NIGHTLIFE
Unlike Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah is not a hub for nightlife. There are not many discos and nightclubs, and there are insufficient occasions to pursue an active nightlife. Nevertheless, most of the hotels in Ras Al Khaimah have a lounge bar or pub available to both hotel guests and outside visitors. Some bars have a more sophisticated atmosphere, while others are designed to be more informal. Musical performances, football screenings and occasional theme-nights are the main attractions. Musical groups, mainly from the Philippines, regularly perform well-known rock and R&B songs at nightclubs. They are often very talented and definitely entertaining. Most of the bars sell alcoholic beverages but the price is usually quite steep. You can also visit local nightclubs with Arab singers, belly dancers and musicians. There are also a few bars and clubs with music from India and the Philippines, and they are mostly attended by the Asian community.
Opening Hours
Pubs and bars open as early as 5pm, some close at about 1am, while others welcome visitors until 3am. Clubs and disco's tend to open later, from around 10-11pm and they close their doors in the early morning hours. In general, the nightlife starts quite late and before 9pm there may not be many people inside the venues. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are the weekend days, therefore these nights are the busiest.
ARABIC NIGHT CLUBS
Arabic Night Club
Location: Bin Majid Beach Resort
Phone: 07 2446644
Moroccan Night Club
Location: Julfar Hotel
Phone: 07 2288884
Moroccan Night Club
Location: Casablanca Hotel
Phone: 07 2277513
Night Club Sharazd
Location: Creek Plaza Hotel
Phone: 07 2274443
INTERNATIONAL BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS
Asian Night Club - Live Indian music
Location: Hayat Plaza Hotel
Phone: 07 2337300
Al Mona Night Club - Asian dance club
Location: RAK Hotel
Phone: 07 2362999
City Lights Bar - Western style bar
Location: City Hotel
Phone: 07 2274000
Club Malibu - Dance club
Location: Al Hamra Fort Hotel
Phone: 07 2446666
Club Acacia - Night Club
Location: Acacia Hotel, Al Jazirat Al Hamra
Phone: 07 2434421
Esprit - Dance club
Location: Hilton Resort and Spa
Phone: 07 2288844
Golden Ferret Spike - English style pub
Location: Tower Links Golf Club
Phone: 07 2279939
Havana Bar - Classical bar with Latin music
Location: RAK Hilton Hotel
Phone: 07 2288888
Indian Bar - Indian music
Location: Bin Majid Hotel
Phone: 07 2352233
Lighthouse Bar - Outdoor seating and shisha
Location: Hilton Resort and Spa
Phone: 07 2288888
Makati Disco - Dance club
Location: Bin Majid Hotel
Phone: 07 2352233
Red Lion Pub - Classical bar
Location: Bin Majid Hotel
Phone: 07 2352233
Roxy Bar - Live music
Location: RAK Hotel
Phone: 07 2362999
Sirocco Lounge Bar - Classical bar
Location: Al Hamra Fort Hotel
Phone: 07 2446666
Sports Bar - Darts, football screening
Location: Bin Majid Hotel
Phone: 07 2352233
Stallion Night Club - Classical bar with a variety of live music
Location: next to La Phoenician, near RAK Hilton Hotel
Phone: 050 1084102
X.O. - Classical bar
Location: Hilton Resort and Spa
Phone: 07 2288844
SHISHA CAFÉ’S
In the recent decades, shisha (water pipe or hookah) emerged outside the traditional shisha smoking countries such as Egypt or Lebanon. Although in the UAE it was not present or sometimes even banned, now shisha is very popular especially amongst local men. Shisha café’s located throughout the city are usually crowded in the evening and night hours. Vivid conversations, watching football and a chance to spend time with friends are already good reasons to go out, but in the Arab world enjoying a water pipe is added to this experience.
A number of shisha café’s are situated along Corniche Road, and it is probably the most popular area for ‘shisha meetings’ in the city. Many shisha café’s are aimed at men, but it does not mean that women are not allowed, only they may not be very comfortable inside. This does not mean that women cannot enjoy shisha; most hotels offer shisha in their bars and clubs, which are attended by both women and men.
One of the most enjoyable locations to smoke shisha is the RAK Hotels’ Shahrazad Tent. The place has a nice atmosphere and a great view of Ras Al Khaimah. If you want to experience the old style shisha in a pleasant and traditional café, you should visit Al Fakher at RAK Popular Café (07 2288334). Located near the Electricity and Water Authority by the creek, it is the oldest running coffee house in town. Additionally, this place serves some traditional local dishes.
Shisha comes in different flavours and you should expect to pay around 10 to 20dhs. The hot coals that burn the tobacco will be added throughout the night, so smoking can go on for hours. If you get hungry, you can order some snacks, coffee, tea or fruit juices, which are typically served at shisha places.
Before smoking shisha you should know that shisha smoking poses health risk comparable to smoking cigarettes. Some argue that an hour of shisha smoking equals to smoking of around 50 cigarettes. The opponents of that theory state that the filtration process through the water removes much of the tar and nicotine, and that shisha is rather smoked on occasions and not on a daily basis. Anyway, some emirates, but not yet Ras Al Khaimah, stopped issuing licences for new shisha cafés in a bid to protect public health.
