al Marjan Island’s open hotels and its unbuilt Wynn, the pearl farm at Al Rams, and the mangrove corniche in the city.

Off Al Hamra, 4 reclaimed coral-shaped islands

Al Marjan Island

Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Hotel island: Rixos Bab Al Bahr, DoubleTree, Hampton, Movenpick, Pullman, Rove; Wynn Al Marjan Island (1,530+ keys, UAE's first gaming licence) under construction.

RAK's resort strip.

Note: The hotels are open. Wynn Al Marjan Island, the resort every article is about, is not: the official site says on track for September 2027, pushed back from March. Nobu, JW Marriott and a second Hilton are also unbuilt.

Official siteOpen in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: wynnalmarjanisland.com, marjan.ae.

Al Rams Corniche (northern RAK)

Suwaidi Pearls

Price
AED 450 + 5% pp; official page gives no priceper visitrasalkhaimah.com
Hours / season
Daily 9am-6pm
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

2.5-hr traditional pearling-boat tour through mangroves to a floating pearl farm; oyster-opening. Tours 10am, 12:30pm, 3pm; family lunch tours 1:30/3:30pm.

The Gulf's only working pearl farm open to visitors.

Official siteOpen in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: visitrasalkhaimah.com.

03

Heritage

Dhayah Fort on its hill, the abandoned pearling town of Al Jazirah Al Hamra, and the National Museum in the old fort for AED 5.

04

Desert and wadis

The Al Wadi reserve behind the Ritz-Carlton, the Bassata camp, and Wadi Shawka for a walk in the Hajar.

Al Wadi Desert

Bassata Desert Village

Hours / season
Evenings; booking via redseatourism.ae
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Bedouin-style camp: camel rides, self-drive buggies, Arabic buffet, tanoura/belly dance; year-round.

The mass-market desert evening; Ritz Al Wadi is the luxury alternative.

Note: The operator’s page does not print prices; book through the hotel or the camp directly.

Official siteOpen in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: visitrasalkhaimah.com.

05

Where to eat: start here

Twelve restaurants on the full page, two of them closed until the mountain reopens.

Farmhouse by SyrcoFarm-to-table modern European (Dutch chef Syrco Bakker) · Al Wadi DesertAED 350+ pp (wow-rak Apr 2026)1484 by PuroModern European, Emirati influences · Jebel JaisAED 100-200 pp (wow-rak); min spend AED 100 adult / 50 childLexington Grill & BarNew York steakhouse · Al HamraAED 350+ pp (wow-rak Apr 2026)UmiJapanese · Al HamraAED 300+ pp (wow-rak)MekongThai / Vietnamese / Chinese · Mina Al ArabAED 250-350 pp (wow-rak)Eayshat AwalEmirati (seafood-leaning) · Old Market, RAK cityAED 60-120 pp our estimate from the menu
All restaurants in Ras Al Khaimah
06

Where to stay: start here

Twelve open hotels on the full page, and the eight that are not built.

Waldorf Astoria Ras Al KhaimahWaldorf Astoria / Hilton · Al HamraRead the cardThe Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi DesertRitz-Carlton / Marriott · Al Wadi DesertRead the cardAnantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah ResortAnantara / Minor · Mina Al ArabRead the cardSofitel Al Hamra Beach ResortSofitel / Accor · Al Hamra VillageRead the cardRixos Bab Al BahrRixos / Accor · Al Marjan IslandRead the cardRove Al Marjan IslandRove Hotels · Al Marjan IslandRead the card
All hotels in Ras Al Khaimah

Questions readers ask

Is Jebel Jais open?

Not on 20 September 2026: the mountain has been in its summer pause since late June with no reopening date published. It historically reopens in October. Since the January 2026 reopening after the rockslide, driving up requires an activity booking or an AED 10 Viewing Deck ticket.

How much is the Jais Flight zipline?

From AED 325 per person, seasonal. Riders must weigh 40 to 120 kg and be at least 130 cm. Winter hours 09:30 to 16:00. Closed during the summer pause.

Is the Wynn in Ras Al Khaimah open?

No. September 2027 per its own site.

What is there to do in Ras Al Khaimah besides the mountain?

Suwaidi Pearls at Al Rams, Al Jazirah Al Hamra ghost town, Dhayah Fort, the National Museum, the Al Wadi desert reserve, Wadi Shawka, the corniche and the beach resorts.

Is alcohol served in Ras Al Khaimah?

Yes, in the hotels.

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