Al Rass or Al Raas is a small community in Umm Al Quwain. It lies 7.5 km away from central Umm Al Quwain. Covering less than 3km of land area, Al Rass Umm Al Quwain is a quiet and small fishing area. Yet this has not kept developers from planning and executing projects in the area, especially to improve its residential features.
Al Raas UAQ is known for its wide variety of plant, marine and wildlife species present in the area. Though not a major tourist attraction, the peninsula at Al Raas Umm Al Quwain is an ideal getaway for daytime trips and nighttime barbecues. There are a couple of old fishing villages in the area. Bird lovers can also spot flamingos and other wild birds in the nearby mangroves.
While development is underway, Al Rass community offers a calm and serene environment with a few amenities nearby.
Long known only for fishing spots and wildlife, Al Rass UAQ is still in the process of becoming a major residential and business area. It is a good option for people working in Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah and the related areas who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are, however, limited villas in the community. One can mainly find apartments in Al Raas community.
The residential properties for rent in Al Rass Umm Al Quwain mainly include apartments in Al Rass A, B, C and D, all of which are located along King Faisal Road. Currently, you can rent studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments at reasonable prices. These residential units feature master bedrooms, bathrooms, a hall and a kitchen. Amenities offered to tenants include CCTV monitoring, 24-hour security, free maintenance and car parking space.
There are also few offices and shops for rent in the vicinity.
Those looking for apartments for rent in Al Rass Umm Al Quwain can find several units at various configurations. 1-bedroom apartments cost AED 17k per year. Apartment buildings nearby include Sheikh Marwan Building, Al Faisal Group and Salam Tower al Quwain.
Tourists and business guests can find The Beach Hotel and Resort Umm Al Quwain located at Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla Street. It is a 4-star accommodation facility just 4 km from the UAQ Marine Club. The guest rooms available at the hotel include Standard Suite, Executive Suite, The Beach Suite, Ambassador Suite and the Royal Suite. These suites feature living rooms, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and fridges. Guests can unwind at an outdoor pool and sundeck and enjoy beach volleyball and football. Other amenities of the hotel include breakfast buffet, a Lebanese restaurant, a café and a liquor store.
All apartment buildings have dedicated parking spaces in Al Rass Umm Al Quwain. The street parking facility is available for guests.
As for transportation in Al Rass, there are no bus stations in the area. Residents and tourists have to rely on taxis as the main public transport. Having a car is ideal, especially if residents need to commute to locations such as Dubai or Sharjah for work. You can use Al Shuwaib Road (E55) and Al Ittihad Street (E11) to enter/exit Al Rass and Umm Al Quwain.
There is no shortage of supermarkets in Al Rass Umm Al Quwain and the surrounding areas. Lulu Centre takes care of most of your shopping needs. Pearl Supermarket, Shahaban Grocery, Safa Supermarket, Waleed Supermarket and Noor Al Sabah Supermarket and are other options in Al Rass UAQ.
There are also several options located in Al Riqqah community. These include Safeera Supermarket, Abu Jalal Supermarket, Coral Grocery, Al Tamimi Supermarket and VIVA Supermarket.
Umm Al Quwain Central Market in Al Rass is a good place to buy fresh produce and fish.
There are a few mosques in Al Rass Umm Al Quwain such as Masjid Jaber Bin Abdullah, Masjid Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid and Masjid Al Ghufran.
Winners Chapel International Ajman is the closest church, it is located in Al Rashidiya, Ajman. It is one of the most popular international churches in Ajman. You can reach this church near Al Rass RAQ in 30 minutes, for more options the many churches part of the Al Yarmook district in Sharjah can be reached in 35 minutes or less.
Hindu and Sikh residents will have to travel to the Bur Dubai area in Dubai to visit their places of worship. Shiva Temple, the Sikh Gurudwara and ShrinathJi Temple can all be reached in under an hour’s drive.
There are two schools in Al Rass community, the Umm Al Quwain Basic Education School and Umm Al Quwain Preparatory Girls School, along with Butterflies Nursery for younger children. Some of the best schools in Umm Al Quwain located nearby are The International School of Chouefait – Umm Al Quwain, The Elite American Private School and New Indian School Umm Al Quwain.
Al Raas area in UAQ is also home to the Umm Al Quwain University College, while British Applied College is just opposite Al Rass B.
Umm Al Quwain Hospital near Al Rass community is the primary tertiary care, medical service provider. The other hospital in Umm Al Quwain is Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital, 16 minutes away.
Medical clinics in Al Rass Umm Al Quwain consist of Al Khaleej Medical Center, Dr Sinan Eye Clinic and Thumbay Clinic. Tajeran Pharmacy, Al Haram Pharmacy and Thumbay Pharmacy are pharmacies in the area.
Al Rass community is located close to the mangroves of Umm Al Quwain which are popular for bird and wildlife watching. The communities of Al Riqqah, Al Dar Al Baida and Al Hawiyah are close by.
As it is a grocery and department store residents can shop for electronics and textiles at Lulu Centre in Al Rass. China Mall near Al Rass UAQ is the closest shopping destination. It features a wide variety of products from China, it also has a few restaurants and food stalls in the mall.
City Mall and Mall of UAQ are other malls in the area, roughly 15 minutes away from Al Raas.
There are a few restaurants in Al Rass Umm Al Quwain, most of which feature Arabic and South-East Asian cuisines. Indian/Pakistani restaurants in the area include Desi Tarka Restaurant, Arab Sea Restaurant and Al Fanoon. Popular Arabic restaurants in Al Rass UAQ include Emirates Sea Restaurant, Aloberge Restaurant and Cafeteria and Taiba Restaurant and Grill.
Qout Cafe, Zam Zam Cafeteria and Chai Makani are preferred for a quick bite to eat. If you’re craving Filipino food you can visit Mariya Restaurant. For sweet treats, residents can visit Umm Al Quwain Automatic Restaurant, Balabak Sweets and Firas Sweets.
All of these are some of the best restaurants in Umm Al Quwain.
The Umm Al Quwain Public Beach is less than 10 minutes from Al Rass area in UAQ. The beach is clean, and a perfect spot to relax. It is popular as a picnic spot; barbecuing is allowed in designated areas. It does, however, lack amenities such as public toilets, showers and changing areas.
There are many leisure attractions in Umm Al Quwain for those who want to spend their time outdoors. At a 3-minute drive, there is Fish Roundabout located at Al Bootain Al Hamrah.
UAQ Marine Club is a perfect spot located at the eastern coastline, at a 5-minute drive. It offers thrilling marine sports such as jet-skiing, kayaking, knee-boarding and paddle surfing. Those willing to watch the latest blockbuster can head to Granata Cinema located off Abu Bakar Al Siddiq Street.
You can find the Umm Al Quwain National Museum in the Old Town Area. It is one of the largest archaeological sites in the UAE. You can witness displays showcasing the history of the war in the region at the UAQ Museum. It is accessible after a 7-minute drive.
Al Arabi Sports and Cultural Club has a few sports grounds near Al Rass, families also relax and stroll around the area. Municipal Park and National Flag park are roughly 5 minutes away from Al Raas.
There aren’t any gyms nearby but there are a few outdoor areas and beaches which are popular fitness spots. Imar Spa and Al Nooras Salon are a few pampering spots nearby.
Along with fishing and birdwatching, tourists and residents can also go camping in Al Rafaah, which is one of the top camping spots in the UAE. You can also head out to the UAQ Marine Club (4 km from Al Rass) for water sports.
Finding accommodation can be tricky for families. This, however, may change in the coming years as more properties are completed.
Al Rass is a small community located 7.5 km away from central Umm Al Quwain.
There are four sub-communities namely Al Rass A, B, C and D.
You can choose to travel via taxi or bus from Ras Al Khaimah to Umm Al Quwain. The total travel time is 1 hour 25 minutes.