A Comprehensive Guide about Living in Ras Al-Khaimah

Life in Ras Al-Khaimah

There is a lot to figure out when deciding to live in Ras Al-Khaimah, whether you’re coming for employment, education, travel, or just looking for a nice place to retire. Here’s what you need to know.

Transportation in Ras Al-Khaimah

While living in Ras Al-Khaimah, it’s important to know that you’ll either need to rely on metered taxis to get around, or be able to drive. Luckily, many countries have an agreement where you can exchange your current drivers’ license from your country for a UAE version.

There are local buses, but they serve either smaller villages, or long-haul routes, which can be useful if you want to visit neighboring emirates like Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain. If you want to visit other parts of the UAE or the world, you can also do so via the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, which is located on the outskirts of the city, or the Dubai International Airport, which is less than an hour’s drive away to the south and offers flights to 260 cities around the globe.

Safety and Security in Ras Al-Khaimah

Ras Al-Khaimah is one of the safest places in the world with an incredibly low crime rate — almost 0%. The police can be called on 999 or 998, while the fire department number is 997 and there are five different hospitals in the city that you can call in an emergency.

According to the Ras Al-Khaimah government, the emirate is quite modern and liberal, but people are advised to show respect to the local culture by covering their knees and shoulders when entering public places.

The beaches are safe and extremely clean, and there has been continuous political stability in the emirate since its inception, with a well-developed framework for commerce and infrastructure development.

Culture and Leisure

There’s a great deal to do in Ras Al-Khaimah, whether you love history and tourism, sports or shopping. There are four huge malls in the city that expats are sure to enjoy, as well as a variety of sports including golf, equestrian horse riding, mountain hiking, and water sports including sailing and surfing.

History buffs will enjoy visiting the medieval Sheba’s Palace, the only known palace in the UAE, which is located on a high rocky hill overlooking much of Ras Al-Khaimah. Then there is the 16th century Dhayah Fort that was built in the northern part of the emirate by the Al Qawasim family, and the Zayed Village, where tourists can learn more about the Persian Gulf and its people, as well as about local customs and the history of its rulers.