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Fly Emirates – Harry Leach finds an ideal mix of luxurious relaxation and thrills in the UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah
While sitting having lunch, overlooking the highest peak in all of the United Arab Emirates, my view from Jebel Jais mountain is so breathtaking I’ve forgotten to take a bite from my poke bowl in over five minutes, delicious though it may be.
Ahead of me, adrenaline junkies shoot across the world’s longest zipline, Jais Flight, reaching hair-raising speeds of up to 100mph on the 1.75-mile journey. Suspended in Superman positions, 4,869ft above sea level, I can just make out their gleeful shrieks as they reach safety after a three-minute dopamine hit.
To my right is the Jais Sledder: a 1.14-mile mountainside toboggan on a low-slung track. It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted, and I’d argue far more exhilarating than any rollercoaster at Alton Towers. This is Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) – the northernmost of UAE’s seven emirates, only a short 45-minute drive away from Dubai airport. It’s a thrillseekers’ dream destination while simultaneously a relaxing desert paradise.
From a seat on a microlight aircraft, operated by flight school Jazirah Aviation Club, I can see where I will be staying for the next four nights: the luxurious and imposing Mövenpick Resort. The hotel is located on man-made Al Marjan Island – a nirvana of four coral-shaped islands, lapped by the Persian Gulf’s turquoise waters.
When I arrived in late November at the five-star resort, (which has a striking resemblance to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands hotel), temperatures were still reaching 30C and above, despite being on the cusp of winter. Thankfully, a cool sea breeze prevented the sunshine from ever being anything other than pleasant; and that’s coming from someone who needs to apply factor 50 at all times in British summer time.
From the balcony of my spacious sea-view room, it was a joy watching families and couples enjoying the hotel’s 300-yard long sandy white beach 10 floors below. Children smiled ear-to-ear as they negotiated a floating water park a short swim from the shore while adventurous adults raced past on rented jet skis, motorised kayaks, and mini speedboats.
The resort is certainly not short of fun activities to try. There’s also a spa (where I had a full-body massage so good that I fell into a deep trance), an online gaming cave, an arcade, a children’s play centre and regular live performances.
I followed up a tough gym session by treating myself to the best post-workout meal available: Mövenpick’s “chocolate hour” – 60 minutes of complimentary eclairs, truffles and choccy fondue. It’s pure indulgence. There’s a lot going on, a lot to see, a lot to do, but it never feels overwhelming.
It goes without saying that Mövenpick, a well-established Swiss hotel management brand in Europe, has exceptional dining options – with four first-rate restaurants on site, all focusing on sustainability and fresh food, and each with their own unique style, character and draw.
There’s “The Market” – a food hall open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the beating heart of the hotel with the smell of the fresh ingredients it uses enticing you in.
“It’s about creating meals from the heart,” chef Rajiv Ranjan Singh told me one evening while teaching me how to cook Switzerland’s national dish, rösti. Passionate about food, in his younger days he travelled across four continents, soaking up the best flavours they had to offer. He believes good food is an “art”, and he’s certainly capable of culinary masterpieces.
There’s also The Beach House, a relaxing California coast-inspired hangout where sand nestles between your toes, the sophisticated Boons Brasserie, and Ula, an exotic dining spot and the go-to place to unwind at the end of the day.
By day, Ula is a chilled out Ibiza-style beach club; think laid-back DJ tunes and negronis delivered to your sunlounger. But by night, depending on the occasion, and also the day of the week, it can either be a romantic dining escape or a full-blown party.
I also enjoyed one too many cocktails at the hotel’s Neo Sky Bar while watching a honey-glazed sun dip beyond the horizon. From this spot, it’s hard to miss the bright lights beaming from the 24/7 construction of UAE’s first casino – set to open its doors in 2027.
Work on the £3billion development is moving at pace, and Mövenpick is well-placed to benefit, being only a short car journey away. As we are in the build-it-bigger-and-bolder UAE, it will be one of the biggest, and undoubtedly one of the most glamorous in the world. Its opening is expected to be a huge boost to tourism on Al Marjan Island, which at only 12 years old, is still relatively new and undiscovered as a holiday destination for westerners.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived here. But after five days, I left feeling revitalised and refreshed. The warmth and friendliness of locals and the tranquillity of the island made it a tough goodbye on the final morning.
Dubai gets most of the attention, and grabs the headlines, and perhaps that will always be the case.
But I’m fine with that because Al Marjan Island is currently the country’s best kept secret.
Book the holiday
- Fights from the UK to Dubai are available with Emirates, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic from around £420 return. Ras Al Khaimah transfers take around an hour.
- Rooms at the Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah start from around £152 a night. movenpick.accor.com
- More info at visitrasalkhaimah.com
