The Cove Rotana Resort

★★★★★Al Dhait South, Ras Al KhaimahSpecialist pick

Overview

The Cove Rotana Resort sits on its own inlet on the Ras Al Khaimah coast, a cluster of Nubian-domed buildings built into the hillside above a private beach. It suits families and couples wanting a proper resort weekend rather than a city hotel, with villas for bigger groups and standard rooms for couples or solo travellers.

The setting is the draw: a 600-metre stretch of private beach, two infinity pools plus a children's pool, and a genuine sense of being away from the highway rather than beside it. Flippers Kids Club keeps younger children busy while Bodylines handles the gym, sauna and massage side for the adults. Buggies run guests up and down the hillside to the beach, though at busy times they can take a while to arrive.

This is a resort built on terraces and clusters rather than one block, so expect some walking or waiting for a buggy between your room, the pools and the beach. Older villas on the hillside are reported as due for updating compared with the newer Village rooms, so it's worth checking which section you're booked into. Summer brings serious heat on that hillside walk; winter and shoulder months suit the outdoor pools and beach far better.

600 metre private beach
two infinity pools
separate children's pool
flippers kids club
bodylines fitness and wellness club
water sports on site
villas with private plunge pools
nubian-domed hillside architecture
close to rak airport
free private parking

Rooms

Good to know

Meal plans: Room only · Bed & breakfast · Half board · Full board · All-inclusive
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

Cinnamon — The resort's all-day dining buffet restaurant, with international spreads and oriental highlights plus theme nights. Handles breakfast, lunch and dinner and is the venue used for half board and all-inclusive meal plans. Easy with children thanks to the buffet format.
Basilico Mediterranean Restaurant — A Mediterranean and Italian-leaning à la carte restaurant with sea views, pitched as the resort's more grown-up dinner option. Better suited to an adults' evening out than a family meal with young children.
Breeze Lobby Lounge — The lobby lounge and bar near reception, used for afternoon tea, coffee and cocktails through the day. A relaxed, low-key spot rather than a destination restaurant.
Breakers Beach Bar & Lounge — Beachfront bar serving drinks and a casual snack menu right on the sand. Works well for a lazy afternoon between swims and is naturally child-friendly given the beach setting.
Sunset Pool Bar — Poolside bar near the Sunset Pool area for drinks and light bites during the day. Convenient if you're based by the pool rather than the beach for the afternoon.

Getting there

It's roughly an 87 km drive from Dubai, which works out to about an hour by car depending on traffic, and the resort sits close to Ras Al Khaimah's own airport rather than Dubai International. There's free private parking on site, and a hotel-arranged airport transfer is worth booking ahead if you're flying in rather than driving.

Ask about The Cove Rotana Resort

Another room type, more than one room, or a date that is not showing — send it over and a specialist replies with what is available and what it costs, usually the same working day.