Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is one of the fastest growing cities of the United Arab Emirates. The capital city of Ras Al Khaimah Emirate, the city is known for its fresh look and feel, unspoilt beaches, craggy mountains, desert filled with thorny shrubs & crumbling abandoned villages. Ras Al Khaimah is ideal for short weekend holidays from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and offers plenty of relaxation, solitude & adventure.

Edging around the enclave of Oman, Ras Al Khaimah presents itself as a den for outdoor activities with its beautiful oases, scintillating sandy beaches, sun-kissed deserts and hot springs. The emirate is situated along the northern-most part of the United Arab Emirates and is nestled between the serene waters of the Persian Gulf and the rugged mountainous terrains forming an impressive backdrop.

The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has witnessed unprecedented success in the recent years and has seen a lot of development with upscale residential areas, entertainment zones, and beachfront-resorts. Taking Ras Al Khaimah tourism to another level is the man-made archipelago, Al Marjan Island – a cluster of 4 islands replete with golden beaches, signature hotels, family resorts – poised to become the next tourist hotspot in the UAE. A Ras Al Khaimah vacation will leave you spoilt for choice – with its serene white buildings, paved promenades, plenty of restaurants and stunning beaches, it comes as no wonder that Ras Al Khaimah is becoming a popular tourist destination.

The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah recorded 1.12 million tourist arrivals in 2019, marking a 4% increase compared to 2018.

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) added that RevPAR in RAK hotels was among the highest in region, coming in at US$114.90.

The hospitality sector also performed well in occupancy rates in 2019, averaging at 74%.

According to sister publication Arabian Business, the emirate’s strong 2019 was spurred by events such as the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, the Half Marathon, Tough Mudder and the UAE Tour.

Arabian Business reported that RAK’s MICE sector was a large contribution to the number of arrivals.

Russia, India, Poland and Kazakhstan all saw double digit increases as tourist source markets compared to 2018 figures.

RAKTDA CEO Raki Phillips said: : “2019 was a positive year for Ras Al Khaimah, as we saw increased footfall from key markets resulting in the overall arrival growth of almost 4%.”

Phillips added: “Ras Al Khaimah is in the midst of its three-year destination strategy which aims to broaden its reach through increased segmentation. A key focus has been on higher yield visitors such as MICE delegates, as well as prioritizing sustainable nature-based adventure and culture driven activities and experiences.”

RAKTDA revealed it is eyeing to achieve 1.5 million visitors by 2021, with the emirate currently having a pipeline of 6,200 rooms.