Al Marjan Island is the kind of place that resets your pace within about two hours of arrival. Four man-made coral-shaped islands extending 4.5 kilometres into the Arabian Gulf, 7.8 kilometres of white sand beaches, a year-round average temperature that rarely asks for more than a light layer after sundown — and almost none of the noise that Dubai, an easy 45-minute drive south, never stops generating. The island is changing fast: Wynn Al Marjan Island opens in 2027, the W Hotel and JW Marriott are coming, real estate prices rose over 16% in 2025 alone. But right now, in 2026, it still has the quality that development usually destroys first — room to breathe. For Dutch visitors accustomed to playing on a casino zonder CRUKS before bed, that option travels perfectly — the island's hotel wifi is fast, the evenings are long, and there's nothing competing for attention after ten. First, though, the days belong to the island itself.
The geography — four islands, one logic
The archipelago consists of four connected islets: Breeze Island closest to the RAK coastline, home to the Rixos Bab Al Bahr and the Mövenpick Resort; Treasure Island with Marjan Island Resort & Spa and Turtle Beach, a shallow stretch where sea turtles come ashore; Dream Island, currently the quietest of the four, slated for major hotel development over the next two years; and View Island at the outermost tip, the largest and most residential, with the Pacific apartment complex and open Arabian Gulf views on three sides.
Getting around is easy. The Marjan Island Boulevard runs the full length of the archipelago and is flat enough to cycle comfortably. Electric scooter rentals are available at several points along the corniche. Driving from one end to the other takes under ten minutes without traffic, which — outside the Friday-Saturday peak — is rarely an issue.
Morning — on and in the water
The best hours on Al Marjan are between 7 and 11. The light is low and amber, the heat is manageable, and the beach is almost entirely yours. Turtle Beach on Treasure Island is the most sheltered; the open sands near the Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island on the outer arc of View Island have stronger wind, which makes them better for paddleboarding.
Water sports operators set up along the beach from around 8am. Jet ski hire, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and glass-bottom boat tours are the standard menu. Snorkelling off the islands is modest by Red Sea standards — the Arabian Gulf's visibility is lower — but the calmer patches near the rock formations at the island's base produce enough marine life to justify an hour in the water.
For something further afield: Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE at 1,934 metres, is 45 minutes by car from the island. The Jais Flight zipline there is the world's longest at 2.83 kilometres. The round trip — drive, zip, back to beach by early afternoon — is one of the more efficiently dramatic things you can do in the UAE.
Afternoon — where to eat and where to sit
Midday heat in March and October is gentle; in July it is not. Most visitors disappear into air-conditioned resort lobbies and restaurants between noon and three, which is exactly the right instinct.
- Salt on Al Marjan Island Boulevard is a UAE institution: a food truck turned restaurant that has expanded across the country without losing its core menu — smashed burgers, truffle fries, thick shakes. It is not fine dining. It is excellent fast food in a good setting and costs a fraction of the resort restaurants.
- Lalezar offers Turkish food done properly: lamb shank slow-cooked until the bone lifts clean, mezze platters worth sharing across four people, baklava that holds its own against anything in Istanbul. Booking in advance on weekends is not optional.
The Pullman's Braai restaurant is the island's best beach dinner option — a South African-inspired open grill with fire-cooked meat, live DJs after 8pm, and tables close enough to the water to feel the sand underfoot. The same resort's Sunset Bar on the upper level has Dibba-Fujairah oysters, ceviche, and an unobstructed Arabian Gulf view that peaks around 6:30pm.
What to see beyond the sand
The island itself is primarily a leisure destination — but RAK's wider territory rewards half a day's exploration:
- Dhayah Fort — an 18th-century hilltop fortress with panoramic mountain views. 35 minutes from Al Marjan by car. Free entry. The climb is ten minutes on foot and worth every step for the orientation it gives you of how RAK's geography actually works.
- Jazirat Al Hamra — an abandoned pearling village, largely intact since the 1960s. Crumbling coral-stone houses, a restored mosque, an atmosphere that no developer has touched. Located 15 minutes from the island.
- Bear Grylls Explorers Camp — an hour from Al Marjan in the Hajar Mountains. Abseiling, rock climbing, hiking, archery, survival skills. Designed for adults as much as families. Dramatically different terrain from the coast.
- 1484 by Puro — UAE's highest restaurant at 1,484 metres above sea level. The journey up Jebel Jais is itself the attraction; the restaurant at the top adds a meal with mountain views to the payoff.
Where to stay
- Rixos Bab Al Bahr is the island's flagship all-inclusive resort — five-star, private beach, multiple pools, three pyramid-shaped towers. The New Year's Eve Masquerade Gala here has become a genuine RAK institution. Best for: couples and groups who want everything on-property.
- Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island is the island's only property with two waterfronts — sea on both sides. Seven restaurants, three pools, consistently strong reviews for food quality. Best for: food-focused travellers who want flexibility without going all-inclusive.
- Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island balances family-friendly facilities with a Neo Sky Bar that handles adults-only evenings. The rooms overlooking the Gulf offer the best sunset views on the island. Best for: mixed groups and families with teenagers.
- Radisson Resort RAK Marjan Island is the most accessible price point without sacrificing beach access or facilities — six dining options, kids' pool, shisha terrace at Seafood Shack. Best for: three-to-four day visits where value matters as much as atmosphere.
The evening, at your own pace
Al Marjan doesn't do late nights the way Dubai does. The restaurants close at a reasonable hour, the beaches empty after sunset, and the island shifts into a quieter, warmer version of itself. That's not a deficiency — it's the point. A long dinner at Braai, a nightcap at Sunset Bar, the walk back along the corniche with the Gulf on one side and the Wynn construction lights on the other — it is a complete evening without needing to be anything more.
For those evenings where something more is wanted: the hotel wifi handles it. A session on a foreign-licensed casino platform, a late film, a playlist that doesn't need to compete with club noise. RAK is three years away from having a casino of its own at Wynn Al Marjan Island. Until then, the island offers everything except that — and the gap is easily bridged from a balcony chair with a view of the Gulf.
