Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort

★★★★★Mina Al Arab, Ras Al KhaimahSpecialist pick

Overview

Anantara Mina Al Arab opened in 2024 on a private peninsula in Mina Al Arab, and it is genuinely the first resort in the emirate to put villas out over the water. It suits UAE residents who want the overwater-villa photograph without booking flights to the Maldives, and families who want a proper beach weekend with kids' and teens' clubs thrown in.

The peninsula setting means mangrove lagoon on one side and open Gulf on the other, with a private beach of genuine sand rather than an imported strip. There's an infinity pool, a kids' club and a teens' club, a padel court and an Anantara Spa set in gardens facing the water. Staying in one of the overwater villas means a buggy ride or a walk to reach the main building and restaurants, so it feels quieter and more spread out than a typical Dubai beach hotel — good for switching off, less good if you want everything five steps from your room.

Book overwater or peninsula pool villas well ahead if that's the point of the trip, since there are far fewer of them than standard rooms. Summer brings the RAK heat without much shade around the villas, so shoulder season and winter are the more comfortable calls for lounging outdoors; families with very young children may find the villas' distance from the kids' club a minor hassle worth checking against a garden or beachfront room instead.

overwater pool villas
private peninsula beach
kids and teens clubs
anantara spa
padel court
infinity pool
kayaking in mangroves
water sports centre
174 rooms suites and villas
eco-focused construction

Rooms

Good to know

Meal plans: Room only · Bed & breakfast
Paid at the hotel: The tourism dirham fee and any security deposit
Cancelling: Each room shows its own terms; cancel online from My trips while they allow

Eating and drinking

Mekong — The signature restaurant, perched at the water's edge with an al fresco terrace, covering Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese cooking. Dinner-focused and a step up in occasion, though older children who enjoy Asian food will be fine here.
Beach House — Mediterranean-leaning menu with fresh seafood, set on the beachfront with sea breeze views. Works for a relaxed family dinner or a lunch after the beach, less formal than Mekong.
Sea Breeze — The all-day dining restaurant, used for breakfast and casual meals through the day with a broad international menu. This is the easiest option with children in tow, especially at breakfast.
Waves Café — A lighter, casual spot for coffee and light bites through the day. Useful for a quick snack between the pool and the beach rather than a sit-down meal.

Getting there

It's a drive of around 45 minutes to an hour up the coast from Dubai, depending which part of the city you're starting from, and about 20 to 30 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. There's parking on site, and the resort can arrange private transfers from either Dubai or RAK airports if you'd rather not drive yourself for a weekend away.

Ask about Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort

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