Best Golf Courses in Ras al Khaimah, UAE for 2026/2027

Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost of the seven UAE emirates, about one hour’s drive from Dubai on the E311, and it has a character meaningfully different from any of the other three emirates covered in this guide series. Where Dubai has vertical architecture and Abu Dhabi has grand institutions, RAK has the Hajar Mountains running down its eastern flank, a stretch of Arabian Gulf coastline, mangrove creeks, and Jebel Jais at 1,934 meters, the highest mountain in the UAE. The emirate is quieter, the landscapes are more varied, and the green fees are lower than Dubai for courses that compete credibly with the best in the northern Gulf.

Two courses serve the emirate. Al Hamra Golf Club is a 27-hole, par 72 layout measuring 7,325 yards with a slope of 140, described by the club as the first links course built along the shores of the Arabian Gulf, with a lake-surrounded layout and full floodlit facilities for night golf. Tower Links Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72 layout measuring 7,098 yards with a slope of 141, set in a natural mangrove forest with the fully floodlit back nine available for evening rounds. Both slope ratings, 140 and 141, are among the higher in the UAE and compare favorably with courses in Dubai at twice the green fee.

The combination of two high-specification courses at accessible prices, the Hajar Mountain backdrop, the Jebel Jais zip line (the world’s longest according to the UAE’s tourism authority), and the uncrowded beaches of the RAK coastline makes Ras Al Khaimah a practical and distinctive two-night program for golfers who want a change of pace from the Dubai circuit.

Ras Al Khaimah suits golfers who want the most value for green fee in the UAE without sacrificing course quality, Dubai-based visitors who want a northern emirates overnight, and anyone building the full four-emirate UAE golf circuit.

Best golf courses in Ras Al Khaimah

Two courses serve the emirate. Both are worth including in a two-day program.

1. Al Hamra Golf Club

Al Hamra Golf Club is a 27-hole, par 72 layout measuring 7,325 yards with a slope of 140, located in Al Hamra Village behind Al Hamra Mall, about one hour’s drive north of Dubai according to the club. The club describes itself as the first links course built along the shores of the Arabian Gulf, and the layout wraps around a large lake with Arabian Gulf views from several positions on the course. The 27-hole format gives groups multiple nine combinations, and the fully floodlit facilities allow evening rounds from around October through April when the cooler temperatures make night golf genuinely comfortable.

The slope of 140 sits alongside the better Dubai courses in terms of rated difficulty, and the Peter Harradine design gives it an architect credential. The Al Hamra Village location, with its marina, beach club, and resort hotels, makes it the most complete stay-and-play destination in the northern UAE outside of Dubai. It suits golfers who want the most complete RAK facility with resort infrastructure, couples who want to base at Al Hamra Village for a two-night program, and anyone who specifically wants to play a night golf round in a links setting.

2. Tower Links Golf Club

Tower Links Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72 layout measuring 7,098 yards with a slope of 141, located in Ras Al Khaimah and opened in 2004 according to the club. The course is set in a natural mangrove forest environment and the fully floodlit back nine holes operate for evening play. At slope 141 it is marginally the higher-rated of the two RAK courses, and the mangrove setting gives it a natural environmental character similar to Al Zorah in Ajman but on a full 18-hole championship layout at 7,098 yards.

It suits golfers who want the higher-slope challenge and the mangrove nature setting, those who want a complete 18-hole floodlit evening round, and anyone building a two-round RAK program who wants variety between Al Hamra’s links-coastal character and Tower Links’ mangrove-forest setting.

Which course is better?

Al Hamra is the first choice for the most complete resort infrastructure and the Arabian Gulf coastal views. Tower Links is the call for the higher slope challenge and the natural mangrove setting. A two-day RAK program covering one round at each gives genuinely different environments without any repetition. Both offer floodlit facilities for evening golf, which is a specific RAK advantage over most Dubai courses.

Best time to play golf in Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah follows the broader UAE seasonal pattern, with the added benefit of the Hajar Mountain proximity giving the emirate slightly cooler morning temperatures than Dubai during the winter months.

October to April is the primary golf window. Temperatures are around 18 to 28 degrees Celsius from December through February, and the mountain backdrop is at its clearest in the cool season mornings. The floodlit facilities at both courses extend the practical playing window into the evening during this period, making a 5pm tee time as comfortable as a 7am one from November through March.

May to September is hot and not recommended for visiting golfers from outside the region. The higher elevation areas around Jebel Jais, while cooler than the coast, do not have golf courses.

Ras Al Khaimah golf holidays and package tours

Ras Al Khaimah suits a one to three night standalone program or as the northern extension of a Dubai-based UAE circuit. The drive from Dubai on the E311 takes about one hour to Al Hamra Village and about 1.5 hours to Ras Al Khaimah city proper. RAK International Airport has direct connections from several European and Asian cities, making it accessible without routing through Dubai.

The most natural RAK golf program is two nights at Al Hamra Village, one evening round at Al Hamra Golf Club taking advantage of the floodlit back nine, a morning round at Tower Links on day two, and an afternoon or morning on Jebel Jais. For golfers based in Dubai who want a northern emirates day trip, the one-hour drive is manageable as a same-day round at either course before returning to Dubai.

Jebel Jais is the strongest non-golf draw in the emirate. The UAE’s Tourism Authority notes the Jebel Jais zip line as the world’s longest, stretching 2.83 kilometers down the mountain at speeds up to 150 kilometers per hour. The mountain road to the top is accessible by car and the views across the Hajar range and toward Oman are among the best available in the northern UAE without a guided hike. The Al Hamra marina beach and the RAK coastline beaches provide the coastal program for couples who prefer a quieter beach environment than Dubai’s more developed resort strip. Browse UAE golf packages or create a custom Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai itinerary combining both emirates.

Golf with Jebel Jais and the Hajar Mountain landscape

Jebel Jais is the highest point in the UAE at 1,934 meters according to the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, located in the southern part of Ras Al Khaimah. The mountain road from the RAK coast to the summit viewpoint is accessible by car and takes about 45 minutes from Al Hamra Village. The summit area has a visitor infrastructure including the Via Ferrata climbing route, the zip line departure point, a sledding track, and a café with views across the Hajar range toward Oman. The mountain temperature is noticeably cooler than the coast, which gives the afternoon visit a different physical character from the morning golf round at sea level.

The Hajar Mountains visible from Al Hamra Golf Club during a round give the course a visual backdrop unavailable from any course in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The RAK coastline on the emirate’s western side, where both courses sit, faces the Arabian Gulf with a beach character that is less developed and more accessible than the main Dubai resort beaches. The Al Hamra marina area has a beach club, watersports, and food and beverage facilities that serve as a practical late afternoon program after a morning round.

Ras Al Khaimah’s history as one of the oldest inhabited areas of the UAE is visible at the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah in the old fort in the city center. The museum covers the emirate’s prehistoric, Hellenistic, and Islamic archaeological heritage, including the significant Julfar settlement that was once one of the most important ports on the Gulf before the rise of Dubai. The museum is about 30 minutes from Al Hamra Village and provides historical context for the landscape the golf courses sit within.

Book tee times in Ras Al Khaimah

Both Al Hamra Golf Club and Tower Links fill on weekends during the October through February peak season when Dubai golfers make the northern drive. Booking a week ahead for weekend slots, particularly evening floodlit rounds at Al Hamra which have strong demand from the local and regional market, is sensible during the peak months. Weekday availability at both courses is generally open with two to three days’ advance notice. The floodlit evening rounds should be booked separately from morning tee times and confirmed with the course directly for specific light availability during the shoulder months of October and April.

When organizing a RAK golf visit, confirm tee times at both Al Hamra and Tower Links for your preferred playing days, accommodation at Al Hamra Village for the most convenient resort-adjacent stay, the drive from Dubai to allow a relaxed arrival before the first round, and how the Jebel Jais afternoon connects with the morning golf schedule. Start planning here or view UAE golf packages to incorporate Ras Al Khaimah into a wider UAE program.