Bay Residences

Bay Residences: a residential cluster next to the InterContinental on Hayat Island

On the Hayat Island masterplan, Bay Residences is plot number 5. Plot number 4, right next door, is the InterContinental Mina Al Arab Resort, with its 350 rooms and suites. RAK Properties has placed its four residential towers against the hotel that anchors the whole island, sandwiched between the Marbella villas, a neighbourhood park and the Gateway II development. Unit types run from studios to three bedroom apartments, with a handful of duplexes facing the sea. Handover is scheduled for March 2025, which means Bay Residences can already be judged on the ground rather than on renderings.

Two eleven storey towers, two thirteen storey towers

The project consists of four buildings with different heights. North Bay and South Bay each have a ground floor plus eleven residential storeys. Central 1 and Central 2, positioned in the middle, rise to thirteen storeys above ground level. The tallest volumes sit in the centre, flanked by two lower towers, which limits direct overlooking towards the sea. The brochure describes curved facade lines, wide glazing and deep terraces, which RAK Properties presents as the project's defining feature.

The typical one bedroom: 67 sqm plus a 9 sqm balcony

The Type 1 layout is the most common in the development: it repeats on almost every floor, from units 101 and 102 up to apartments on the fourteenth storey. It offers 67 sqm of internal space plus a 9 sqm balcony, for a total of 76 sqm (around 818 square feet). The living and dining area measures 6.0m by 4.4m, the bedroom is 3.5m by 3.5m and the kitchen 3.1m by 2.5m. A separate laundry room completes the layout, which is unusual for this unit size. These are generous proportions for a one bedroom in Ras Al Khaimah. The developer notes, however, that the dimensions are approximate and that some layouts may be mirrored.

Infinity pool, aromatic garden and two running loops

On the amenities side, the brochure lists a gym, a shaded children's pool, a sunbathing deck and an infinity pool facing the Arabian Gulf. The outdoor areas stand out more. They include a garden planted with aromatic trees, an open lawn and a garden reserved for residents. At island scale, two running tracks circle Hayat Island: one public, one semi-private. Cycling paths, boardwalks and private beach access are also part of the offering, along with ground floor retail and restaurants.

Fifteen minutes from RAK Mall, twenty from the airport

Hayat Island is part of Mina Al Arab, the lagoon district RAK Properties has been developing south of the city for several years. The area also includes the Anantara and several villa communities such as Granada, Malibu and Bermuda. From Bay Residences, it takes about 15 minutes to reach RAK Mall and RAK Hospital. Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and Dhayah Fort are roughly twenty minutes away. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Salem Road allows a quick drive across the emirate, and Dubai is about an hour away depending on traffic. The location suits buyers looking for a quiet residence more than commuters making the Dubai trip every day.

RAK Properties, master developer and builder of the island

RAK Properties owns the Mina Al Arab masterplan and builds most of the buildings on it. On Hayat Island alone, it is developing Bay Residences, Gateway II, Cape Hayat, Quattro Del Mar and ENTA MINA. This concentration has one advantage: a single developer manages all the island's public spaces, promenades and services. It also has a downside for investors, since the island's rental supply rests almost entirely on one developer and risks competing with itself. For a freehold buyer targeting short term rentals, proximity to the InterContinental remains the strongest selling point. Visitors will find a spa, restaurants and hotel services just a short walk away.