InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa

Myself and my wife visited the Intercontinental RAK for 6 nights in the Club section of the hotel. On arrival we had been upgraded to a beautiful Sea View Villa which was spacious and had a lovely balcony with a day bed overlooking the estuary. As there was a birthday celebration during our stay, a delicious birthday cake and balloons had been set up for our arrival. The Club Lounge was immaculate with a mix of comfy sofas and tables to dine at. The food offering was excellent, the breakfast buffet serving continental and an à la carte menu for ‘cook to order’ hot options with a mix of local and international food. Afternoon tea was served between 14.30 and 16.30 with a delicious range of sandwiches, scones and cakes. From 17.30, drinks and canapés were served. There was a different selection every night with three cold canapés from the buffet along with local delicacies, salads and cheeses. Three hot canapés could be chosen from a menu and the team always offered more of these if you wished. Alcohol was served complimentary from 17.30 for 2 hours, with the option to charge to the room outside of these hours. The Club Pool was quiet and relaxed, with the pool being large and therefore, never felt crowded. It was not too busy during our stay so there was never any problem getting sun loungers. The Club team came round to get drinks orders between service in the lounge, but would be more than happy to deliver drinks to the pool if you ordered inside. The Club Team were amazing and really made the holiday for us both. Esther on reception was helpful, attentive and very personable, going the extra mile to make our stay memorable and special. Shown on my birthday by cake, bubbles and a decorated table, as well the team singing happy birthday to me! The rest of the team also went above and beyond with their exceptional service. Whether this was making cocktails, serving coffees or making sure we were always happy and never left without anything we required. We will be sure to visit this hotel and the Club Lounge again soon. Read less

Dear Management Team, Having visited your resort multiple times over the years, I wanted to share something that genuinely comes from the heart. Every time I return, I experience the same wonderful feeling: feeling at home while being on holiday. The moment you enter, your mind switches off, the stress fades away, and you find yourself completely relaxed. It is rare to find a place that creates this feeling so effortlessly, and it deserves genuine appreciation. What impresses me most is the consistency of your service and standards throughout the years. Despite the challenging times the hospitality industry has faced, I have never felt that the quality of service at your resort has been compromised. From the smallest details to the overall guest experience, the professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail remain exceptional. Familiar faces continuing to deliver the same high standards year after year are a true reflection of the hotel’s culture and management. For those who genuinely understand hospitality, these details make all the difference and set your resort apart. I would particularly like to acknowledge a few wonderful team members. Mr. Shadid continues to impress with his professionalism, dedication, and high standards of service. Despite his busy schedule, he always makes himself available, welcoming guests with his famous smile—a small but heartwarming gesture that never goes unnoticed. Mr. Hamed at the front desk is consistently welcoming, courteous, and professional, making guests feel comfortable from the moment they arrive. During our recent visit, we were also touched by the beautiful birthday surprise arranged for my little one. The housekeeping team, with the assistance of the front desk, had prepared balloons, a cake, and lovely decorations in our room. It was a wonderful surprise for both my child and me, and such a thoughtful gesture. My sincere thanks to Mr.Hafeez , Ms Akon and Miss Anis at the front office and everyone involved. These personal touches create memories that last far beyond the stay itself. A very special thank you to Miss Gerilyn , Paula, Rechelle , Esther,Emmanuel, and summudu at the Club Lounge. Their warmth and genuine hospitality make every visit feel like coming home. Mr. Sumudu’s wonderful drinks and impressive barista skills add another special touch. Over time, these team members become more than familiar faces; you genuinely look forward to seeing them again, and you miss them when you leave. That personal connection is what makes the experience truly special. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Miss Melanie ,Bella ,Nishadi and Khin from the Kids Club. Their kindness, gentleness, and wonderful energy make the children feel safe, welcomed, and completely at ease. It is lovely to see how comfortable the children become around them and how enthusiastic they are to join in the activities and entertainment. The thought and care that go into selecting such wonderful people to look after the children are truly appreciable. Our little ones spent some of their time at the resort with the Kids Club team and genuinely enjoyed themselves, which gave us even more reason to appreciate their efforts. Thank you for creating such a warm, happy, and reassuring environment for the children. I would also like to compliment the management on the recent swimming pool renovations, particularly the children’s pool, as well as the tasteful interior and decorative updates. The improvements are lovely and show a continued commitment to enhancing the guest experience. I have one suggestion to share, especially after noticing so many families and children during our recent stay. The beach offers a wonderful amount of space, and introducing a few additional water-based activities for children could make the resort even more appealing to families. Many people naturally gravitate towards resorts with water parks, but I continue to choose yours because of the unique island-style living experience it offers. Your slogan genuinely reflects the feeling one experiences here: a peaceful, relaxing escape that is difficult to find elsewhere. Complementing that atmosphere with some additional children’s water activities could make an already wonderful resort even more special. Finally, my sincere appreciation goes to the entire team, including those working behind the scenes whose efforts may not always be visible but are essential to every memorable stay. We return not only because we love the resort, but because of how it makes us feel. Maintaining such consistent standards, genuine warmth, and personal care over the years is truly commendable. Thank you for continuing to make every visit feel special and, above all, like home. Warm regards, Arezoo parveiz Read less

We have previously stayed at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi, where the service was absolutely flawless, so we expected a similar premium standard. Unfortunately, this property in Ras Al Khaimah falls incredibly short of a true 5-star brand. Instead of a peaceful, relaxing vacation, we faced non-stop stress and had to fight for basic comfort every single day. The Main Issue — Restaurant Management & Fake Queues: The worst part of our vacation and the biggest disappointment was the catastrophic organization in the main restaurant. There are constant long queues at the entrance. The most frustrating part is that it is not because the restaurant is full — there are always plenty of empty tables inside! The problem lies in a terrible coordination system by the hostesses. They completely fail to track cleared tables efficiently. During breakfast, we were forced to just walk in and seat ourselves, which worked fine. However, when we did the same at dinner, we were rudely asked to leave and go back to the line. Most of the staff look unhappy, grumpy, and completely indifferent. The only saving grace was a waiter named Kiran. He was always exceptionally pleasant, polite, and attentive. The area where he worked felt completely comfortable and well-served. The food itself is actually good and diverse, but the poor management and stressful entrance ruined the overall dining experience. Overcrowded Atmosphere (Not for Couples): If you are traveling as a couple without kids and looking for a quiet, relaxing getaway, avoid this hotel at all costs. There is absolutely nothing for childless couples to do here. The hotel is heavily overcrowded, and kids are everywhere. The constant screaming, crying, and noise follow you around the entire property: on the beach and by the pools (including the adult pool area, where staff completely fails to maintain order). Instead of a peaceful vacation, we got non-stop noise. While there are plenty of sunbeds, they look mismatched and dirty. Towels don't feel fresh, and we even noticed a dirty cleaning rag left by the pool for a few days without being picked up. Check-in & Lack of Hospitality: We arrived at 10 AM. The staff promised to text us via WhatsApp as soon as our room was ready. Nobody texted. We came back after 3 PM only to find out the room had been ready for hours. No welcome drinks were offered to us, unlike other arriving guests. The view turned out to be mostly facing another building instead of the proper sea view we waited for. Outdated Rooms & Poor Maintenance: While the main lobby looks stunning and modern, the residential buildings look dated, worn out, and scratched like a cheap 3-star motel. The room had dusty surfaces and dirty mirrors upon arrival. The AC only worked for cooling (heating didn't work at all), and the pillows were very uncomfortable. In the bathroom, the water pressure was extremely weak, making it hard to adjust the temperature (it was either freezing cold or scalding hot). A clogged shower drain was fixed only after our second complaint and additional wasted time. Verdict: 2/5 stars. This hotel does not justify its premium price tag due to poorly organized services and outdated room buildings. Huge waste of money. Read less

A really excellent stay in one of the ocean view villas. We could not have asked for a better room or facilities in the club lounge. The staff were absolutely fantastic throughout our stay ensuring that we had everything we needed. The quality of food for breakfast, tea and cocktails was outstanding with plenty of variety. We have stayed before and will be back again. Perfect balance achieved for a couples holiday. Read less

We had a wonderful stay at the InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah. We booked the ocean view king room with clib lounge access . The hotel’s beautiful location overlooking the sea, along with the spacious rooms, made it easy to relax and enjoy our time without needing to leave the resort. Club Lounge access was a highlight, with excellent drinks, canapés, and mini sandwiches. Breakfast also offered a great variety, including hot stations and gluten-free bread. There were a couple of minor delays on our first day with extra pillows and our luggage after check-in. However, Hamed at reception was attentive and made sure everything was taken care of for the rest of our stay.Thank you Hamed ! You made a great stay. We also enjoyed the water and the aqua fun slide available by the hotel .. water sport activities available through a third-party provider. They were a little on the expensive side, but worth it for the experience. The hotel got nice restaurants . We enjoyed the levant restaurant more for our breakfast as it was quiet and not as busy and got everything. Overall, we had a lovely stay and would definitely return! Read less