Ras Al Khaimah (city)
The old town around the creek plus the coastal strip south to Al Hamra: affordable, quiet and now investment-driven thanks to Al Marjan Island.
All data
Official 4Report 7Estimate 5Editorial 10— hover a row for the note; the methodology page explains each kind.
People & place
| Population | 115,949 | Official | Wikidata · 2020-01 |
| Ownership | Mixed | Estimate | Editorial estimate · 2025 |
Renting
| Studio rent | AED 28k/yr | Report | Bayut annual / quarterly market reports · 2025-06 |
| 1BR rent | AED 42k/yr | Report | Bayut annual / quarterly market reports · 2025-06 |
| 2BR rent | AED 60k/yr | Report | Bayut annual / quarterly market reports · 2025-06 |
| 3BR villa rent | AED 130k/yr | Report | Bayut annual / quarterly market reports · 2025-06 |
| Cost of living | AED 3,000/mo | Estimate | Editorial estimate · 2025-09 |
Buying
| Sale price | AED 1,100/sqft | Report | Property Finder market reports · 2025-06 |
| Price trend (YoY) | +15% | Report | Property Finder market reports · 2025-06 |
| Gross yield | 7% | Report | Bayut annual / quarterly market reports · 2025-06 |
| Service charge | AED 12/sqft | Estimate | Editorial estimate · 2025 |
Getting around
| Metro / tram | No | Official | RTA Dubai Metro / Tram network · 2025 |
| Commute to hub | 15 min | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
| Traffic | 2/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
| Jobs access | 2/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
| Walkability | 2/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
Schools & health
| Schools nearby | 35 | Estimate | Editorial estimate · 2025 |
| Top-rated schools | 4 | Estimate | Editorial estimate · 2025 |
| Hospitals | 5 | Official | Ministry of Health and Prevention facilities · 2025 |
Environment
| Beach | 5/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
| Parks | 3/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
| Noise | 1/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
| Density | 2/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
| Safety | 5/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
| August high | 41 °C | Official | National Center of Meteorology climate normals · 2024 |
| Humidity | 4/5 | Editorial | Where to Live editorial assessment · 2025-10 |
Pros & cons
- +Mountains and beach within 20 minutes
- +Low rents outside the resort communities
- +RAK Hospital and RAK Academy
- −One-hour-plus to Dubai
- −Limited retail and dining
- −Summer heat with less to do indoors
Residents say
Expats cluster in Al Hamra and Mina Al Arab; the old town is mostly Emirati and South Asian workers.
Expat communities: Indian, British, Pakistani, Russian-speaking (editorial, largest first)
Districts (3)
RAK’s original resort community: golf course, marina, mall, beach hotels and freehold villas and flats at a third of Dubai prices, 50 minutes from Dubai Marina.
Four man-made islands off Al Hamra where Wynn’s integrated resort opens in 2027: beach hotels, branded residences and the fastest-appreciating off-plan market in the UAE outside Dubai.
RAK Properties’ waterfront community: mangroves, lagoons, Anantara and InterContinental resorts, townhouses and new flats, quieter and newer than Al Hamra.