No driving licence? No problem…

Ras Al Khaimah is one of the UAE’s best kept secrets. It boasts, amongst other things, the country’s tallest mountain Jebel Jais, some cracking beachside hotels and the world’s longest zipline for the adventure-seeking.

The only problem? It’s a bit of a trek to get to from Dubai at roughly a one and a half hour trip time, and even trickier for those who don’t have the luxury of a car or a driving license.

Not to worry. We’ve put together this handy guide on alternative ways to reach RAK from Dubai without the need to drive there yourself. Read on, fellow traveller…

The easy way – Taxi

Travel time? approx. 1 – 1.5 hours (depending on pick-up location)

How much does it cost? Dhs200-250

How does it work? By far the easiest way to get to RAK from Dubai is to hop into an RTA taxi. If you’re traveling from Dubai International Airport, the staff at the taxi station will point you towards a cab that can take you there. If you’re travelling from elsewhere in the city, it’s advisable to call the RTA on 04 2 080808 and book ahead as not all cab drivers you flag down on the street will be willing to drive that far, even for the increased fare.

If you want to travel in a bit more style, both Uber and Careem offer transport to RAK from Dubai via their apps, starting from around Dhs200 and Dhs300 respectively.

And yes, we realise that technically this is cheating because you are still getting there by car, but you aren’t driving it yourself, so that has to count for something, right?

The cheap way – Public bus

Travel time? approx. 2 hours

How much does it cost? Dhs25 one-way

How does it work? The Al Hamra bus used to be the only way to get from Dubai to RAK at a reasonable price. Buses depart from the Union Bus Station in Al Rigga every one and a half hours between 8am and 9.30pm.

You can find out more details on the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport website, but we actually recommend checking out the next option…

The sensible way – Airport shuttle

Travel time? approx. 45 mins from Dubai International Airport (Terminal 1 & 3)

How much does it cost? Dhs20 one-way (introductory offer for the time being)

How does it work? In February 2018 the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority launched a shuttle service between Dubai International Airport and RAK. The bus departs six times a day between 6am – 1am from both Terminal 1 and 3 and drops passengers off at all the main hotels in RAK including the Cove Rotana Resort and Waldorf Astoria.

Best of all, the service also offers travellers complimentary Wi-Fi, water and maps to make the journey more comfortable. For a full timetable and to book tickets, visit rakshuttle.com

The expensive way – Seaplane

Travel time? approx. 45 mins

How much does it cost? Dhs1,295 (excluding VAT) per person

How does it work? Want to travel to RAK like a boss? Then why not charter your own seaplane. Companies like Seawings offer private transfers between Dubai and RAK with pick-up from the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and drop-off at the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa on Marjan Island, which is only a 20 minute cab ride from the city centre.

There’s no minimum number of passengers required so you could ostensibly hire out the plane for just yourself, but where would be the fun in that?

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Images: RAKTDA, Seawings, The National