Ras Al Khaimah day trip from Dubai: bus, route, bookings

A day trip from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah works by car or by bus. Driving on the E11 takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. The RAKTA intercity bus leaves Dubai’s Union Bus Station from 07:30, costs AED 30 and takes about two hours. Go Wednesday to Sunday for the Jebel Jais ziplines, and avoid Monday, when the National Museum is closed.

This page is the logistics: transport, timing and bookings. For what each place is like, see our Ras Al Khaimah visitor guide.

Getting there: bus, car or taxi

Book bus seats in the Sayr app. These buses are run by the RAK Transport Authority, not by Dubai’s RTA, so you will not find them in RTA’s list of intercity routes.

Getting around Ras Al Khaimah for the day

RAKTA runs five city bus lines from Al Nakeel, 06:00 to 22:00, at AED 8 a ride:

• Red Line: Al Nakeel to Al Jazirah Al Hamra, 20 trips a day.
• Purple Line: Al Nakeel to Al Manar Mall.
• Blue Line: Al Nakeel to the Sha’am area.
• Green Line: Al Nakeel to RAK Airport.
• Orange Line: Al Nakeel to RAK Bus Station.

No city bus goes up Jebel Jais. For the mountain you need a car, a taxi booked through RAKTA (800 1700) for a half or full day, or the Jebel Jais shuttle, which only picks up from hotels in Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island.

Pick the right day of the week

Route 1 by car: mountain, museum, pearling village, beach

1. Leave Dubai early. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours on the E11, then about 45 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah city up Jebel Jais.
2. Jebel Jais. The drive up is free. The Jais Viewing Deck Park opens at 8:00. If you have booked the Jais Flight, winter flights run 9:30 to 16:00.
3. National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hisn Road, Old Town. AED 5 for adults and AED 2 for children, paid at the door; last entry 17:30.
4. Al Jazeera Al Hamra. A free, open-air abandoned pearling village about 20 minutes from central Ras Al Khaimah, off the E11 near Al Hamra Mall. Visit between 8:00 and 18:00: there is little lighting and no safety staff. Do not climb on or go into the buildings.
5. Flamingo Beach. A free public beach between the city and Al Hamra Village, open 6:00 to 20:00, with lifeguards, toilets and cafés. Then drive back to Dubai.

Prefer forts to the zipline? Swap the mountain for Dhayah Fort in the north. It is 239 rocky steps up a 70-metre hill, with no lighting, so go in daylight. It is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.

Route 2 by bus: town, heritage and beach

1. 07:30 bus from Union Bus Station (AED 30), about two hours.
2. Taxi to the National Museum in the Old Town for when it opens at 8:00, Tuesday to Sunday.
3. Red Line city bus or a taxi towards Al Jazirah Al Hamra for the heritage village, while it is still light.
4. Taxi to Flamingo Beach for the afternoon.
5. Bus back to Dubai (AED 27). The last one leaves Ras Al Khaimah at 21:00, so book the return in Sayr before you set out.

Adding Jebel Jais to a bus day means a half-day taxi from the city. It is possible, but tight; if the mountain is the main reason you are going, drive.

What to book before you leave Dubai

• Bus seats both ways, in the Sayr app.
• Jais Flight or Jais Sky Tour on Visit Jebel Jais. Both have fixed slots. The Jais Flight costs from AED 325, depending on the season, and you must bring an original passport or Emirates ID.
• A guided hike, if you want one. These run October to April and cost AED 125 to 250 per adult.
• A taxi for the day through RAKTA, if you are not driving.

No booking is needed for the museum (tickets at the entrance), Al Jazeera Al Hamra or Flamingo Beach.

Weather and daylight

The tourism board gives 18 to 25°C in January and 29 to 43°C in July. Jebel Jais is usually about 10°C cooler than the rest of the emirate. In summer, keep outdoor stops for early morning and late afternoon. Dhayah Fort has no lighting and Al Jazeera Al Hamra very little, so finish both before dark.

What this plan does not include

We leave out Al Marjan Island because its beaches are mostly resort-run and access terms vary by hotel. We also do not quote taxi fares inside the emirate, because the official pages do not publish them. Bus times, prices and opening hours change, especially in Ramadan, so check the official pages on the day you travel.

Where to check

• RAKTA public transport: intercity and city bus fares and times.
• Visit Ras Al Khaimah: travel information: journey times and taxi estimates.
• Visit Jebel Jais: activity bookings.
• Our Ras Al Khaimah directory: restaurants and places to stay.
• New to the UAE? Start with first time in Dubai.

Checked against the official sources listed on this page on 7 October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm on the official site before you go. See our editorial policy.