Ras Al Khaimah Sets New Tourism Records in H1 2025, Driven by Expanded Connectivity and Hospitality Growth
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announced a record-breaking first half of 2025, with over 654,000 visitor arrivals—a 6 percent year-on-year increase—and a 9 percent rise in tourism revenues. This continued momentum underscores the effectiveness of the emirate’s comprehensive tourism strategy.
According to Raki Phillips, CEO of RAKTDA, these results “reflect the strength of the emirate’s tourism strategy,” adding, “From expanded air connectivity and hotel developments to a robust calendar of experiences, we are firmly on track to welcome over 3.5 million visitors annually by 2030, while delivering long-term, sustainable value.”
Key Achievements in H1 2025
- 654,000 visitor arrivals—the highest ever for a six-month period
- 9 percent year-on-year growth in tourism revenues
- Significant 36 percent increase in MICE and weddings revenues
- Strong growth from markets benefiting from direct flights:
- Romania (+65 percent)
- Poland (+56 percent)
- Uzbekistan (+47 percent)
- Belarus (+30 percent)
- Record half-year arrivals from India (+25 percent), China (+9.2 percent), Russia (+7 percent), and the UK (+5 percent)
Expanding Hospitality Infrastructure
To support its ambition to double hotel keys by 2030, RAKTDA highlighted a series of high-profile hotel developments, including:
- Fairmont Al Marjan Island (250 keys)
- Four Seasons Resort at Mina Al Arab (150 keys)
- Taj Wellington Mews Al Marjan Island (336 apartments)
- NH Collection Ras Al Khaimah (156 keys)
The newly opened Rove Al Marjan Island has also added to the emirate’s diverse hospitality landscape.
Enhanced Air Connectivity and Strategic Partnerships
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport continued to drive regional accessibility, launching new direct routes from Warsaw, Katowice, Bucharest, Moscow, Tashkent, and Prague. Plans are underway to expand the airport’s capacity and further enhance the arrival experience.
RAKTDA has also formalised strategic partnerships to bolster destination growth. Noteworthy agreements include collaborations with Fujairah Adventures to develop inter-Emirate itineraries, and with prominent OTAs in China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to fuel inbound travel. In a digital leap, MoUs with Huawei and Web3 platform Open World aim to advance smart tourism and blockchain-powered visitor engagement.
Destination Events and Sports Tourism
The emirate reinforced its reputation as a hub for outdoor and sports tourism, hosting the largest-ever Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon with more than 10,000 attendees, along with the 7th UAE Tour Jebel Jais stage, the 4th Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour, and the exhilarating HIGHLANDER hiking adventure. The debut of the 25km Jais Ride cycling challenge further cemented Ras Al Khaimah’s regional prominence in sports tourism.
With continued investment in connectivity, hospitality, digital innovation, and events, Ras Al Khaimah is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious visitor targets and deliver sustainable value to the emirate.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
