Al Marjan Island is a string of four man-made islands off the Ras Al Khaimah coast. It was reclaimed from the sea in the 2000s and has been the focus of RAK’s new-resort development for the past decade.
Today it’s home to the newest cluster of resort hotels in the emirate — and it’s the site Wynn chose for the UAE’s first integrated resort.
Where it is
Al Marjan sits off the coast just north of Al Hamra, roughly 40 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah city and around 60–75 minutes from Dubai International Airport (DXB) by car. It’s connected to the mainland by a single causeway, which is the bottleneck on busy weekends.
The four islands
The islands are numbered 1 to 4. Island 1 is closest to the mainland and home to the established mid-range resorts (Hilton, Bab Al Bahr). The Wynn site is on one of the outer islands — further out, more isolated, with more land available for the scale of project Wynn is building.
What’s already there
Several large resorts are operational today: the Hilton, Mövenpick and Rixos Bab Al Bahr all sit on Al Marjan, alongside smaller operators. They share the beach, the causeway and a small handful of independent restaurants and beach bars.
How to get there
Most visitors arrive by pre-booked private transfer from Dubai airport, or by hire car. Public transport is impractical. Once on the island, you generally need a taxi or a hotel shuttle to move between properties — it’s walkable in theory but the distances and the climate work against it.
What changes when Wynn opens
The scale of Wynn will reshape the island. Expect new restaurants, retail and infrastructure to follow — plus likely traffic and access pressure on the single causeway. Hotel rates across Al Marjan are likely to rise as the area becomes a recognisable destination in its own right.
So, should you stay on Al Marjan today?
Yes — if you want a quieter beach base near Dubai with a modern resort on tap. The island already works as a destination, and the imminent Wynn opening doesn’t change that. Avoid it if you want walkable independent dining; the resorts are everything here.
Last updated: 10 June 2026