Uae Area Guide Part 6 Of 8 Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is an emirate or soverign state of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is the northernmost emirate in the UAE. Ras Al Khaimah boasts a very diverse geography from unspoilt beaches to deserts and mountainous areas as well as the fast developing ultra modern capital city. The people are proud of their culture and sports facilities just like all of the other emirates that make up the UAE, and many tourists and locals take full advantage of these pursuits.Ras Al Khaimah is much smaller than Dubai and is trading on this fact, as some tourists find Dubai overpowering. Ras Al Khaimah offers the shopping and nightlife to tourists that can be found in the larger emirates but some say at a slightly more relaxed pace.Khatt Hot Springs Spa is a modern hotel and resort that is built in the town of Khatt a 20 minute drive from Ras Al Khaimah city. The town is home to three hot mineral springs that attract visitors from all over the world who come to the area to bathe in the waters for their reputed therapeutic benefits. The hot springs are said to aid in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and other muscular problems.Golf has seized the imaginations and passions of residents of Ras Al Khaimah just as it has with residents of the other emirates, several world class golf courses and clubs can be found in RAK for the enjoyment and use of both residents and visitors to the area. Golf holiday resorts can also be found in the emirate for those who cannot bear to be too far from the course.
Golf Holidays in Dubai
Luxury holidays to Dubai draw thousands of travellers to this fascinating part of the Middle East every year, and though it is famed for its ambitious (some would say crazy!) building projects, shopping festivals, and extravagant luxury hotels, Dubai isn’t the first place you would think of when considering a golf holiday. But Dubai is the playground for the rich and famous, and has always prided itself on offering every possible luxury experience for residents and holiday makers alike – golf is no exception.
Dubai now boasts a small but impressive selection of courses. France, the Algarve and America may remain the top golf destinations, but Dubai is becoming increasingly popular for those who want something a little different from their golf holidays. These are no novelty courses – they present a fearsome challenge to amateurs and professional golfers alike hosting a range of top flight international events every year, such as the Dubai Desert Classic.
Where to Play – 5 Top Courses in Dubai
No golf holiday in Dubai is complete without a visit to the two most famous courses: The Emirates Majlis and Dubai Creek. The Emirates Majlis was the very first grass course in the Middle East. Known as “The Desert Miracle”, it is famed for its Bedouin style clubhouse and very challenging layout – it requires tremendous skill to play well here. The Emirates Golf Club now has a second course designed by Nick Faldo, the Wadi, which provides a very different but equally challenging experience.
While the Emirates Majlis may have come first, Dubai Creek is perhaps the most famous course in the country, and there are plenty of luxury holidays to Dubai that have this course as a main attraction. The Dubai Creek is a delight to play on, with long, rolling fairways that are scattered with palm trees, and the clubhouse is an architectural triumph that features a luxury spa and gym. It is an essential course to play on while on a golf holiday in Dubai.
Those are the two biggest and most famous golf courses in Dubai, but there are plenty of others as well. The Montgomerie offers a splendid round of golf on a very beautiful course, renowned as one of the most attractive in the region. The clubhouse is the last word in luxury, with a restaurant that seats over a hundred, a gym, sauna, club bar and banqueting room. The Desert Course at the Arabian Ranches is the best choice for those who really want the experience of playing golf out in the desert, with the well tended greens alternating with sculpted patches of golden sand. It is a tight course that demands accuracy, but rewards careful play. Finally, there is the course at the Jebel Ali Hotel, which combines a great golf course with all the facilities of a luxury beach resort. The Jebel Ali is an excellent choice for a luxury holiday to Dubai, giving you the chance to experience, sun, sand and spas alongside some top quality golfing.
