The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach♡

A stay in unusual times….

10.0

My wife and i booked 6 nights at this wonderful hotel in late February 2026 - we weren’t expecting to stay another 4 nights (courtesy of Mr Trump’s war on Iran….!). So the first four and a half days were wonderfully relaxed - the hotel only has 35 individual villas, all immaculate, each with a plunge pool, large outdoor (and very private) area, and direct access to a huge beach (only for use by those 35 villas). The staff were incredibly friendly, professional and attentive, willing to help with any request, and the food at the restaurant (and in-room dining) was excellent (with lots of variety, some off menu requests, and very accommodating for my wife’s vegetarian diet). And then the missiles started flying and our stay was unexpectedly extended…..! We had no idea how long we’d be stuck in the UAE, and worried what would happen after our check out date - we needn’t have worried. Shivraj (the rooms division manager) was amazing - he made sure we could stay in our villa for as long as we needed (no pressure to move on or even move rooms), and he got confirmation from the UAE government that the government would cover the room costs for the extra days). There was no panic from him (or any of the other staff), no drama, but also no sugar coating of the situation - calmness and honesty were needed and provided. That appreciation of Shivraj can be extended to everyone at the resort - after 10 nights they all felt like a second family (they all knew our names, what room we were in, what drinks we wanted at breakfast, etc, etc…!). A special thanks to the team at the restaurant - Su and Moe serving everyday with smiles on their faces, Arun looking after us so well and arranging for us to have a fantastic (off-menu) indian curry one night (and thank you to the chef for preparing that for us). Then thanks to Mario for driving us up and down to reception and the restaurant at all times. Also to his colleague from Pakistan who did the evening shift (so sorry can’t remember your name) - he was really reassuring when the missiles and drones started (that was nothing compared to what his family are used to living on the border with Afghanistan - he helped put things into context) Thanks also to the lovely sri lankan guy who turned down our rooms most days (sorry the cricket result didn’t go your way). The always cheerful gentlemen who provided room service (Vaishak and the lovely man from Uganda (sorry i can’t remember your name either)). Finally thanks to Arun who worked at the beach restaurant, and everyone else we met and who looked after us - not least the friendly and supportive hotel manger.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exceptional Hospitality – Truly Felt Like Home

10.0

Our recent 5-day stay at Ritz Al Hamra was truly exceptional. From the moment we arrived until the day we left, the level of service across the resort—from front desk to restaurant to housekeeping—was consistently outstanding. What impressed us the most was the genuine hospitality and attention to detail. Throughout our stay, staff members not only remembered my name and my wife’s name, but even remembered how I liked my morning beverage. These small yet meaningful touches truly reflect the Ritz service standards. We were warmly welcomed by Julie at Desk and Mario, who made us feel at home from the very beginning and even remembered the names of our visiting family members later during our stay—an impressive memory and a wonderful gesture. A special thank you to Shivraj (Room Division Manager) for arranging a thoughtful welcome amenity for us. I would also like to recognize some incredible team members who made our stay memorable: • Angelica – for the amazing chai every morning • Moe – always greeting us warmly and even accommodating lunch menu items during dinner • Arun – an outstanding all-rounder who made us feel truly special • Aby – fantastic smoothies and very accommodating, even during our beach dinner • Clark (F&B Manager) – who welcomed us every morning with a smile and the words “welcome home,” which truly made us feel exactly that Few others in restaurant service team: Su, Abdul, Abubakar, Khatidja..deserve the recognition as well. Guest services were also exceptional. Sufyan was always helpful with the buggy rides around the resort, making moving around effortless. The housekeeping team deserves recognition as well—especially Winnie and Suresh—for maintaining the room beautifully every day. At the beach, Arjun provided excellent service and attentiveness. The Highlight: Shore House Restaurant The best part of the resort experience was Shore House Restaurant. It truly elevated our stay beyond expectations. Big shout for New Executive Chef Rahul and his sous Chef Uday. The food here is simply the best in the entire Al Hamra area. We tried restaurants at nearby hotels including Sofitel, Ritz Al Wadi, and Waldorf, but Shore House stood out clearly. The menu is approachable yet refined, with fresh ingredients, perfect portions, balanced flavors, and clean presentation. The service style is exactly what great hospitality should be—engaged, warm, and genuine, never stiff or scripted. Breakfast here is fantastic, and some dishes we absolutely loved: • Fajitas • Wagyu Burger • Wings • Desserts (a must try) The Beach Deck restaurant also served excellent seafood. The Flambé Chicken and Peach Cheesecake were standout dishes. Small Details That Made a Big Difference Luxury hospitality is about details, and this resort truly understands that: • Using the guest’s name • Genuine smiles • Engaged service • Thoughtful care • Flavorful, well-balanced food • Privacy and comfort These are the small touches that transform a good stay into a memorable one. Thank you to the entire team at Ritz Al Hamra for making our stay so special. We look forward to returning.

Great Location - lovely staff

10.0

We very much enjoyed our recent stay at the Ritz Carlton - this was our second visit. It is superbly located on a wide expanse of beach and comprises a number of individual villas - our villa was spacious, comfortable and very well equipped. We enjoyed our short walk across the beach to the restaurant which was excellent with good food expertly cooked and nicely presented. The staff throughout the resort were clearly well trained and were friendly and helpful. For golfers the championship golf course next door is very convenient being just a short buggy ride from the hotel. Other reviews mention tired fittings and decor - possibly a valid criticism but the villas are comprehensively equipped and everything works perfectly so not an issue for us. However criticism of invisible management is absolutely valid. During a ten day stay we once saw a manager but we did not know who he was until a member of staff told us.

Not a Ritz Carlton experience. Do not be fooled by the photos they post.

2.0

I questioned multiple times during my time here if the hotel was truly a Ritz Carlton. The resort is dirty and it is in no way a luxury experience. It was so bad that I went between being horrified, laughing and baffled. The chaos started from the moment of contact. The concierge team who contacted me via WhatsApp do not communicate in a professional manner which would be expected from a ritz Carlton. Our villa checkin was delayed and not ready until almost 4pm which left us waiting at “Shore House”, the hotel restaurant featuring filthy chairs, an uninspiring (and dirty) menu riddled with spelling mistakes and waitstaff with 0 product knowledge. (One waiter needed to check the menu as he didn’t remember the three ice cream flavors available which were vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.) Once arriving in the room we discovered a dusty terrace and bird droppings surrounding the pool. We requested housekeeping to clean this but upon returning saw that it was not fixed. The property does not at all live up to the ritz Carlton standard and there does not seem to be anyone there taking any accountability. The sunbed of the luxury villa was torn with the stuffing coming out. There was chipped paint in the bathtub. There was debris inside the swimming pool at the bottom. The parasol was filthy. The list goes on. The breakfast experience was dismal, the buffet had flies landing on the food that looked unfresh. The waiters forgot items we’d ordered, left ashtrays full and had to be asked to clear the table. The hand towels in the restaurant bathroom hadn’t been restocked, one of the toilets had been soiled and the shower was rusting and not properly installed in the wall. We requested to speak with the duty manager who assured us that he would make sure we would leave happy, however he did not do anything and when we tried to speak to him before leaving we were informed he had already left for the day. We then waited an hour for another duty manager who was equally unhelpful. These things would be inexcusable for a mid-range hotel but for this to be the experience at a “luxury” brand hotel was appalling. One of the staff members at Shore House came to bring an ashtray in a huge oversized jacket and said she was feeling sick. This raised a concern that staff are unable or uncomfortable to request time off when unwell. We ordered room service for dinner, the burrata was rubbery and the salt and pepper didn’t work. We tried calling to ask for a salt and pepper that did work and couldn’t get through. The mushroom risotto and salmon was good but did not make up for such a disappointing experience when it’s such basic things that the hotel is failing at.

Disappointing and Unwelcoming Experience from a Luxury Brand

2.0

We visited The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah with the genuine intention of considering it for a future stay. At the moment, we are staying at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, where this is our second stay, and based on our positive experiences, we were seriously considering switching to Ritz-Carlton next year. Unfortunately, the experience during our visit was extremely disappointing and left us feeling uncomfortable and even humiliated. From the moment we arrived, the attitude at the reception made us feel unwelcome, as if our presence was an inconvenience rather than that of potential future guests. We were offered a short buggy “tour” of the resort, which in reality was no tour at all. We were driven at an uncomfortably high speed through the property, without any explanations. When my husband politely asked the staff member to slow down and explain, he was clearly annoyed and unhelpful. Within less than four minutes, we were brought back to the reception without having seen or learned anything about the resort. What made this even more disappointing is that we have stayed three times at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, where we received an exceptional and truly unforgettable experience. Knowing that both hotels belong to the Marriott group, it is difficult to understand how the level of service could be so dramatically different. At no point were we asked any questions or offered assistance. For a hotel of such international reputation, this level of indifference toward potential guests is shocking. Sadly, this visit completely changed our perception of the brand.

An unforgettable visit

10.0

Probably the best hotel I’ve stayed at. Amazing friendly staff, relaxing and beautiful rooms. Private pool, scenic garden and direct access to the beach. It’s is expensive but if you fancy a special treat you can’t go wrong here. Shout out to Ahmed at reception and Amir the concierge who made our stay so memorable.