Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announces another year of record-breaking results for the Emirate, welcoming 1.35 million overnight visitors in 2025 – a 6% year-on-year increase – alongside a 12% growth in tourism revenues.
Phillipa Harrison, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah
Tourism Development Authority, commented: “2025 has been a landmark year for
Ras Al Khaimah. The emirate has grown not just in numbers, but in the depth and
breadth of its offering – from signature events and new hotels to stronger
global partnerships and steady growth in visitor arrivals. As we look ahead to
2030, we’re more committed than ever to shaping tourism that delivers long-term
value for visitors, investors and our community.”
These results were underpinned by a series
of milestones across events, infrastructure, investment, partnerships and
sustainability. Key highlights from 2025 include:
Strong performance across key source
markets, including the CIS, UK, India, China, and Central and Eastern Europe,
with notable growth from Romania, Poland, Uzbekistan and Belarus driven by
expanded direct flight connectivity
MICE and Weddings revenues grew by +25%
Key leadership appointment with Phillipa
Harrison joining as CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority in August
2025
Major hotel openings and announcements
including Janu, Four Seasons, Fairmont, Taj, and NH Collection, supporting the
Emirate’s goal to double hotel keys by 2030
Landmark destination developments unveiled,
including Marjan Beach and RAK Central, both adding ambitious mixed-use
communities, plus milestone construction progress at Wynn Al Marjan Island
Expanded signature events, including the
RAK Half Marathon, UAE Tour, RAK Art Festival, Exotic Wedding Planning
Conference, and HIGHLANDER long-distance hiking challenge
Enhanced aviation infrastructure, with plans
for a VIP private aviation terminal at RAK International Airport
Strategic partnerships with prestigious luxury
travel networks Virtuoso and Serandipians, media platform Huawei, and major
OTAs in China and Saudi Arabia
People-first destination stewardship with the launch of the BeRAK tourism workforce engagement app, and the inaugural RAK Tourism Excellence Awards recognising industry innovation
Tourism growth across key source markets
and segments
Strong growth was recorded across both
domestic (+7%) and key international markets, with increased arrivals from
India (+14%), China (+19%), the United Kingdom (+10%) and Russia (+20%).
Expanded direct air connectivity also enabled significant visitor growth from
Romania (+41%), Poland (+22%), Uzbekistan (+19%), and Belarus (+26%).
Additionally, MICE and Weddings revenues
grew by 25% in 2025, driven by high-value weddings, international conferences
and incentive travel. Strategic positioning and enhanced infrastructure
continued to strengthen Ras Al Khaimah’s appeal as a rising regional hub for
business events, group travel and weddings.
Leadership for the next chapter
The appointment of Phillipa Harrison as CEO
of RAKTDA marked a new chapter in the Emirate’s tourism journey. Drawing on her
extensive experience leading the national tourism strategy at Tourism Australia,
her appointment reinforces Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to transformational
destination growth and advancing the Emirate’s ambition to exceed 3.5 million
visitors by 2030.
Best-in-class hospitality growth
Ras Al Khaimah continued to diversify its
hospitality offering in 2025 with the opening of Rove Al Marjan Island and SO/
Ras Al Khaimah, the latter under the Accor portfolio of luxury brands. Both
have added new beachfront and lifestyle-led experiences to the Emirate’s
growing portfolio.
The development pipeline was further
strengthened with major announcements from global luxury brands including Janu,
Four Seasons, Fairmont, Taj and NH Collection, supporting Ras Al Khaimah’s goal
to double hotel keys by 2030. These investments reflect rising confidence among
international hospitality leaders in the Emirate’s long-term tourism potential.
Meanwhile, Wynn Al Marjan Island, the UAE’s
first integrated resort, reached a major construction milestone with its
70-storey tower topping out at 283 metres. The project has now entered its next
phase of interior fit-out and façade completion. Upon opening in 2027, the USD 5.1
billion destination resort will feature 1,530 rooms and suites, 22 F&B
venues, a theatre, luxury retail, and a marina, and is set to become the
Emirate’s tallest structure. It is expected to create over 9,000 jobs and
catalyse a new wave of international tourism to Ras Al Khaimah, significantly
enhancing its global profile and high-end appeal.
Transformational master development and infrastructure
investment
A new generation of master planned developments is catalysing Ras Al Khaimah’s shift into a world-class destination to live, invest, and visit. 2025 marked the unveiling of Marjan Beach, the UAE’s most ambitious beachfront masterplan. Spanning 85 million sq. ft., it will feature 12,000 hotel keys and 22,000 residential units, with 30% of the area dedicated to open green space and a sustainability-first urban design. Meanwhile, significant milestones were achieved on RAK Central, a new mixed-use commercial district designed to attract global talent, entrepreneurs and investors. All commercial plots were sold out within a year of launch, reflecting strong investor confidence in the Emirate’s vision.
Signature events reinforcing cultural and
sporting appeal
Ras Al Khaimah’s growing profile as a
cultural and sporting hub was further strengthened in 2025 through a dynamic
calendar of large-scale events that elevated both tourism and liveability. The
18th edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon attracted over 10,000
participants and spectators, its highest ever, reaffirming its reputation as
one of the region’s most anticipated races. The UAE Tour also returned for its
7th consecutive Jebel Jais Mountain Stage, showcasing the Emirate’s iconic
peaks to a global cycling audience, while adventure tourism continued to gain
traction with the return of HIGHLANDER, the globally recognised hiking brand.
On the cultural and business events front,
the 13th Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival brought together over 100 regional and
international artists, the Exotic Wedding Planning Conference returned to Ras
Al Khaimah for the second running drawing global event planners to the Emirate,
and the inaugural International Real Estate Investment Summit (IREIS) reinforced
Ras Al Khaimah’s growing profile as a platform for high-level investment
dialogue.
The year culminated in a spectacular
15-minute New Year’s Eve celebration, setting a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
title for the ‘Largest aerial display of a phoenix formed by
multirotors/drones’, with 2,300 drones illuminating the sky, followed by a
six-kilometre fireworks display along the coastline.
Cruise and aviation expansion
Expanded air and cruise connectivity
continued to open new access channels to Ras Al Khaimah in 2025. Ras Al Khaimah
International Airport launched new direct routes from Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), Poland
(Warsaw and Katowice), Romania (Bucharest), Russia (Moscow, Kazan and Yekaterinburg),
Belarus (Minsk), Uzbekistan (Tashkent), and the Czech Republic (Prague),
supported by strengthened airline partnerships with IndiGo, Air India Express
and Air Arabia. Plans were also unveiled for a LEED Gold–targeted VIP Terminal,
set to open in 2027, enhancing the Emirate’s appeal to premium and private
aviation travellers.
At sea, Ras Al Khaimah strengthened its
premium cruise offering through a new multi-year partnership with Celestyal
Cruises. The agreement aims to grow cruise arrivals and position the Emirate as
a sought-after stop in the Arabian Gulf for smaller, upscale vessels focused on
nature, culture and wellness-focused itineraries.
Strategic partnerships
Partnerships remained central to Ras Al
Khaimah’s destination growth in 2025. RAKTDA signed MoUs with leading OTAs
including Trip.com and Tongcheng in China, as well as Fursan Travel, Almatar
and Wego in Saudi Arabia, unlocking new distribution channels across priority
markets. The Emirate also strengthened its luxury positioning by joining two invitation-only
travel networks – Virtuoso and Serandipians by Traveller Made. This milestone
positions Ras Al Khaimah among the globe’s finest destinations for discerning
travellers, reflecting its growing status as a luxury destination offering
exceptional experiences and world-class hospitality.
Recognition and a people-first approach
In 2025, RAKTDA launched the BeRAK app, a first-of-its-kind platform designed to enhance wellbeing and engagement among tourism sector employees. Celebrating excellence across the industry, the Authority hosted the inaugural RAK Tourism Excellence Awards, recognising innovation and leadership across six categories, from culinary creativity to environmental responsibility. The Emirate’s people-first approach was further underscored by RAKTDA being named ‘Employer of the Year – Government Sector’ at the GCC GOV HR & Youth Awards – a testament to its belief that exceptional visitor experiences begin with empowered, supported teams.-TradeArabia News Service