Ras Al Khaimah sets target of tripling visitation over next five years

Phillipa Harrison, the new chief executive of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), has outlined her ambition to “triple visitation over the next five years”.

The emirate has set itself the target of receiving 3.5 million international visitors by 2030.

Harrison, who joined the RAKTDA in September, said the number of hotel rooms in Ras al Khaimah will “double in the next couple of years” to meet this target, with significant new properties including the SO/ Hotel, set to launch this month, and a 1,500-room Wynn resort – the first Wynn in the UAE – among the openings.

Large leisure developments, namely the 85 million square foot Marjan Beach and new downtown district RAK Central, are also set to open by 2030.

Harrison said: “The UK is one of our top three markets, and we’re going to be spending more time and more resources on it because it is a must-win market for us.”

Ras Al Khaimah received 58,000 visitors from the UK in 2024 and had its biggest month for UK arrivals ever last August, with 7,600.

Harrison sees building relationships with the trade as key to boosting interest. “We’ve always been very focused on travel agents. It’s important to have a great agency base, and it’s something we’re going to continually work on,” she explained.

Next year, Ras Al Khaimah is planning to organise roadshows across the UK – in London, Birmingham, Chester, Nottingham, Winchester and Bath – as well as continuing to offer online training and a programme of fam trips to boost awareness of the destination.

Harrison continued: “We are also really working on our cruise offering. Celestyal Cruises are coming [to Ras Al Khaimah] next season, and we are working on a day tour program for people coming off the ship.”