Ras Al Khaimah sets ambitious goal to attract 3.5 million tourists a year by 2030
Ras Al Khaimah has also ambitious targets for the tourism industry: Tripling tourist numbers to 3.5 million annually and doubling the number of rooms in hotels by 2030, a top official told Gulf News.
"We currently have 8,000 hotel keys and in future the amount of keys will be further expanded to 16,000 to 20,000 keys to cater for future demand,’ said Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA).
New hotels and resorts such as the UAE’s first integrated gaming resort slated for Al Marjan Island are also part of the planned growth. The first commercial gaming operator licence for the UAE is already in hand for the hotel and casino operator Wynn Resorts. Initiated in early 2027, the multibillion-dollar hotel chain will add 1,500 hotel keys, 22 shops, restaurants, bars and meeting rooms to Ras Al Khaimah.
"The Ras Al Khaimah administration is focused on concrete plans that support tourism and livability," Phillips said. "Wynn Resorts is an example of how mega developments are creating new visitors and creating a better life for residents," he said.
Top destination
Ras Al Khaimah is now "No. 1 staycation destination" in the UAE, the CEO of the body said.
"We have domestic visitors 50 per cent of the time," Phillips said. "Our business plan is market diversification and making sure we get visitors from around the world.
This involves expanding the emirate’s presence in key markets like China which is a focus of the authority over the past few years. By strategically doing things — including having Ras Al Khaimah listed as a destination on companies like Huawei and Trip.com — the emirate is positioning itself as a prime Chinese tourist destination.
‘We don’t think any one market should have more than 10-15 per cent of our market share,’ Phillips said, pointing to the importance of a mixed visitor pool. The emirate is also expanding its market in Western Europe, India and the CIS Commonwealth of Independent countries besides China.
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