From half marathons to Wynn Resort: Why RAK is the UAE’s next big tourism powerhouse

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has announced a solid performance for the first half of 2025, setting a new standard with over 654,000 visitor arrivals, marking a 6 per cent year-on-year increase, and a 9 per cent rise in tourism revenues.

This strong growth highlights Ras Al Khaimah’s expanding appeal as a premier travel destination and reflects the effectiveness of RAKTDA’s strategy to broaden connectivity, diversify tourism offerings, and deepen engagement with key international markets.

Read-UAE: RAK’s residential supply set to double by 2030

Key highlights from the first six months include:

• 654,000 visitor arrivals, the highest ever for a six-month period, up 6 per cent year-on-year
• 9 per cent growth in tourism revenues compared to the same period last year
• 36 per cent surge in revenues from Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) and weddings
• Robust visitor numbers from core markets such as CIS countries, the UK, India, China, and Central and Eastern Europe
• Significant visitor growth from regions benefiting from expanded direct flight connectivity, including Romania (+65 per cent), Poland (+56 per cent), Uzbekistan (+47 per cent), and Belarus (+30 per cent)
• Major hotel announcements, including Four Seasons, Fairmont, Taj, and NH Collection (Minor Hotels), supporting plans to double hotel keys by 2030
• Several strategic partnerships with key stakeholders like Fujairah Adventures, Huawei, Open World, and leading online travel agencies in China and Saudi Arabia
• An expanding events calendar featuring the RAK Half Marathon, UAE Tour, HIGHLANDER hiking adventure, and the inaugural Jais Ride cycling challenge

These results underscore Ras Al Khaimah’s ongoing momentum in transforming into a dynamic, globally competitive destination.

Expanding connectivity and hotel infrastructure

A key driver behind Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism growth is enhanced connectivity through Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, which saw significant route expansion in the first half of 2025. New direct flights from key cities such as Katowice and Warsaw (Poland), Bucharest (Romania), Moscow (Russia), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and Prague (Czech Republic) have facilitated easier access for international visitors. The airport is undergoing strategic upgrades to increase capacity for larger aircraft and improve passenger experience, solidifying its position as a vital gateway to the emirate.

The hospitality sector is also experiencing substantial growth. Several high-profile hotel developments have been announced, including:

• NH Collection Ras Al Khaimah Al Marjan Island Hotel & Apartments with 156 keys
• Fairmont Al Marjan Island with 250 keys
• Taj Wellington Mews Al Marjan Island featuring 336 hotel apartments
• Four Seasons Resort and Residences Ras Al Khaimah at Mina Al Arab offering 150 keys

These new properties expand Ras Al Khaimah’s appeal across multiple market segments. Complementing these is the opening of Rove Al Marjan Island, a beachfront hotel bringing the popular Rove brand’s accessible and lively atmosphere to the emirate.

This pipeline supports the ambitious target of more than doubling the number of hotel keys by 2030, one of the fastest hotel growth trajectories in the region.

Signature events elevate destination appeal

Ras Al Khaimah is leveraging large-scale sporting and entertainment events to boost its global profile and enhance the visitor experience. The first half of 2025 featured a packed calendar, including:

• The 18th Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, which attracted a turnout of over 10,000 participants and spectators
• The 7th UAE Tour, including the Jebel Jais Mountain stage
• The 4th Ras Al Khaimah Championship, part of the internationally broadcast DP World Tour, held at Al Hamra Golf Club
• The globally recognised HIGHLANDER hiking adventure, marking its 4th edition with participants from around the world
• The debut of Jais Ride, a challenging 25km cycling event climbing the UAE’s highest peak

These events reinforce Ras Al Khaimah’s growing reputation as a regional hub for sports, outdoor adventure, and entertainment, attracting diverse traveller demographics and encouraging longer stays.

Rapid expansion of the hotel sector

With tourism demand at an all-time high, Ras Al Khaimah’s hotel sector is poised for substantial growth. By 2027, the total hotel inventory is expected to exceed 14,600 rooms, more than doubling the current stock of 7,144 rooms with an additional 7,537 rooms under development.

Notably, 71 per cent of this pipeline consists of five-star accommodations, further cementing Ras Al Khaimah’s status as a luxury hospitality hotspot, according to Stirling Hospitality Advisors’ fourth edition of the RAK Investment Pulse report.

The emirate is set to welcome over 15 international hotel brands spanning all segments, from luxury to midscale. New entrants such as Wynn, Millennium, Radisson Red, Ushuaïa, and Rove Al Marjan highlight the sector’s growing diversity. The report also notes a shift in market leadership among operators: Accor overtook Hilton in 2024, driven by the rebranding of Al Marjan Resort into Pullman and Hilton Beach Resort into Rixos Al Mairid. Marriott is also rapidly gaining ground, with major developments including The Westin, W Al Marjan, and JW Marriott Al Marjan scheduled to open by 2027.

Tatiana Veller, managing director of Stirling Hospitality Advisors, commented on these trends:

“Ras Al Khaimah’s hospitality sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation. The combination of strong government support, ambitious development plans, and the arrival of global hotel brands and investors is setting the stage for a new era of growth. Our latest edition of RAK Investment Pulse provides invaluable insights into these shifting dynamics, offering investors, operators, and developers a comprehensive guide to the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Wynn Al Marjan Island: A game-changer for luxury hospitality

One of the most anticipated projects is Wynn Al Marjan Island, set to open in 2027 as the UAE’s first fully integrated resort. This development will be a transformative milestone for Ras Al Khaimah’s hospitality landscape, expected to attract high-net-worth travelers and reshape the Emirate’s luxury market.

The resort will feature:

• 1,542 rooms and suites, with 80 per cent of guest rooms structurally complete
• Twenty-two restaurants, lounges, and bars, including a nightclub and beach club
• A luxury shopping promenade with the world’s top boutiques
• A signature Wynn spa and salon
• An extensive 39,000-square-foot poolscape adjacent to the beach
• A 145,000-square-foot meetings and events center with outdoor terraces and lawns
• A theater and resident show created exclusively for Marjan Island

Construction progress includes installation of over 20 per cent of the façade window glazing panels and ongoing interior fit-out works covering walls, floors, ceilings, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

Located just 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport, Wynn Al Marjan Island is being developed in partnership with Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding. The resort is expected to elevate Ras Al Khaimah’s international profile and redefine luxury hospitality in the region.

The arrival of Wynn is anticipated to shift the average guest profile towards more mature, luxury-driven travellers, lowering the typical double occupancy factor from 2.5 to between 1.75 and 1.85. This change is projected to increase annual room night demand from 2.41 million to 4.28 million by 2027, underlining the resort’s expected impact on local tourism.