Ras Al Khaimah achieves record results in the tourism sector during 2024

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority announced its strongest annual results ever, as the emirate received 1.28 million visitors in 2024, representing a 12% growth in tourism revenues, and a significant 15% increase in the number of visitors, within the meetings, incentives, exhibitions and conferences sector. .

This success complements the authority’s history of achievements, and highlights the role of the emirate’s sustainable growth strategy, which aims to attract more than 3.5 million visitors annually by 2030.

The CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Raki Phillips, said that the year 2024 was exceptional for the tourism sector in the emirate, as it highlighted the commitment to sustainability, enhancing communication, and providing unique experiences that meet the aspirations of all visitors, indicating that the emirate’s strategy is not limited to attracting more visitors only, Rather, it aims to consolidate its leading position as a global destination for the future.

Many factors

Several factors contributed to achieving this strong performance during 2024, including the opening of new hotels and resorts, expanding the agenda of world-class events, and enhancing global air connectivity with Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, while implementing the best marketing campaigns and more than 2,200 promotional activities across 70 cities around the world.

During 2024, the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah achieved record numbers for the number of visitors by attracting 1.28 million visitors, in addition to the sustainability program of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority being rated “the most sustainable project in the Middle East” at the Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Summit 2024.

This classification confirms Ras Al Khaimah’s position as the first destination in the Middle East to obtain a silver accreditation certificate from “EarthCheck” in the field of sustainable tourism, through initiatives such as its own “Responsible RAK” program to certify sustainability for hotels and tourism companies.

Providing new direct flights

The ease of travel to the emirate has been enhanced by the provision of new direct flights from major cities in Poland, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Romania, the Czech Republic, Russia, Saudi Arabia and India, resulting in increased connectivity with Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.

The opening of the Sofitel Al Hamra Beach and Anantara Mina Al Arab resorts contributed to providing new luxury experiences, including the first floating villas over water in the emirate.

Ras Al Khaimah continued to host world-class events, starting with the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Championship and the third World Highlander Association Mountain Trail Challenge, all the way to the Arab Air Summit and the Global Citizen Forum, which the emirate hosted for four consecutive years, in addition to the 16th Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon and the HUAWEI Cup. AppGallery Gamers and the launch of the Seven Wonders music event series.

The emirate welcomed the year 2025 with a distinguished display of fireworks and drones, and set two new records in the Guinness Book of World Records: “The largest aerial display of a tree formed with multi-copter drones” and “The largest sea shell formed with multi-copter drones.”

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority topped the “Best Work Environment” list of the global “Great Place to Work” Foundation for the fourth year in a row, and also received many other awards, including “Best Work Environment in the Middle East” and “Best Work Environment in “Hospitality Sector in the GCC” and “The Best Work Environment for Women in the GCC.”

Current and emerging markets

Ras Al Khaimah continues to diversify and expand its presence in existing and emerging markets, with a focus on the CIS, GCC, Europe, India and China regions.

China has emerged as a major market for growth, as the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has strengthened its presence in China during 2024 through strategic initiatives that include cooperation with the Huawei Group and the prominent Chinese travel site Trip.com, in addition to a strong presence on Chinese social media platforms such as “WeChat” and “WeChat.” Red” and “Douyin”.

Thanks to these efforts, the Authority received many prominent awards, including the Best Global Partner and the Distinguished Strategic Partner for the Year 2024 from “Trip.com”, in addition to the “Fastest Growing Tourism Destination” classification from “Huawei Petal Ads”, which strengthened the emirate’s position as a destination. Great for Chinese travelers. During 2024, Ras Al Khaimah witnessed a significant growth of 15% on an annual basis in the number of visitors in the meetings, incentives, exhibitions and conferences sector, which strengthened its position as a major destination in these two sectors. This significant growth was achieved thanks to many strategic initiatives taken by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, including: That’s over 80 international promotional activities across 20 markets.

Sustainable tourism

The emirate’s balanced approach to sustainable tourism ensures that it achieves growth without affecting its unique culture, as this vision has been appreciated worldwide, as Ras Al Khaimah ranked tenth in the list of the best cities in the world for expatriates issued by the global “Internationals” Foundation.

It also achieved first place among the best cities in the world for expatriates in the “Settling Abroad” index, second in the “Working Abroad” index, and fifth place in the “Ease of Settlement” index.

The first “Emirati Hospitality Program” launched by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority in partnership with Career Lab and the Swiss University of Leroche, in which 18 young Emiratis graduated, achieved great success, reflecting the emirate’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in the tourism sector.