• Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort has opened in Ras Al Khaimah. Photos: Pawan Singh / The National
    Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort has opened in Ras Al Khaimah. Photos: Pawan Singh / The National
  • The lobby is beautifully designed with Arabian and contemporary features
    The lobby is beautifully designed with Arabian and contemporary features
  • The five-star resort is nestled in Al Hamra Village
    The five-star resort is nestled in Al Hamra Village
  • The low-rise hotel has four swimming pools and seven culinary outposts
    The low-rise hotel has four swimming pools and seven culinary outposts
  • Guests check in at gold-brushed reception desks
    Guests check in at gold-brushed reception desks
  • In-pool loungers at one of the resort's beachfront pools
    In-pool loungers at one of the resort's beachfront pools
  • Children can enjoy the waterpark at the five-star resort
    Children can enjoy the waterpark at the five-star resort
  • Ample space is a given in each of the hotel's rooms and suites
    Ample space is a given in each of the hotel's rooms and suites
  • East all-day dining restaurant
    East all-day dining restaurant
  • Guests have access to a fully-equipped fitness studio overlooking the water
    Guests have access to a fully-equipped fitness studio overlooking the water
  • Citron lobby lounge is modern and elegant
    Citron lobby lounge is modern and elegant

Inside Ras Al Khaimah's new Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Ras Al Khaimah's newest hotel has opened in Al Hamra. The Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort is now welcoming guests in the northernmost emirate, with rates starting from Dh863.

Blending French sophistication with Arabian inspiration, the resort is nestled in Al Hamra Village and has a beachfront position overlooking the Arabian Gulf.

With 292 rooms and 47 suites, there's a range of accommodation to suit travellers of all types, including two presidential suites in addition to one and two-bedroom options. All rooms have Diptyque amenities, private balconies and rain showers.

Interiors are inspired by a rich tapestry of Emirati history, encompassing pearl diving, sailing and pottery. This is obvious from the moment guests enter the property via a sprawling colourful mural created in Arabesque stained glass.

All rooms and suites at Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort have Diptque amenities. Pawan Singh / The National
All rooms and suites at Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort have Diptque amenities. Pawan Singh / The National

With four swimming pools, all right on the beach and one with a cascading waterfall, there are plenty of options for sun-seekers and those looking to take in as much ocean air as possible.

There are seven dining options, from the Citron lobby lounge to all-day restaurant East. While lounging poolside, guests can order from Mediterranean-inspired Samphire, while Reunion is the place to go for authentic French cuisine. Waka Polynesian Restaurant brings something new to Ras Al Khaimah's dining scene, with a menu of exotic dishes.

Health-focused travellers can visit Blend & Squeeze, a juice bar offering freshly-crafted drinks, while grape fans can head to Veritas, a sleek bar stocked with premium bottles from around the world.

Citron at Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort in Ras Al Khaimah. Pawan Singh / The National
Citron at Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort in Ras Al Khaimah. Pawan Singh / The National

Families are welcome, with children aged four to 12 able to attend Le Petit Prince Kids Club, where supervised activities and games are on offer. There's also a mini water park with tube rides and slides.

For a dose of relaxation, the first Sofitel Spa with Clarins is on-site and has an extensive menu of treatments available. Golfers have access to Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah's 18-hole championship located 100 metres from the hotel entry.

Golfing enthusiasts have direct access to Al Hamra Golf Club. Photo: Al Hamra Golf Club
Golfing enthusiasts have direct access to Al Hamra Golf Club. Photo: Al Hamra Golf Club

“We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to visitors to this region, celebrated for its breathtaking natural beauty and verdant surroundings,” said Karim Abdelhamid, general manager of Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort.

“Ras Al Khaimah stands out as a premier destination for residential living, recreational pursuits and tourism, and the inauguration of The Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort, Ras Al Khaimah marks another milestone in the island’s expanding array of top-tier hospitality offerings.”

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

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Champions parade (UAE timings)

7pm Gates open

8pm Deansgate stage showing starts

9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral

9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street

10pm City players on stage

11pm event ends

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

Updated: May 15, 2024, 1:04 PM