Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island

Set on Al Marjan Island, a cluster of four man-made coral-shaped islands off Ras Al Khaimah, the resort faces open water on the Arabian Gulf. The beach runs for 300 metres of white sand, and every one of the 418 rooms and suites carries a sea view from its balcony. It is a big, busy property. Rooms range from Deluxe doubles to the Panoramic Bridge Junior Suites, set on the top floor above Ras Al Khaimah's longest suspended bridge, and the Al Marjan Beachfront Suite, an 83 m² chalet with its own pool steps from the sand. Six restaurants and bars cover the ground, from a lobby lounge with a daily chocolate hour to Swiss dishes drawn from the Mövenpick kitchen. Three outdoor pools, a floating water park, a spa with four treatment rooms and a year-round kids' club fill out the grounds, alongside a water sports centre for those who want to get off the sand. You can watch the sun drop over the boulevard from most balconies come evening. Jebel Jais and Ras Al Khaimah's forts sit a short drive inland, roughly 26 minutes from the city centre. The resort opened in June 2022 and takes dogs as guests, a detail worth knowing before booking a family stay.