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Sheba's Palace, Ras Al Khaimah

Aerial view of the stone ruins and vaulted cistern of Sheba's Palace on its rocky hilltop above Shimal
Photo: Alexandermcnabb, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Opening hours
None — it's an open archaeological site
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
45 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Access
Only with a staff escort from the RAK Department of Antiquities and Museums
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Booking
At least 3 weeks ahead — not a walk-in site
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Contact
+971 7 233 9900, rakheritage@museum.rak.ae
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
The climb
Modern staircase up the slope, then a rocky plateau with no shade
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Getting there
≈ 13 km / 15 min by car from the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Best time
7–9 am, before the heat
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Facilities
None: no ticket office, toilets, café or shade
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
25.81869, 56.03373YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

Escort onlyvisits must be arranged with the Department of Antiquities and Museums
SourceVisit Ras Al Khaimah (Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority)
13th–16th c.the Julfar period the palace is dated to (English Wikipedia says the fort is 11th-century)
2 sourcesRAK Department of Antiquities and MuseumsVisit Ras Al Khaimah
Legend onlythe Queen of Sheba link is local folklore with no historical or archaeological basis
2 sourcesRAK Department of Antiquities and Museums (via Aletihad)Visit Ras Al Khaimah
15 × 35 mthe main building, with round towers at the corners
3 sourcesRAK Department of Antiquities and MuseumsVisit Ras Al KhaimahAletihad
Vaulted cisternthe best-preserved room, in the south-west corner, arched roof intact
2 sourcesRAK Department of Antiquities and MuseumsAletihad
3 reservoirsfor rainwater; the first, roofed one was restored by German specialists
3 sourcesAletihadThe NationalRAK Department of Antiquities and Museums
South gatethe main entrance sat mid-way along the south wall, with two rows of rooms inside
2 sourcesRAK Department of Antiquities and MuseumsAletihad
Refugeafter the 16th century, for Shimal's date-garden families during raids
2 sourcesVisit Ras Al KhaimahAletihad
Stone wallonce ringed the whole hilltop along the plateau edge
2 sourcesVisit Ras Al KhaimahAletihad
Qasr Al Zabbathe local name — 'Zenobia's Palace', another queen, another legend
2 sourcesAletihadThe National
2600–2000 BCUmm an-Nar tombs at Shimal, below the hill
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaVisit Ras Al Khaimah

Can you visit Sheba's Palace, and is there an entry fee?

Yes, and it's free — but by appointment only. There's no ticket and no opening hours: it's an open hilltop ruin with no gate, kiosk or warden at the bottom. What gets you in is an agreed date and a department staff member who climbs up with you.

Bookings go through the RAK Department of Antiquities and Museums, the same body that runs the National Museum in the old town. Visit Ras Al Khaimah asks for at least three weeks' notice. Say what you'd like to see: besides the palace, the escort can show you the Shimal tombs and stone houses at the foot of the hill.

Plenty of older blogs describe simply scrambling up on your own. The official rule today is different, and we'd follow it: this is a protected site, and you may photograph pottery sherds on the slope but not touch or pocket them.

Sheba's Palace history: who built it?

The ruins are a fortified residence on a ridge above the Shimal date-palm oasis. The Department of Antiquities and Museums dates it to the Julfar period, 13th to 16th centuries, when Julfar was the main port on this coast, and suggests it housed Julfar's ruler. English Wikipedia puts the fort earlier, in the 11th century; there's no firm date.

The Queen of Sheba connection is folklore. The department says plainly that it has no historical or archaeological basis — tradition places her in Marib, Yemen. Locals also call the hill Qasr Al Zabba, Zenobia's Palace, after the queen of Palmyra: a second legend of the same kind.

The main building was a 15 × 35 m rectangle with round corner towers, a gate in the middle of the south wall and two rows of rooms either side of a corridor. After the 16th century a stone wall went round the hilltop and it became a refuge for oasis families during raids. Mostly foundations survive today.

What to see at Sheba's Palace

  • The vaulted cistern in the south-west corner — the best-preserved part, its arched roof still standing.
  • The first rainwater reservoir, roofed and restored by German specialists after their architectural survey.
  • The entrance wall at the top of the stairs — the one historic gateway onto the plateau.
  • Room and tower foundations that let you trace the 15 × 35 m floor plan.
  • The eastern plateau with its single-room buildings, separate from the palace on the western side.
  • The view over the Shimal oasis to the coastal plain and the sea, with the Hajar Mountains right behind you.
  • At the foot of the hill, Umm an-Nar and Wadi Suq tombs and the remains of Shimal's stone houses, shown on the same visit.

How to get to Sheba's Palace

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. Start from the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah in the old town. Shimal is about 13 km north, roughly 15 minutes by car without traffic: up the coast road towards Al Rams, then inland to Shimal village.
  2. Car or taxi is easiest. Book a RAKTA taxi in the Sayr app or on Careem (choose Hala RAKTA Taxi). On the RAKTA tariff — AED 4 flag fall by day, AED 1 per 595 m and a AED 2 service fee — it comes to roughly AED 25–30 from the museum; that's our meter estimate.
  3. We found no public bus to Shimal in the official timetables: RAKTA's Blue line runs north towards Sha'am, but no stop for the site is listed. Without a car, use a taxi or a tour.
  4. Agree the meeting point and parking at the foot of the hill with your escort when you book — don't count on signposts.
  5. Climb with your escort up the modern staircase, which follows the original medieval approach. The ground at the top is uneven, so watch your step.
  6. From Dubai: the RAKTA intercity bus to Ras Al Khaimah bus station costs AED 30, roughly 7:30 am–11:30 pm, then a taxi. By car it's about an hour and a half from Dubai to Shimal.

When to go and how long to stay

Go early, between 7 and 9 am, as Visit Ras Al Khaimah recommends. There's no shade on the hill and the rocks heat up fast; by midday in summer the climb is hard work. November to March is the comfortable season.

The palace itself takes about 45 minutes: the climb, the cistern, the floor plan and the view. If your escort also shows you the tombs and stone houses below, allow around two hours for the whole site, plus 15 minutes' drive each way from the old town.

Is it worth it? If you're into the history of this coast and can book ahead, yes — it's one of the few places where medieval Julfar is still visible, and the ridge-top view is excellent. If you can't book in time, Dhayah Fort, 15 minutes' drive away, is the other hilltop history site in the north.

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Ras Al Khaimah history sites compared

Historic places in Ras Al Khaimah rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah381 h 15 minAED 5, children 5–13 AED 29.3 km
Al Falayah Fort3730 minFree10.1 km
Sheba's Palaceyou are here3345 minFree—
Al Jazirat Al Hamra ghost town291 hFree26.7 km
Dhayah Fort2945 minFree7.8 km
Suwaidi Pearls farm212 h≈ AED 250 (unofficial)7.4 km

The emirate's north in a day

The museum in the old fort first, then the palace ruins above Shimal by appointment, the Suwaidi pearl farm and nearby Dhayah Fort. YesGo works out the timings and transfers.

  1. National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah1 h 15 min · AED 5, children 5–13 AED 2
  2. 161 min walk from the previous stopSheba's Palaceyou are here45 min · Free, book 3 weeks ahead
  3. 128 min walk from the previous stopSuwaidi Pearls farm2 h · ≈ AED 250 (unofficial)
  4. 65 min walk from the previous stopDhayah Fort45 min · Free

4 places · about 10 h 39 min with walks · 354 min on foot in total

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How to do it right

  • Email the department as soon as your dates are fixed: three weeks is the minimum, not a guarantee of a free escort.
  • Ask to see the Shimal tombs at the foot of the hill too — it's the same site, so no second booking.
  • Turn up early: the hill has no shade and the stones get hot by midday even in winter.
  • Wear shoes with grip — the staircase is easy, but the plateau is rough and uneven.
  • Don't plan an unbooked detour on the way down from Jebel Jais: without an escort you can't go up.
  • Pair it with the Suwaidi pearl farm, about 10 km away, and Dhayah Fort — same northern corner of the emirate.
  • Carry some cash in dirhams for taxis in case the card machine isn't working.

Questions

Where is Sheba's Palace?

In Ras Al Khaimah, on a ridge above Shimal village, about 13 km and 15 minutes' drive north of the old town.

Can you visit Sheba's Palace?

Yes, but only with an escort from the RAK Department of Antiquities and Museums, booked at least three weeks ahead via rakheritage@museum.rak.ae or +971 7 233 9900.

Is Sheba's Palace free?

Yes, entry is free. You only pay to get there — a RAKTA taxi from the old town is roughly AED 25–30 each way on the meter.

What are the opening hours?

There are none: it's an open archaeological site. Visits happen at the time you agree with the department; early morning is best.

How do I get to Sheba's Palace?

By car or taxi to Shimal village, about 15 minutes from the National Museum. There's no direct bus. Agree the meeting point with your escort when you book.

How do I get there from Dubai?

Drive — about an hour and a half. Without a car, take the RAKTA bus to Ras Al Khaimah (AED 30) and a taxi on, or book a tour with transport.

Did the Queen of Sheba really live there?

No. The link is local legend; the department dates the palace to the Julfar period, 13th–16th centuries, and thinks it was the residence of Julfar's ruler.

What is left of the palace?

Mainly foundations: the 15 × 35 m outline, traces of corner towers, the entrance wall, three water reservoirs and a vaulted cistern in the south-west corner.

Is Sheba's Palace worth visiting?

For history lovers who can book ahead, yes — rare medieval remains and a fine view over the oasis. Without a booking, skip it: you cannot go up.

Is it suitable for kids?

For school-age children who manage stairs and stay away from the edge, yes. With toddlers it's hard going: no shade, railings or facilities.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Visit Ras Al Khaimah (Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority): Queen of Sheeba's Palace; Ras Al Khaimah heritage itinerary — escort rule, booking, entry, best time
  • RAK Department of Antiquities and Museums: Queen of Sheeba's Palace page; contact details
  • Aletihad — article on the palace's legend and ruins, citing the Department of Antiquities and Museums
  • The National — Palace of myths and legends; Raiders of the lost RAK
  • English Wikipedia: Shimal; Wikidata Q7496816
  • RAKTA (Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority): taxi tariff; Visit Ras Al Khaimah — Intercity Bus Service
  • OpenStreetMap and OSRM — distances and drive times
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe visiting rule — escort from the Department of Antiquities and Museums only, at least three weeks' notice, free entry, no opening hours, best time 7–9 am — comes from two Visit Ras Al Khaimah pages, the official tourism source. Many older guides describe climbing up freely; we show the official rule. The description of the ruins follows the department's own page and Aletihad. Dating differs: the department and Visit Ras Al Khaimah say 13th–16th century, English Wikipedia says 11th century, and the department's archaeologist told The National probably 13th century; we give the Julfar period and flag the gap. Hill height and step count appear only in an old article in The National, so they are left out of the facts. The distance is an OSRM drive time without traffic; the taxi fare is our estimate from the RAKTA tariff. RAKTA does not state taxi payment methods.

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