Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah: distance, drive time, bus, taxi and a day trip to Jebel Jais

Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah is about 110 km, and the drive takes 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes up the E311. The RAKTA bus from Union Station costs AED 30, a metered Dubai taxi to RAK city runs to roughly AED 290–340, and Jebel Jais is another 50 minutes beyond the city.

RAK is a regular trip in our chauffeur service across the UAE, usually as a mountain day on Jebel Jais or a beach stay on Al Marjan Island. Below: distances, the times we plan for, every way to get there, and a day plan that works.

How far is Ras Al Khaimah from Dubai?

It depends on which end of each emirate you mean. DXB and Deira are on the “right” side of Dubai for RAK, and Dubai Marina is 35 km further south.

From	To	Road distance	Drive, light traffic
DXB airport / Deira	Al Marjan Island	about 72 km	about 1 hour
DXB airport / Deira	RAK city (Al Nakheel)	about 92 km	about 1 hour 5 min
Downtown Dubai	Al Marjan Island	about 89 km	about 1 hour 10 min
Downtown Dubai	RAK city (Al Nakheel)	about 108 km	about 1 hour 20 min
Dubai Marina	RAK city (Al Nakheel)	about 127 km	about 1 hour 35 min
Downtown Dubai	Jebel Jais viewing deck	about 147 km	about 2 hours
RAK city	Jebel Jais viewing deck	about 37 km	about 50 min

Visit Ras Al Khaimah gives the headline figure as about 110 km.

How many hours is it from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?

Plan on 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes to RAK city, and add 50 minutes for the Jebel Jais road. The trip runs against the main commuter flow in the morning, since most rush-hour traffic is heading south into Dubai from Sharjah and Ajman. The evening is the opposite.

What we allow from Downtown Dubai to RAK city:

Departure time (weekday)	Heading to RAK	Heading back to Dubai
6:00–7:00 am	1 h 15 min	1 h 30 min
7:00–10:00 am	1 h 20 min – 1 h 30 min	1 h 45 min – 2 h
10:00 am – 4:00 pm	1 h 15 min – 1 h 20 min	1 h 20 min
4:00–8:00 pm	1 h 45 min – 2 h	1 h 20 min – 1 h 30 min
After 8:00 pm	1 h 15 min	1 h 20 min

Weekend getaways make Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings busier heading north. For the wider picture, see our Dubai rush hour traffic guide.

Which road goes from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?

Most drivers take Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) north through Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, then the E11 into RAK city. Emirates Road (E611) runs parallel further inland and is the better choice for Jebel Jais, since it leads onto the E18 toward the mountain road.

Neither road has Salik gates, and cars pay no tolls in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain or Ras Al Khaimah. You’ll pass speed cameras through every emirate, so a chauffeur who keeps to the limit is also the one who gets you there without surprises.

Is there a bus from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?

Yes. RAK Transport Authority (RAKTA) runs the intercity bus from Dubai’s Union Bus Station, in Deira next to Union Metro, to Ras Al Khaimah. RAKTA’s public transport page lists:

Direction	First bus	Last bus	Fare	Notes
Dubai (Union) to RAK	7:30 am	11:30 pm	AED 30	Hourly, most via Umm Al Quwain; direct at 6:00 and 8:00 pm
RAK to Dubai (Union)	5:00 am	9:00 pm	AED 27	Hourly; direct at 5–8 am, 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm, the rest via Sharjah

Expect about 2 hours on the bus with stops. Timetables change, so check the Sayr app, which RAKTA uses for tracking and planning, before you travel. The bus reaches RAK city but not Jebel Jais or Al Marjan Island, so you’ll need a taxi for the last part.

How much is a taxi from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?

Roughly AED 290 from Downtown Dubai to RAK city and about AED 340 from Dubai Marina, on Dubai Taxi’s published AED 2.45 per km. Both figures include the AED 20 that Dubai taxis add when a trip passes through Sharjah, but not waiting time. Visit Jebel Jais, the mountain’s official site, puts the fare at around AED 300 or more.

Option	Cost one way	Time	Best for
RAKTA bus	AED 30 (AED 27 back)	About 2 h plus the last leg	Budget, light bags
Dubai taxi, metered	About AED 290–340	1 h 15 min – 1 h 45 min	One-way trips at short notice
Uber or Careem	Upfront app price, varies with demand	1 h 15 min – 1 h 45 min	Comparing a quote
Private chauffeur, transfer	Fixed price, tolls and VAT included	1 h 15 min – 1 h 45 min	Hotel transfers with luggage
Private chauffeur, full day	Day rate plus an out-of-Dubai charge	Car stays with you	Jebel Jais and Al Marjan in one day

For a round trip with Jebel Jais, a car for the day usually makes more sense than a taxi each way, because taxis are thin on the mountain. Published Dubai rate cards (September 2026) put a business sedan with driver at AED 600–1,300 for a full 10-hour day and a large SUV at AED 1,300–2,000, and many operators add AED 125–200 when the car leaves Dubai. Four people with a cool box and camera bags? Take the SUV; see our luxury SUV chauffeur options.

What is there to do in Ras Al Khaimah?

Two places bring most visitors up from Dubai.

Jebel Jais is the UAE’s highest peak, at 1,934 metres. The road to the top is paved and well kept, and you don’t need a 4x4. The main attractions, per Visit Jebel Jais:

• Jais Flight: the world’s longest zipline, 2.83 km at 1,680 metres above sea level, with speeds up to 160 km/h. Book ahead.
• Jais Sky Tour: six ziplines over about 5 km, a two-hour tour that suits families.
• Jais Viewing Deck Park: picnic areas, telescopes and sunset views from the UAE’s highest viewing deck.
• 1484 by Puro: the UAE’s highest restaurant, near the zipline landing zone.
• Jais Sledder: the mountain toboggan, listed as temporarily closed when we checked in September 2026.

It’s noticeably cooler at the top than on the coast, so bring a layer from November to March. Stay on marked trails and follow the signs.

Al Marjan Island is a group of man-made islands off the coast with beach resorts, about an hour from DXB. The Wynn Al Marjan Island resort is under construction there, and Wynn says it’s on track to open in September 2027.

A one-day plan: Dubai to Jebel Jais and back

1. Leave Dubai at 7:30 am. Take the E611 and you’re at the Jebel Jais base road around 9:15 am.
2. Zipline or Sky Tour, 9:45 am – 12:30 pm. Book your slot in advance; morning slots are cooler.
3. Lunch at 1484 by Puro, 12:45–2:00 pm. Book a table in peak season.
4. Viewing deck, 2:00–3:00 pm. Photos over the Hajar mountains before heading down.
5. Drive to Al Marjan Island, 3:00–4:15 pm. About 75 km and 1 hour 15 minutes from the mountain.
6. Beach and sunset, 4:30–6:30 pm. Then dinner on the island or head straight back.
7. Back in Dubai by 8:00–8:30 pm. Leaving RAK after 6:30 pm, the southbound roads are clearing.

If you’d rather stay a night, we’ll do a one-way transfer up and collect you another day. Combining the trip with the east coast? Our Dubai to Fujairah guide covers the drive over the mountains, and Dubai to Sharjah explains the traffic you’ll cross on the way out. For a full day with the same driver, see rent a car with driver in Dubai.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a bus from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?

Yes. RAKTA runs hourly buses from Union Bus Station in Deira to Ras Al Khaimah from 7:30 am to 11:30 pm for AED 30, most of them via Umm Al Quwain. The trip takes about 2 hours. Buses back to Dubai run from 5 am to 9 pm for AED 27.

How much does a taxi cost from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?

About AED 290 from Downtown Dubai to RAK city and AED 340 from Dubai Marina on the Dubai Taxi meter, including the AED 20 Sharjah charge but not waiting time. App prices change with demand. A fixed-price private transfer includes tolls, fuel and VAT.

Is there a direct bus from RAK to Dubai?

Yes, some. RAKTA runs direct buses from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai Union Bus Station in the early morning and a few in the afternoon; the rest go via Sharjah, and the last two of the day also stop in Ajman. Check the Sayr app for the current timetable.

How many hours is it from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?

About 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes by car to RAK city, depending on where you start and the time of day. Allow around 2 hours to reach the Jebel Jais viewing deck from Downtown, and about 2 hours on the RAKTA bus.

Do I need a 4x4 to drive up Jebel Jais?

No. The Jebel Jais road is paved and well maintained, and any car in good condition can make the climb. We still suggest an SUV for groups of four or more, for the extra space and a more comfortable ride on the bends.