There are many good reasons people flock to Ras Al Khaimah from all over the world, whether for a well-earned holiday or staycation or to establish more permanent roots and set up home. In 2023, Ras Al Khaimah was voted the 4th-best city in the world for expats to live and work. The annual survey, conducted by InterNations, saw Ras Al Khaimah excel across 5 key categories to earn this coveted spot in the global rankings. Find out more about the InterNations report here.
So what is it about Ras Al Khaimah that makes it such a desirable place to visit and live? We delved into the expat community on a quest to find out. Here’s what the people who live here had to say:
Catherine and Shaun Turton: Living the family dream
Catherine (35), Shaun (42) and their two girls Ellie and Bella, moved to Ras Al Khaimah from the UK in August 2023 after initially visiting the Emirate on holiday in 2022. From that memorable family holiday, and having heard from others what a great place Ras Al Khaimah is to live, they decided to take action and look for jobs with the aim of seeking new opportunities.
Catherine secured a job teaching within a leading British Secondary School, RAK Academy, and when asked about how her family has transitioned to life in Ras Al Khaimah, she said:
“We have settled in so well and living in Al Hamra Village is great. We love how safe it is for our children and the facilities are fantastic!
“We have pools, beaches, restaurants, shops, beautiful walking paths and, of course, the golf course, all right on our doorstep. We also love the mountains and drive up there regularly.”
Jade Leigh Morgan: Fit for business
Eight years ago, professional Fitness Coach and Entrepreneur Jade (36) moved to Ras Al Khaimah from Cape Town where she was a renowned professional athlete for 10 years, winning many sporting accolades for her country, South Africa.
Jade instantly recognized Ras Al Khaimah as a great place to realize her vision of setting up and running her own business ‘Jade Morgan Flatout Fitness’. Offering fitness solutions in specialist areas spanning; Pre & Post Natal, Pilates, Group Training, Spots Massage and Nutrition, Jade said:
“Setting up shop in Ras Al Khaimah was really straightforward and the fitness industry has really evolved here over the past 3 years. There are more gyms, classes, and sporting events popping up, including RAK Half Marathon, Tough Mudder, RAK Triathlon, and Highlander.
“RAK’s natural environment lends itself perfectly to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, too. We are so fortunate to have the mountains for cycling, walking, hiking, and rock climbing and the sea for surfing, swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding.”
Rayan Sheikh: Art and opportunity abound
Our youngest interviewee, Rayan (10) is a pupil at RAK Academy British School and lives with his family in RAK’s peaceful Mina Al Arab community. An aspiring artist, Rayan recently had his dream become a reality when he won a competition organized by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. The talented young creative’s artwork was selected to be displayed among of the region’s most respected up-and-coming artists at the coveted RAK Art Festival in Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, visited by thousands of people each year. Rayan described his experience: “It was a very special moment for me to have my art chosen to be displayed at RAK Art, one of the most respected art festivals in the UAE.
“It was a huge achievement! I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity and to live in a place where creativity in young people is encouraged and celebrated.”
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