Events in Ras Al Khaimah
The full calendar — festivals, races, exhibitions and business forums across the emirate, month by month. A seasonal guide to what runs in the emirate and roughly when. Confirm dates, times and pricing with the organiser before you travel or book.
Running an event in RAK? Send us the details and we will list it. Listing is free and editorial.
37
Listed events
7
Months covered
Oct–Apr
Peak season
Free
To be listed
September 2026
4 events The season opens. Mountain venues reopen first as temperatures fall at altitude.SEP
09
Jebel Jais adventure season reopens
Jais Flight, the Sledder and the Via Ferrata resume full daily operation.
Adventure
Season
From AED 130
Jebel Jais
SEP
18
RAK Chamber business networking evening
Monthly members' session for RAKEZ and mainland companies.
Business
Members
Free
RAK Chamber
SEP
25
Al Hamra Marina weekend market
Independent food, craft and produce stalls along the marina promenade.
Market
Family
Free
Al Hamra
SEP
30
RAK Real Estate Investment Briefing
Quarterly developer and broker session on the emirate's project pipeline.
Property
Business
Invite
Al Marjan
October 2026
5 events The coast becomes comfortable again and the business calendar fills up.OCT
02
RAK Art Festival opening week
Emirati and international work across the old town's gallery spaces.
Culture
Free
Free
Old town
OCT
10
Jais Sky Tour season launch
Guided mountain tour programme resumes for the winter season.
Adventure
Guided
From AED 250
Jebel Jais
OCT
16
RAK Nature Photography Weekend
Guided shoots across the mangroves, wadis and the Jebel Jais summit road.
Nature
Workshop
AED 180
Emirate-wide
OCT
24
Al Marjan Island Beach Festival
Water sports, music and food across the island's public beaches.
Festival
Family
Free
Al Marjan
OCT
31
RAKEZ Industrial Open Day
Facility tours and licensing clinics across the free zone's industrial parks.
Business
RAKEZ
Free
RAKEZ
November 2026
6 events Peak outdoor month. Race season begins and the flamingos return to the mangroves.NOV
06
Jebel Jais Trail Race
Mountain trail race across the Hajar ridge, in 10km, 25km and 50km distances.
Sport
Trail
From AED 200
Jebel Jais
NOV
13
RAK Food Truck Festival
Independent kitchens and food trucks on the corniche over three evenings.
Food
Family
Free entry
Corniche
NOV
18
Terry Fox Run Ras Al Khaimah
Annual charity run, one of the UAE's longest-running community events.
Charity
Community
Donation
Al Hamra
NOV
20
Flamingo season opens at Mina Al Arab
The winter migration returns to the mangroves; guided kayak routes resume.
Nature
Season
From AED 120
Mina Al Arab
NOV
27
RAK Half Marathon community race
The amateur curtain-raiser to February's elite half marathon.
Sport
Community
AED 150
Al Hamra
NOV
30
RAK Chamber Annual Business Awards
Recognition across manufacturing, tourism, trade and services.
Business
Awards
Invite
RAK Chamber
December 2026
7 events The busiest month of the year — National Day, the Awafi heritage festival and New Year's Eve.DEC
02
UAE National Day celebrations
Parades, fireworks and heritage programming across the emirate.
National
Free
Free
Emirate-wide
DEC
04
RAK Food Festival
The emirate's flagship food event, with a wider Emirati kitchen line-up this year.
Food
Flagship
Free entry
Al Marjan
DEC
11
Awafi Festival opens
Desert heritage festival near Wadi Al Bih — traditional sports, crafts and Emirati food.
Heritage
Festival
AED 20
Wadi Al Bih
DEC
14
RAK Water Sports Festival
Kitesurfing, sailing and paddle competition across the Al Hamra and Marjan coast.
Sport
Water
Free to watch
Al Hamra
DEC
19
Jebel Jais Winter Market
Mountain-top market and night programming at the Viewing Deck Park.
Market
Mountain
Free
Jebel Jais
DEC
26
RAK Bike Fest
Road and mountain riding weekend, with the Jais climb as the centrepiece.
Sport
Cycling
From AED 100
Jebel Jais
DEC
31
New Year's Eve fireworks
The emirate's flagship display, twice a Guinness World Record holder.
Flagship
Free
Free
Al Marjan
January 2027
5 events The coolest month. Outdoor programming runs at full capacity across the coast and the mountain.JAN
08
Awafi Festival closing weekend
Camel and horse events, traditional races and the final craft market.
Heritage
Festival
AED 20
Wadi Al Bih
JAN
15
RAK Business Setup Week
Licensing clinics and sector briefings across RAKEZ and the mainland DED.
Business
RAKEZ
Free
RAKEZ
JAN
22
Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Nights
Guided evening tours of the pearling village, with storytelling and food.
Heritage
Guided
AED 60
Al Jazirah
JAN
29
RAK Desert Marathon
Road and desert course starting from the Al Wadi reserve.
Sport
Desert
From AED 180
Al Wadi
JAN
31
Mina Al Arab Mangrove Day
Conservation programming, guided kayaks and birdwatching sessions.
Nature
Family
Free
Mina Al Arab
February 2027
6 events The Half Marathon anchors the month and brings the emirate's largest international field.FEB
05
RAK Fine Arts Festival
The emirate's longest-running arts programme, across multiple venues.
Culture
Free
Free
Old town
FEB
12
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Recognised as one of the fastest half marathon courses in the world.
Sport
Flagship
From AED 220
Al Marjan
FEB
14
Jais Sky Tour season peak
Highest-demand window for the zipline and guided mountain programmes.
Adventure
Peak
From AED 399
Jebel Jais
FEB
19
RAK Property Show
Developer exhibition covering Al Marjan, Mina Al Arab and Al Hamra releases.
Property
Exhibition
Free
RAK Exhibition Centre
FEB
22
Corniche Night Market
Extended weekend market along the old town waterfront.
Market
Family
Free
Corniche
FEB
26
RAK Investment Summit
Sector briefings for inbound investors, run with the free zones.
Business
Invest
AED 750
Al Marjan
March – April 2027
4 events The season closes. Coastal programming winds down through April as temperatures climb.MAR
06
RAK Sailing Regatta
Coastal racing series out of the Al Hamra marina.
Sport
Water
Free to watch
Al Hamra
MAR
20
Ramadan night markets open
Evening markets and iftar programming across the old town and Al Hamra.
Ramadan
Food
Free
Emirate-wide
APR
10
Eid Al Fitr celebrations
Fireworks, family programming and extended hotel offers across the coast.
Eid
Family
Free
Emirate-wide
APR
24
RAK Summer Season preview
Operators announce summer rates, indoor programming and staycation offers.
Tourism
Trade
Trade
Al Marjan
Running all season
No fixed dateJais Flight and the Jais Sledder
The world's longest zipline and toboggan run, operating daily outside peak summer.
Sept–May
Jebel Jais
Al Hamra Marina weekend market
Food, craft and produce stalls along the promenade every weekend in season.
Weekly
Al Hamra
Guided mangrove kayak tours
Scheduled departures through the Mina Al Arab reserve, peaking in flamingo season.
Nov–Mar
Mina Al Arab
Desert safaris from Al Wadi
Morning and evening dune programmes run by licensed operators.
Oct–Apr
Al Wadi
RAK Chamber networking evenings
Monthly sessions for free-zone and mainland members.
Monthly
RAK Chamber
RAK events: frequently asked
What events happen in Ras Al Khaimah?
The calendar runs October to April, anchored by the RAK Half Marathon, the Awafi heritage festival, New Year's Eve fireworks on Al Marjan Island and the Jebel Jais adventure season. Business events cluster around the RAK Chamber's networking and awards programmes.
When is the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon?
February, on the Al Marjan Island course. The race is recognised as one of the fastest half marathon courses in the world and draws elite international fields alongside amateur runners.
Is there a New Year's Eve fireworks display in Ras Al Khaimah?
Yes. Al Marjan Island stages the emirate's main display, which has twice set Guinness World Records. Viewing is free from the public waterfront areas, with road closures from late afternoon.
What is the Awafi Festival?
A heritage festival held in the desert near Wadi Al Bih through the winter, featuring traditional sports, camel and horse events, crafts and Emirati food. It runs for several weeks from December.
When is the best month for events in Ras Al Khaimah?
December through February. Temperatures suit outdoor events, the Awafi Festival and New Year's Eve fall in this window, and the Half Marathon closes it in February.