Ras Al Khaimah in UAE to double hotel...

Emirate will welcome more than 15 international hotel operators

One of the emirates that makes up the UAE, along with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is set to double its hotel capacity by 2027, according to a new report.

The northern emirate, located less than an hour’s drive from Dubai, welcomed 1.28 million overnight visitors in 2024, up 5.1% year-on-year. RAK has been attracting a staycation crowd with its ‘Nature Emirate’ moniker, varied landscape and high-octane adventure attractions, but international visitors accounted for 76% of total guest nights in 2024.

RAK International Airport welcomed 661,765 passengers in 2024, up 28% increase compared to 2023 and nearly doubling 2022 figures, and the emirate is now also being included in cruise itineraries due to passenger demand.

RAK is on track to meet its target of 3.5 million visitors by 2030 and they, aside from cruisers, need somewhere to lay their heads, and hotel construction is booming.

Suwaidi Pearl Farm in 'nature emirate' RAK

Ras Al Khaimah to add 7,537 rooms
As noted by Stirling Hospitality Advisors in its fourth edition of the RAK Investment Pulse report, hotel inventory in the emirate is expected to more than double by 2027, with 7,537 rooms being added to the existing 7,144.

More than 70% of that pipeline is within the five-star category, positioning RAK squarely at the luxury market.

The report says RAK will welcome more than 15 international hotel operators, with new entrants including Wynn, Millennium, Radisson Red, Ushuaïa, and Rove.

The impact Wynn is having cannot be underestimated. The opening of Wynn Al Marjan Island (pictured above) in 2027 will be the region’s first fully integrated casino resort, and hopes to attract high rollers.

Tatiana Veller, Managing Director of Stirling Hospitality Advisors, said 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".

Accor overtakes Hilton in RAK
New luxury openings such as Anantara Mina Al Arab Resort have helped attract more visitors, alongside a growing calendar of events and attractions, plus increased air connectivity with new direct flights launched to RAK International Airport from key cities in Poland, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Czech Republic, Russia, Saudi and India.

Sustained demand has led to a 14% rise in the Average Daily Rate (ADR), pushing RevPAR to AED421 (US$115). However, occupancy rates fell 2.4%, one explanation being a focus on higher-end travellers.

Anantara Mina Al Arab Resort, Ras Al Khaimah

The report highlights a shift in market leadership, with Accor overtaking Hilton in 2024 due to the conversion of Al Marjan Resort into Pullman and the rebranding of Hilton Beach Resort into Rixos Al Mairid. Marriott is getting in on the RAK action and has the largest pipeline with developments like The Westin, W Al Marjan, and JW Marriott Al Marjan all scheduled to open by 2027.

Branded residences are also booming in RAK, with 16 projects in the works from global names such as Waldorf Astoria, JW Marriott Residences, Nobu, Nikki Beach and Ritz-Carlton.

Stirling Hospitality Advisors is a subsidiary of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Hospitality Holding, which manages more than 3,500 hotel rooms across a US$1.25 billion hospitality and resort portfolio.

For more information, visit stirlinghospitality.com

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