Manar Mall, Ras Al Khaimah: stores, hours, cinema and its real size
Manar Mall is the oldest shopping centre in Ras Al Khaimah, open since September 2000, and after a roughly 100 million dollar expansion it is also the largest. Its gross leasable area went from 27,000 to 55,000 square metres, taking it to more than 120 retail stores and around 30 restaurants and cafes. It sits on the waterfront in Dafan Al Nakheel, beside the corniche and within reach of the old town, with a Novo Cinemas multiplex that includes the first IMAX screen in the emirate.
Several Ras Al Khaimah guides give Manar Mall's area as about 40,000 square metres and date the expansion to 2016. Neither matches the developer's own account: Al Hamra reported the expansion as taking gross leasable area from 27,000 to 55,000 square metres, adding 80 outlets, with the work reported through 2018 and the waterfront promenade following in 2019. An older aggregator figure of 25,000 square metres is the pre-expansion mall. We use the developer's numbers and say so. Think we have it wrong? corrections@insiderak.com.
What you need to know
The expansion, in the developer's numbers
Al Hamra invested roughly 100 million dollars through its Al Hamra Real Estate Development arm, taking gross leasable area from 27,000 to 55,000 square metres and adding 80 new retail outlets. That brought the mall to more than 120 stores plus around 30 food and beverage outlets. Group CEO Benoy Kurien framed the goal as being the largest and most visited mall in the Northern Emirates.
Novo Cinemas and the first IMAX in RAK
The multiplex is operated by Novo Cinemas, which ran a renovation programme in 2019 that introduced the first IMAX theatre in Ras Al Khaimah, alongside MX4D and premium screens. Reported screen counts vary between three and six depending on the source and the date, so we do not state one; check Novo's own schedule for current screens and showtimes.
The waterfront promenade
The expansion added a promenade on the water, which has since been used for outdoor cinema screenings. It is the feature that most distinguishes Manar Mall from the emirate's other centres, which are inland and enclosed.
Who is here
The expansion brought in Landmark Group brands including Ecco, Steve Madden, Carpisa, Koton and Pablosky, Landmark Leisure's Tridom indoor adventure park, Al-Futtaim ACE's first Northern Emirates store and the emirate's first Superdry. Muji, American Eagle and Shake Shack were announced to follow. Tenant line-ups change, so treat named brands as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Still an Al Hamra asset
Manar Mall remains owned and operated by Al Hamra. That is worth stating because its sister asset did not stay in the family: Al Hamra sold Al Hamra Mall to Aldar Properties in February 2022, so the emirate's two main malls have had different owners since then, something guides that cover both frequently miss.
Where to eat nearby
Where to stay nearby
Opening hours
| Sunday – Thursday | 10:00 – 22:00 |
|---|---|
| Friday – Saturday | 10:00 – midnight |
Core mall hours. The cinema runs later than the mall and its published windows differ between sources, so use Novo Cinemas' own schedule for late screenings rather than these times.
Getting there
Manar Mall is on Al Muntasir Road in Dafan Al Nakheel, overlooking the water and a short drive from the Ras Al Khaimah corniche and the old town, which makes it the most central of the emirate's malls. It is close to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, roughly 20 minutes from the city, and about an hour's drive from Dubai. If you are staying out on the resort strip instead, Al Hamra Mall is the closer option.
Frequently asked questions
What are Manar Mall's opening hours?
The mall runs 10:00 to 22:00 Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Novo Cinemas stays open later than the mall itself, and its published hours differ between sources, so check the cinema's own schedule for late screenings.
How big is Manar Mall?
About 55,000 square metres of gross leasable area, following an expansion that took it up from 27,000 square metres. Figures of 40,000 or 25,000 square metres circulate in other guides; the first does not match the developer's reporting and the second is the mall before expansion.
How many shops are in Manar Mall?
More than 120 retail stores plus around 30 restaurants and cafes. The expansion added 80 outlets to the original mall, bringing in Landmark Group brands, the Tridom indoor adventure park and the first Superdry and Al-Futtaim ACE stores in the Northern Emirates.
Which cinema is at Manar Mall?
Novo Cinemas, which introduced the first IMAX theatre in Ras Al Khaimah during a 2019 renovation, alongside MX4D and premium screens. Reported screen counts range from three to six across sources and dates, so check Novo's schedule rather than relying on a fixed number.
When did Manar Mall open?
September 2000, which makes it the oldest shopping mall in Ras Al Khaimah. It was substantially expanded roughly two decades later, with the work reported through 2018 and the waterfront promenade completed in 2019.
Who owns Manar Mall?
Al Hamra, which developed and still operates it through Al Hamra Real Estate Development. This is different from Al Hamra Mall, despite the shared name: that one was sold to Aldar Properties in February 2022, so the emirate's two main malls now have separate owners.
Is Manar Mall bigger than Al Hamra Mall?
Yes. Manar Mall covers about 55,000 square metres after its expansion, against roughly 27,000 square metres at Al Hamra Mall, making it about twice the size even though Al Hamra Mall is more often described as the emirate's flagship.