The strategic growth plans of the ‘Nature Emirate’ of the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah, have yielded handsome dividends with the destination welcoming a record 1.22 million overnight arrivals and opening several top-class hotels and resorts in 2023.
Representing an 8 per cent increase versus 2022, the arrivals saw a significant 24 per cent rise in international tourists.
This achievement can be attributed to a multifaceted approach, including substantial investments in tourism infrastructure, targeted initiatives aimed at attracting more visitors, and the establishment of a sustainable ecosystem. Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to these strategies solidifies its position as a destination of the future, and the year 2023 saw the realization of several milestones in this remarkable journey.
Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s (RAKTDA), said: “It has been a great year for our emirate, one that clearly set the groundwork for sustainable growth and development in Ras Al Khaimah.
“Despite global challenges that have impacted our industry, we remained agile and resilient as a tourism community, working together to deliver a destination offering that would resonate with our visitors and residents alike. From investing in infrastructure and staging world-class events to making our Emirate sustainable and accessible to all, Ras Al Khaimah is firmly on the path for continued success in 2024 and beyond,” he said.
Hotel occupancy rate in the emirate also saw a significant rise, with an impressive occupancy of 74 per cent, marking a year-on-year growth of 12 percentage points.
In 2023, the emirate achieved Silver Certification under EarthCheck’s Sustainable Destinations programme – a first in the Middle East. EarthCheck’s rigorous process involves monitoring and auditing across 10 sustainability indicators – from energy and water consumption to waste management, carbon footprint analysis and community engagement. Bolstering this initiative, RAKTDA launched its own sustainability certification programme for tourism businesses, Responsible RAK, with more than 20 hotels, attractions and tour operators having earned Responsible RAK Silver Certification to date.
As part of its efforts to achieve its tourism goals, Ras Al Khaimah boosted air connectivity and staged several headline-grabbing events during the year. In November 2023, Qatar Airways started a daily service to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport from Doha linking the emirate to a network of 160-plus destinations globally.
With India, a major tourism source market for Ras Al Khaimah, particularly for leisure, incentives and weddings, IndiGo’s introduction of a direct service from Hyderabad, adding to its direct Mumbai flight, helped accelerate arrivals growth.
Ras Al Khaimah welcomed six calls by four luxury cruise liners in H1 and will receive 14 luxury cruise calls this 2023/2024 season, growing to 20 by 2025/2026 and 50 by 2030/2031, bringing in cruise passengers that will further increase arrivals figures.
Increasing its hotels and resorts portfolio is central to Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism vision. In 2023, several new hospitality projects were announced, including Nobu, Le Méridien, W Hotels, JW Marriott and Hilton on Al Marjan Island, in addition to Nikki Beach on Mina Al Arab, representing over 1,800 keys in total. The destination also welcomed Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort, which fully opened its doors on January 2, with 174 rooms, suites and villas, including the emirate’s first overwater villas. Additionally, the iconic Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah reopened following an extensive refurbishment.
Other upcoming hotel projects including Westin Resort (257 keys), Sofitel Al Hamra (292 keys), Rove Al Marjan Island (441 keys), Rotana Mangrove (258 keys) and Saij, A Mantis Collection Mountain Lodge (70 keys) are all set to open in the near future (2024/2025). Design details of the new $3.9 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island were also revealed recently.