Al Marjan Island or Mina Al Arab?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: Taj Wellington Mews by BNW Developments
Where each one leads
Drawn only from published figures and the developments we list, each with its source.
Lower price per sq ft
Mina Al Arab averages AED 1,720 per sq ft against AED 2,653 in Al Marjan Island, about 35% less (Bayut, from advertised asking prices, October 2026).
Closer to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Mina Al Arab is about 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport by car, against about 25 minutes from Al Marjan Island.
Side by side
| Measure | Al Marjan Island | Mina Al Arab |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Asking price per sq ft | AED 2,653Bayut, October 2026 | AED 1,720Bayut, October 2026 |
| Developments we list | 11 | 0 |
| Drive to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport | about 25 minutes | about 15 minutes |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 60 minutes | about 55 minutes |
Each figure is shown as its publisher states it, with the period it covers. A row appears only where both areas have a figure. Read 12 November 2026.
New developments in each
Al Marjan Island
- Taj Wellington MewsBNW DevelopmentsAED 1,500,000
- Tonino Lamborghini ResidencesBNW DevelopmentsAED 1,690,000
- FashionTV AcaciaBNW DevelopmentsAED 1,960,000
- PelagiaBNW DevelopmentsAED 2,300,000
- Dolce Residences by WyndhamBNW DevelopmentsAED 2,400,000
- Costa MareEllington PropertiesAED 2,800,000
Mina Al Arab
We do not list a development in Mina Al Arab yet.
What each area is like
Al Marjan Island
Four man-made islands off the Ras Al Khaimah coast, with beach hotels, a dense pipeline of branded apartment towers and the Wynn resort due in September 2027. Suits holiday-let investors who accept catalyst risk.
Who it suits
- Holiday-let investors
- Second-home buyers who want a beach
- Buyers comfortable with off-plan risk
- Branded-residence buyers
In its favour
- Freehold for all nationalities; listed as a freehold area by Ras Al Khaimah Municipality.
- 7.8 km of beaches and operating resorts by Rixos, Hilton, Radisson and Mövenpick.
- Wynn Al Marjan Island, about 1,530 rooms, scheduled by its operator to open in September 2027.
Worth weighing
- Pricing leans on a single catalyst. The Wynn opening has already slipped from Q1 2027 to September 2027.
- Marjan plans 18,650 homes on the island, most of them small apartments, so competition for tenants and resale buyers will be heavy.
Mina Al Arab
RAK Properties' lagoon and beach master community on the Ras Al Khaimah coast, with two resorts open and a new downtown district under way. Suits buyers who want an established setting, not a single tower.
Who it suits
- Second-home buyers
- Families wanting a settled community
- Holiday-let investors
- Buyers who prefer a listed developer
In its favour
- One listed master developer controls the whole community.
- InterContinental and Anantara resorts are open; a Four Seasons is planned.
- 5 km of beaches, a marina and protected mangroves.
Worth weighing
- More than 5,000 homes are in RAK Properties' pipeline, so new supply will keep arriving for several years.
- Some 2025 launches had barely started main construction by late 2026; compare the contractual completion date with site progress.
Al Marjan Island or Mina Al Arab: quick answers
Is Al Marjan Island or Mina Al Arab cheaper per square foot?
Mina Al Arab is cheaper on the published figures: AED 1,720 per sq ft against AED 2,653 in Al Marjan Island (Bayut, from advertised asking prices, October 2026). Averages move with the mix of homes sold, so compare like with like before relying on the gap.
Which is closer to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, Al Marjan Island or Mina Al Arab?
Mina Al Arab, at about 15 minutes by car against about 25 minutes from Al Marjan Island. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Al Marjan Island or Mina Al Arab?
Mina Al Arab, at about 55 minutes by car against about 60 minutes from Al Marjan Island. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Al Marjan Island and Mina Al Arab?
Al Marjan Island is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Mina Al Arab is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Sales in Ras Al Khaimah are registered with the RAK Municipality.
Which new developments can I buy in Al Marjan Island and Mina Al Arab?
In Al Marjan Island: Taj Wellington Mews from AED 1,500,000, Tonino Lamborghini Residences from AED 1,690,000, FashionTV Acacia from AED 1,960,000 and Pelagia from AED 2,300,000. We do not list a development in Mina Al Arab yet.
Not sure which area fits?
Tell us your budget, your timing and whether you will live there or let it, and we will set the two areas against each other for you.
- Current price list and availability, direct from the developer
- No fee to you on off-plan purchases: the developer pays us
- One salaried adviser, not on commission, from first call to handover
