For many travellers, the words ‘all-inclusive’ conjure up visions of crowded buffets, watered-down drinks and a holiday that’s more quantity than quality. SO/ Ras Al Khaimah is out to change that.
Set on the shores of Al Marjan Island, the new five-star lifestyle resort has taken the all-inclusive concept and given it a considerable upgrade. Bright, bold and effortlessly chic, it’s obvious from the statement chandeliers that greet you in the lobby to the art and fashion influences that dot the hotel, that SO/ Ras Al Khaimah doesn’t fit the usual package-holiday mould.
But it’s not just style that oozes from the 257-room resort that opened in November last year. After spending two nights at SO/ Ras Al Khaimah, it was the sense of effortlessness that stood out, without any corners being cut. Premium dining, cocktails, entertainment and activities are woven into the experience, creating a stay that feels, well, remarkably easy. There’s no mental arithmetic every time someone wants another drink, no negotiations over whether the children can have another ice cream, and no bill to sign at the end of a meal. Instead, guests can just move through the five-star resort and enjoy it.
A Suite with a View
My one-bed corner suite was designed for family stays, with a sofa bed for kids, plenty of room to spread out, and a wraparound balcony offering sweeping views of the sea and the gardens below.
Like the rest of the resort, the rooms are sleek and contemporary, with thoughtful sustainability touches throughout. Still and sparkling water is provided by UAE-based water-filtering company BE WTR, helping to eliminate single-use plastic bottles. Even the tea is presented as loose leaves in pretty glass jars rather than the usual individually wrapped versions.
In the bathroom, the amenities are planet-friendly, refillable and printed with soybean ink. Even the towels and linens are all eco-certified. Among its future plans is a scheme to donate discarded hotel linens to animal shelters, one of several ways the resort helps animal welfare. You may even spot one of their three ‘Cat Cafés’ while wandering the grounds, but more on that later.
Rethinking the Buffet
Talking of cafes…Of course, any all-inclusive resort ultimately lives or dies by its food, and this is where SO/ Ras Al Khaimah really challenges expectations.
The Market is the resort’s main all-day dining restaurant, but this is far removed from the beige buffet stereotype. During my stay, the range of vegetarian dishes was exceptional, with colourful salads, mezze, cooked vegetables, curries and dishes inspired by cuisines from across the world.
On Saturdays, the restaurant shifts into brunch mode, with live music, a DJ and the lively atmosphere of a UAE weekend brunch, except here, it’s part of the stay. Families gather around tables, music fills the room, and the usual buffet experience becomes something more fun.
Being able to move between restaurants, pool bars and beachside drinks is what makes the all-inclusive concept work here. It never feels as though you’re eating in the same place three times a day.
At Chiano, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, I found excellent pizzas for the children and an arrabbiata that was genuinely one of the best I’ve tasted. Hadaba, the resort’s Levantine-inspired restaurant, sadly wasn’t open during my visit, but is another alternative for guests wanting an à la carte experience.
What SO/ Ras Al Khaimah does particularly well is remove the friction from a luxury family holiday. The day can involve a workout, a kids’ club activity, a paddle on the sea and a long lunch, without the creeping awareness that every decision is adding another line to the final bill.
Down at the beach, evenings bring an edgy mood. A live DJ plays at the aptly named Sunset Lounge, as guests settle in for sundowners overlooking the golden water. The cocktail menu is extensive, and again, the quality feels in keeping with a five-star resort rather than a diluted version of one.
Zero-Waste Ambitions
Behind the scenes, the hotel is beginning to tackle one of hospitality’s biggest environmental challenges: food waste. Waste is being weighed and monitored under the supervision of their Green Ambassador to establish a baseline to identify opportunities for reduction.
Long-term, SO/ Ras Al Khaimah will introduce food-digesting technology to divert organic waste from landfill, while they also have plans to donate buffet food to local animal welfare organisations.
That philosophy has already reached the bars, where zero-waste cocktails are on the menu. I highly recommend trying ‘Second Life’ at the cocktail-and-cigar lounge Savant. Made from pineapple skin, passion fruit puree and served with an edible chocolate straw, it’s certainly not to be missed. I learned that plans are also underway to develop a dedicated mixology lab, so the team can create syrups, infusions and other cocktail ingredients in-house to reduce their plastic consumption.
For guests, however, all of this is going on behind the scenes. The front-of-house experience is beautifully uncomplicated. Just order a cocktail, sit down at one of the hotel’s multiple venues, and enjoy it.
Surprisingly Brilliant for Families
SO/ Ras Al Khaimah doesn’t present itself as a family resort with its sophisticated design, great music, and plentiful spaces for adults who prefer a holiday without the soundtrack of other people’s children. But it also happens to be extremely good for families.
My daughters loved the kids’ club, where activities were far removed from the standard television and plastic toys. They took part in arts and crafts, created projects using reused and upcycled materials, and enjoyed movie nights and face painting. More importantly, they genuinely wanted to go back, which is perhaps the only review of a kids’ club that really matters.
This creative focus infiltrates the whole resort, which has developed an entire World of Art programme, with workshops including painting, ceramics, jewellery-making and other hands-on crafts for all ages.
The family pool is one of the most thoughtfully designed that I’ve encountered for young children. It’s large enough to feel like a resort pool but is shallow throughout. For parents of children who can swim but are still young, it makes an enormous difference as there’s none of the anxiety of a sudden drop into a deep end.
The friendly and conscientious lifeguards deserve a mention too. Throughout our stay, they were consistently alert and attentive, watching the water rather than their phones. They even asked every parent if their child was a competent swimmer.
Alongside the main family pool is a splash and water-play area for toddlers and babies, while those seeking peace and quiet can head to the resort’s large adults-only pool.
Days as Active or Inactive as You Like
If you prefer to do more than move between a sun lounger and the buffet, there is plenty going on.
The gym is large and extremely well-equipped, with floor-to-ceiling views and a daily programme of activities led by the resident PT. Depending on the schedule, guests can sign up for everything from Pilates, yoga and aerial yoga to boxing, cycling, Aqua Fit, sound healing and paddleboarding. There’s also an outdoor gym, pickleball court and beach volleyball.
The spa offers treatments separately from the inclusive package, although guests are welcome to use the sauna, jacuzzi, steam room and relaxation areas. There is also a wider activity programme that gives guests plenty of ways to be active during their stay. My own highlight included heading out on a paddleboard at sunset.
Green Key Certification
Some of SO/ Ras Al Khaimah’s most interesting work takes place behind the scenes. The resort has introduced water-saving aerators, efficient shower systems and leak-monitoring measures, while motion sensors and energy-monitoring programmes aim to reduce unnecessary electricity use.
It is also developing a broader programme of community engagement, from beach clean-ups and tree planting to recycling campaigns, autism awareness initiatives, Ramadan giving and blood donation drives.
Outside, the landscaping combines palms, long grasses and heat-tolerant plants suited to the UAE climate that don’t require extensive water. On the beach, naturally occurring seagrass is being protected rather than removed for aesthetic reasons, despite requests to do so. Instead, the hotel’s sustainability team has added educational signage to help guests understand the importance of seagrass in protecting marine ecosystems.
Animal welfare is another area of focus. Alongside plans to find new uses for discarded linens and surplus food, the resort has feeding stations, ‘Cat Cafés’ dotted around the resort and supports trap-neuter-return (TNR) initiatives for local strays.
The next phase is ambitious. SO/ Ras Al Khaimah is working towards Green Key certification once sufficient baseline data has been collected, and plans include a sustainable garden to grow herbs and ingredients for its kitchens and bars, increased local sourcing as the UAE’s farming and vertical agriculture sectors develop, and expanding its zero-waste philosophy from cocktails into food menus.
There is even an idea for an in-room zero-waste recipe book featuring dishes developed by the hotel’s chefs, with proceeds going to charity. It’s worth acknowledging that not every initiative is fully realised yet, but it’s good to see a new hotel build its sustainability strategy in real time: measuring first, then identifying where the greatest impacts lie.
A New Kind of All-Inclusive
What SO/ Ras Al Khaimah does particularly well is remove the friction from a luxury family holiday. The day can involve a workout, a kids’ club activity, a paddle on the sea and a long lunch, without the creeping awareness that every decision is adding another line to the final bill.
But convenience alone would not be enough. What makes the resort stand out is that the quality remains. The food is good, the cocktails are properly made, the rooms are beautifully designed, and, throughout the stay, the staff were exceptional. They seemed genuinely pleased to see the children at all times and made them feel welcome wherever we went. Across the restaurants, pools and beach, service was consistently friendly and relaxed.
Perhaps that is the real achievement of SO/ Ras Al Khaimah. It’s taken a holiday format that is traditionally associated with compromise and made it feel generous instead. Because everything is included, and nothing feels cut back.
For rates, bookings, or to learn more, visit accor.com
