A Planner’s Guide to Ras Al Khaimah: Flights, Visas, Venues, and More
There are several aspects of Ras Al Khaimah that will define your attendees’ experiences. To aid in planning, the list below covers essential knowledge for planners regarding geography, visas, flights, venues, experiences, and culture. For MICE planners and anyone interested in hosting their next event in Ras Al Khaimah, we are here to assist you in organizing and executing it at a high level.
Looking to host an event in Ras Al Khaimah? Click here to fill out an RFP.
Ras Al Khaimah is located on the northern tip of the United Arab Emirates, northeast of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and south of the neighboring country of Oman. Ras Al Khaimah City, the capital of Ras Al Khaimah, is the sixth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Being on the coast of the Arabian Gulf means there are many opportunities for your attendees to get views of the sea and visit the beach with great weather and sunshine all year round.
Citizens of countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council do not need a visa to visit Ras Al Khaimah. Citizens of the following 68 countries can obtain a free visa on arrival:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR of China), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Islands, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of El Salvador, Portugal, Romania, Russian, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Vatican, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Uruguay.
Citizens of countries not listed are required to have a visa and a sponsor for their visit. Typically, the sponsor applies for the visa on behalf of the visitor, and it can be obtained through one of the following:
There are direct flights to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT), the only airport in Ras Al Khaimah, from India (Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kozhikode), Egypt (Cairo), Pakistan (Peshawar, Lahore, and Islamabad), Bangladesh (Dhaka), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), and Uzbekistan (Tashkent). Just under 150 flights land in Ras Al Khaimah each month, meaning approximately five daily flights. About forty-two percent of flights are from Hyderabad and Mumbai in India.
Ras Al Khaimah is home to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT), but many flights will take you to Dubai International Airport (DXB) or Dubai Al Maktoum International (DWC). In Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA) operates a bus from Dubai Union Station to Ras Al Khaimah every two hours. The trip is approximately one and a half hours. Private transfers are also available and reduce the trip time to 45 minutes.
There are currently several MICE-friendly hotels in Ras Al Khaimah that offer a variety of different spaces capable of hosting events both small and large. To learn more about the different hotels, check out our MICE hotels and resorts blog or our MICE Hotels One Pager for more information on those.
Ras Al Khaimah has many unique MICE venues, such as the Suwaidi Pearl Farm, the Jais Sky Room, and Dhayah Fort. The premier MICE venue is the Al Hamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which has 2,700 square meters of exhibition space and can accommodate up to 3,000 attendees with world-class facilities. To find out more about the unique MICE venues in Ras Al Khaimah, look at our MICE venues blog.
Ras Al Khaimah is well-known for its nature, leisure, adventure, and cultural offerings. There are 58 mountains, with the highest peak being the Jebel Jais Mountain, where your attendees can take a ride down the longest zipline in the world—the Jais Flight. Another unique way to experience the mountains is to ride the Jais Sledder down its twists, turns, and drops. For attendees who seek to learn about Ras Al Khaimah’s culture, the Suwaidi Pearl Farm, Dhayah Fort, and Al Jazeera Al Hamra all offer immersive experiences about the history and economy of the Emirate. Read our Off-site Excursions blog to learn more about the unique experiences in Ras Al Khaimah.
In Ras Al Khaimah, traditional Emirati social customs are followed and attendees need to be mindful of these customs.
In general, it is best for all attendees to practice modesty and dress in clothing that would be appropriate for a professional setting. Typically, it is considered insulting for visitors to wear traditional Emirati attire unless encouraged to do so during an off-site excursion or experience. Attendees should also avoid wearing national attire in public.
If attendees visit an Emirati home, it is essential they remove their shoes, greet the host with a handshake, and avoid any disrespectful gestures, such as pointing their feet toward the host, squatting, or sitting with their legs crossed. It is typical for hosts to offer guests coffee and dates, and it is considered impolite to decline these offerings.
Ras Al Khaimah offers a unique destination for MICE events and incentive trips. Being well-informed about its geography, visa requirements, flights, venues, and cultural customs will help planners execute a successful and respectful event with an optimal experience for their attendees.
Ready to start planning your event or incentive trip? Click here to fill out an RFP.