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Ras Al Khaimah: UAE's Rugged Adventure Oasis Thrives Amidst Change
3 Nov
Summary
- Ras Al Khaimah, UAE's 'nature emirate', offers diverse terrain and adventure activities
- Conservation efforts have reintroduced the Arabian oryx, the UAE's national animal
- Jebel Jais mountain range features the world's longest zipline and other thrilling pursuits
As of November 2025, Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE's fourth-largest and most northerly emirate, has emerged as a thriving adventure destination. Situated an hour's drive north of Dubai and bordering Oman, this lesser-known region, often referred to as the 'nature emirate', boasts a diverse landscape of mountains, mangroves, sea, and desert.
While Ras Al Khaimah has seen a string of new luxury hotels and a planned casino opening in 2027, the emirate has maintained a more laid-back feel compared to its famous neighbor, Dubai. In 2024, Ras Al Khaimah welcomed 1.28 million tourists, a fraction of Dubai's 18.72 million visitors.
One of the emirate's key attractions is its rich natural heritage. Through conservation efforts, the Arabian oryx, the UAE's national animal that was once declared extinct in the wild, has been successfully reintroduced to the Al Wadi Nature Reserve. Visitors can now spot these majestic white antelopes, along with other wildlife like sand gazelles and nocturnal creatures.
