Top UAE beach resorts pt. 2

Eid Mubarak all! In celebration of Eid el Fitr this week, I’ll be giving you trip ideas in order to help you plan your Middle East travels / Eid holiday. Today, we continue this mini series featuring the top UAE beach resorts in the lesser-known emirates. Enjoy!

[click here for part 1, featuring Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah]

Ajman

Want a true off-the-beaten path beach vacation? Then head to Ajman. The smallest of the seven emirates, it is located on the western coast of the UAE. While its beach only extends for 16 Km of the emirate’s 259-square-Km area, Ajman’s central location gives you the option to spend some time on the lesser-known emirate while still being able to enjoy the charms of Dubai (10 kn away) and bordering Sharjah.  Definitely a beach destination for budget travelers to consider. Below, the top UAE beach resorts in Ajman:

Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

Kempinski Hotel Ajman – Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Street, Ajman

Boasting a 1700 ft of private white sand beach, the 5-star Kempinski Hotel is a luxurious, spectacular resort and your best option when visiting Ajman. The rooms ooze Middle Eastern charm, with Arab decor and private furnished balconies or terraces. Furthermore, a variety of water activities can be arranged in order to keep your children (or you!) busy, such as canoeing, windsurfing, and snorkeling.

View from the hotel - photo courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

Landmark Suites Hotel Ajman – Corniche Road | PO Box 18828, Ajman

Located 20 mins away from Dubai airport and 30 mins from Sharja Int’l Airport, the Landmark Hotel is a 3-star hotel and another alternative when visiting Ajman. While I would recommend the Kempinski over the Landmark Suites, the former is still a nice hotel, boasting a state-of-the-art spa, indoor pool area and 24-hour on-site restaurant and room service. Also, some rooms are equipped with a kitchenette.

Fujairah

The only emirate located outside the Persian Gulf (in the Gulf of Oman), I easily see beach towns in this region, particularly Al Aqah, rivaling some of those found in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah very soon (if they don’t already). As such, construction is seen everywhere in the emirate, but you may find relaxation in one of the beach resorts. An interesting fact: Fujairah houses the oldest mosque in the UAE, Al Bidyah Mosque (built in 1446). Below, the top UAE beach resorts in Fujairah:

Photo courtesy of Expedia.com

Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort – Dibba Road | PO Box 3070, Fujairah

Located in the same area as Al Bidyah Mosque, the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort is close enough to all attractions, but seemingly far away from it all as well. Its private beach is gorgeous, its pool big and the room amenities live up to the name Le Meridien. Best yet? Its rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars on Tripadvisor, plus it is ranked no.1 business hotel in Fujairah as well.

Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort – Dibba Road Po Box 5218, Fujairah

If you are looking for that distinctive Arab architecture and decor, you can’t go wrong with the Iberotel Miramar. Rated no.2 on Tripadvisor, it is a highly-recommended hotel with the same central location as the Le Meridien above. Personally, I would choose the Miramar over the former, as it truly makes me feel more like I am in the UAE rather than just another Western chain resort. Rooms feature balconies, air conditioning, and minibars.

Umm al Quwain

Located in close proximity to Dubai and Sharjah as well, Umm al Quwain is the perfect emirate to get away from it all. What further solidifies it as an up-and-coming UAE holiday destination, though, is its surprising list of attractions: From a fort/museum boasting up to 7,000 years of history to the largest water park in the UAE (Dreamland Aqua Park-250,000 square meters), it is surely the top off-the beaten-path UAE destination in my book. Below, the top UAE beach resort in Umm al Quwain:

photo courtesy of Priceline.com

Umm Al Quwain Beach Hotel – Beach Road, Umm Al Quwain

This 4-tar hotel has an outdoor pool with views of the Persian Gulf to die for. Room amenities include a private balcony (with ocean views!), a fridge and spacious seating area with satellite TV. A unique “quirk” I like of this hotel, though, is the live music during lunch hours on Friday. Want more? The Umm Al Quwain Beach Hotel is just 15 minutes away from the Ajman city centre, meaning you can easily enjoy and visit four emirates (incl. Dubai and Sharjah) while staying at this hotel. A pretty complete UAE experience if you ask me!

Ras al Khaymah

In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated emirates. Bordering Oman, Ras al Khaymah boasts some great attractions.  Highly recommended are the Musandaam tour; the Dhayah Fort (only surviving hilltop fort in the UAE); the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah (varied exhibits ranging from natural history and archaeology to arts and crafts); Saqr Park; and the Jazirat Al Hamra (abandoned ‘ghost town’ boasting architecture of earlier decades–Wiki). Below, the top UAE beach resorts in Ras al Khaymah:

Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa – Al Maareedh St. (Al Dhafaan), Ras Al Khaimah

Personally, I’m so surprised at how much charm this chain resort has. The Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort is so Arab gorgeous. From the iconic Arab architecture and decor all over the hotel, to the amazing corniche, huge pool, and 1.5km pristine beach–this is definitely the top UAE beach resort in Al Khaimah. Pictures tell the story!

Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah – P.O. Box 34429, Ras Al Khaimah

Located 20 km from the Ras Al Khaimah airport and an 87 km drive from Dubai, the Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah is the perfect beach getaway and another great accommodation option in Ras Al Khaimah. In fact, the Cove Rotana even holds an Arab charm of its own, plus its grounds are as impressive and comparable to the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort. While the beach is only 600 m, it is still gorgeous and has a unique way to blend with the “inland beach” that is part of the hotel grounds. See more pictures on a slideshow here

And that shall be all for UAE beach resorts (click here for part one)! Tomorrow I will feature top Jordan beach resorts and desert lodges as a continuation of this mini series about top Middle East destinations and hotels. Once again, Eid Mubarak! =)

Have you visited any UAE beach resorts and desert lodges? Comment below!