Al Turfa, Ras Al Khaimah

Al Turfa is a suburban district in Ras Al Khaimah, set alongside the Al Manama – Ras Al Khaimah Road (E18). It is a mixed-use community featuring commercial properties, government offices and residential apartments and villas. The area enjoys a well-established neighbourhood, among the popular districts of the emirate like Al Juwais, Al Qurm, Khuzam and Al Duhaisah.

• A mix-use development in Ras Al Khaimah
• The area consists of commercial and residential properties
• Located alongside Al Manama Road – Ras Al Khaimah (E18)
• In proximity to popular schools, hospitals and entertainment venues

As a community, Al Turfa is a peaceful area that offers slow-paced living. The streets are widely marked with commercial buildings and low-rise apartments. When travelling on the streets, especially towards the residential zone, you can spot trees planted on each side of the road, suggesting a calm atmosphere. However, some parts of the community are deserted and feature empty plots.

The community enjoys a central location in the emirate, so all necessary facilities like grocery pickups, mosques, restaurants and schools are available within a short distance from the area.

Residential properties in Al Turfa consist of apartments and villas. The apartments in Al Turfa are mainly single units such as studios and 1-bedroom flats. 2 and 3-bed apartments are also available but since the area is close to Al Manama Road (E18), those living here are mostly workers, they look for single-bedroom accommodations at minimum prices.

The apartments for rent in the area are small for instance, a studio is typically built on 450 sq. ft. with one bathroom. The floor space for a 2 and 3-bedroom flat ranges from 830 sq. ft. to 1,346 sq. ft. with one and two bathrooms respectively.

If you’re looking for more space, you can either use smart tips to make your studio look bigger or rent a villa in the community. However, most of the developed villas are already occupied. The villas in the area feature ensuite bedrooms, spacious kitchens, hallways, additional bathrooms and covered parking spaces.

The major part of the district features a mix of different commercial spaces including private and government offices, warehouses for rent, shops and various other retail facilities. Public Services Department is a city government office located on Al Atheer Street. Residents will find an abundance of car repair workshops and garages in the area and can get benefitted from them when needed. Mazmo Environmental Services is one of the best waste management companies in the UAE. They have specialised in cleaning and disinfecting services and are licensed with Dubai Municipality.

Parking spaces in Al Turfa are available inside the villas and outside the apartment buildings. There is ample parking space on the streets as well.

For public transportation near Al Turfa RAK, one has to rely on cabs, since the closest bus stop is RAK bus station is roughly an 11-minute drive, away from Al Turfa.

There are several small-scale grocery stores and supermarkets in al Turfa such as Al Safwa Supermarket located on the ground floor of the Al Salam 1 apartment building facing the main highway Al Manama road (E18). Other grocery stores in Al Turfa include Al Joori Supermarket and Khalifa Foundation Distribution Center, which is a discount store selling essential grocery items at wholesale rates. Residents can also access the supermarkets in neighbouring communities for more variety of kitchen and household stuff.

Masjid Ali Bin Qashir is the only mosque in Al Turfa. But a lot of other mosques are located nearby including Mohammad Bin Ahmed Bin Isa Mosque in Al Juwais community, Masjid Aishah Bint Naasir Al Zaib in Al Qusaidat and Amna Ali Hassan Ahmed Mosque in Seih Al Qusaidat.

As for the Christian community, the churches are located roughly a 10-minute drive. There is St Mary’s Orthodox Church Nakheel, Al Nakheel Catholic Church and Tent of Glory Church near Al Turfa.

Popular nurseries nearby are Kinderwood Nursery, Little Oxford Nursery, Sunrise Nursery, Lavenders Nursery & Day Care and New Sunshine Nursery.

For primary and secondary education, residents can send their children to the International School of Choueifat. It is one of the best schools in Ras Al Khaimah and a popular choice among the locals.

Ras Al Khaimah American Academy is a girls-only school near Al Turfa that believes in caring, sharing, empowerment and inspiration. It follows the American curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 12. GEMS Westminster School in Seih Al Uraibi is also a common choice for those who like to give their children British education, as the school follows the National Curriculum of England from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Some other schools near Al Turfa include Herra’a Girls School, RAK Academy International Secondary School Khuzam and Indian Public High School.

Those who are seeking to enrol in medical universities will find some of the top medical universities in the UAE. One can find RAK Medical & Health Sciences University and RAK College Of Nursing within a 5-minute distance.

A few notable medical facilities nearby include RAK Diabetic Center, Dr Amina Medical and Dental Center, Al Hanan Medical Centre, Skinova Clinic and Al Saada Specialist Clinic. All these clinics are available within a short distance of 5 minutes.

Hospitals near Al Turfa include RAK Hospital and Saqr Hospital. RAK Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Ras Al Khaimah that offers advanced medical treatment to patients. Established in 2007, it is a subsidiary of Arabian Healthcare Group, featuring more than 60 beds, highly trained professional staff and medical practitioners.

Al Turfa enjoys a prime location in the centre of the emirate, giving access to both the main roads – Khuzam Road and Al Manama Road (E18). These roads make it quite easier to access the well-established neighbouring areas, such as Al Juwais and Al Qusaidat are situated on the east of the area, across Al Manama Road. Al Duhaisah and Al Kharran are towards the south side of Al Turfa, while Khuzam and Both Al Dhait North and Al Dhait South are situated on the eastern end. Al Qurm shares the northern border with Al Turfa.

Al Turfa is close to two of the top malls in Ras Al Khaimah, which are RAK Mall and Al Naeem Mall. Both of these malls are located within 8 to 10 minutes of the driving radius.

RAK Mall boasts some high-street brands that are popular among UAE residents. Moreover, it features electronic stores, jewellery shops, makeup outlets, a Lulu Hypermarket, several dine-in options in the food court and an entertainment arena.

Al Naeem Mall is a four-storey massive mall, where you can shop from popular international brands such as Aldo, Axiom, R&B, and Sharaf DG. Manar Mall is also another great shopping destination at a 7-minute distance from Al Turfa.

There is a good collection of casual dining restaurants near Al Turfa. Some popular ones include Bunker Bar, Siam Palace Restaurant, Il Forno and Bella Venezia. Siam Palace serves Thai and Chinese cuisines and Bella Venezia is the go-to place for pizza lovers. Il Forno is a fine dining facility offering authentic Italian food.

You will also find a bunch of restaurants located along Al Manama Road (E18), which will take 3 to 5 minutes worth of drive. These include Karam Al Sham Restaurant, Qasr Al Shaam Restaurant, Tatak Pinoy Restaurant and a few others.

Beaches near Al Turfa are all available within 12 to 15 minutes of drive. The closest one is Bin Majid Beach, a private beach in the perimeters of a 4-star hotel. Al Hamra Beach is a public beach nearby. It is also one of the top Instagrammable spots in Ras Al Khaimah. You can indulge in several activities here or simply soak up the sun on the many sun loungers spread on the sands. Shaded places are also available here if you want to avoid the sun.

You will find several leisure attractions, historical landmarks and tourist destinations in proximity to Al Turfa. Lamp Roundabout is found at the intersection of Al Manama Road (E18) and Khuzam Road. It is an artistic feature that makes this roundabout very interesting. Besides appreciating the beauty of this lampshade, one can easily find their way towards the Al Turfa community via this popular landmark.

For a fun time, you can head to the Tridom Indoor theme park in Manar Mall. It is packed with several exciting activities for kids such as rides, video games and bouncing castles. Another popular fun zone is Cheeky Monkeys Playland in Al Naeem Mall.

If you have a thing for museums and appreciate art, you can visit the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah​​​ available within a 10-minute drive via Al Hisn Road. You will see many archaeological and historical features displayed in the galleries.

A large park is located right across the community, alongside Al Khuzam Road. It is a public park that features jogging trails, kid’s play areas and landscaped green spaces. The park is connected to a golf club, across Khuzam Road. Some other parks in Ras Al Khaimah are also available within a short distance from Al Turfa, the closest one is Khuzam Park.

Fitness facilities near the area include many gyms and training centres. Asylum Fitness House is a one-of-a-kind Obstacle Course Race facility in Al Turfa. Other top-rated gyms near Al Turfa are Al Waha Gents Fitness, GymNation RAK, Wellness Ladies Fitness & Spa, and Fitness 360.

Those looking for personal grooming options will find a bunch of salons in Al Turfa. Al Njah Salon is the top-rated salon, located on Al Atheer Street. Other salons in al Turfa are Al-Kashikh Hair Salon, Al Ajeeb Salon and Pink Rose Beauty Salon. A massage centre is La Vie Spa in Mangrove Hotel is 12 minutes short from Al Turfa.

Al Turfa in Ras Al Khaimah is a good option for those who are looking for affordable places. However, the area does not have public transport. One has to rely on online cab services and taxis to move around.

Al Turfa is located at the intersection of Al Manama Road (E18) and Khuzam Road, in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

Finding your way to Al Turfa is easy. If you are travelling via public transport, the RAK bus operates in the area so you can hop on it from the RAK bus station and get off at the Lamp Roundabout.

• Located alongside Al Manama Road (E18) and Al Khuzam Road
• Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is 20 minutes away via Al Manama Road (E18)
• Areas like Al Qurm and Al Uraibi require 9 to 10 minutes of straight drive on Al Manama Road when you head north from the area
• RAK Expo Center and Gulf Cinema are 10 and 6 minutes away