Ras Al Khaimah is moving to expand its hotel portfolio and receive international luxury brands

Officials in the hospitality and tourism sector in Ras Al Khaimah confirmed that the high occupancy rates achieved by the emirate’s hotels ahead of New Year’s celebrations reflect the success of the promotional strategies pursued by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, pointing out that the emirate is adding quality tourist attractions and modern shopping centers that have become attractive destinations for tourists.

They told Emirates Today that demand is witnessing remarkable growth from local and international markets, noting high occupancy rates that exceeded 90%.

According to the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, the emirate is moving to expand its hotel portfolio in the coming years, as part of its plan to double the number of hotel rooms to reach about 16,000 hotel rooms, with the imminent opening of a number of new hotel projects. It is also preparing to receive a group of international luxury hotel brands.

Promotion strategies

In detail, Iyad Rasbeh, Vice President for Destination Tourism Development at the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, confirmed that the high occupancy rates achieved by the emirate’s hotels ahead of New Year’s celebrations embody the success of the promotional strategies pursued by the Authority.

He added, “This tourism momentum contributes directly to supporting the local economy and enhances the competitiveness of the tourism sector at the state and regional levels, based on the diversity of the tourism product, the quality of the infrastructure, and the integration of services provided to visitors.”

Rasbet pointed out that the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has been moving at a steady pace in recent years in adding quality tourist attractions and modern shopping centers, which have become attractive destinations for tourists from various countries of the world, in addition to its growing presence in the events and entertainment industry, stressing that the emirate’s diverse tourism components that combine beaches, mountains and wild nature enhance its ability to attract different segments of visitors.

Noticeable growth

For his part, the General Manager of the InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa, Cameron McNeely, said that the resort is recording high occupancy rates during the current period that reflect the positive performance of the hospitality sector in the emirate in general.

McNeely explained that demand is witnessing remarkable growth from local and international markets, supported by the diversity of experiences offered by the resort, in addition to the promotional and marketing campaigns led by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, and strategic partnerships with airlines and tour operators.

He added that these factors contributed to strengthening Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a preferred destination for families, couples and those seeking recreation, which was reflected in high occupancy rates and sustained strong performance throughout the year.

McNeely pointed out that reservations are made through multiple channels, including direct reservations, travel agents, and digital platforms, while the average length of stay at the InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa exceeds two to three days, whether for local or international visitors, which reflects the diversity of tourism activities and experiences that encourage guests to extend their stay.

High occupancy

In the same context, the General Manager of the Bin Majid Hotel Group in Ras Al Khaimah, Ashraf Saleh, said, “The group achieved high occupancy rates, and reached the maximum capacity before the New Year celebrations, driven by the increasing demand from tourists from inside and outside the country.”

He added: “This request reflects the growing position that the emirate occupies as a preferred tourist destination for seasonal celebrations, especially in light of the diversity of hotel offers and special packages designed to meet the aspirations of different segments, which contributes to enhancing the guests’ experience during the festive period.”

He pointed out that December 2025 witnessed a noticeable increase in the group’s hotel room occupancy rates exceeding 90%, stressing that the increasing competition in the hotel sector to attract tourist delegations is primarily in the interest of visitors, through the diversity of entertainment programs, events and services that hotels provide throughout the year.

Hotel expansion

According to the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, hotels and resorts in the emirate are witnessing high occupancy rates that reflect the growing momentum of tourism movement, supported by intensive promotional campaigns and strategic partnerships with airlines and tour operators, in addition to the diversity of the tourism product that the emirate caters to various segments of visitors.

The authority told Emirates Today that Ras Al Khaimah is moving to expand its hotel portfolio in the coming years, as part of its plan to double the number of hotel rooms to reach about 16,000 hotel rooms, with the imminent opening of a number of new hotel projects, including the eco-friendly mountain lodge “Sage” affiliated with the “Mantis” group, and the “Rotana Mangrove” hotel, in addition to the “Wynn Marjan Island” resort.

The emirate is also preparing to welcome a group of international luxury hotel brands such as: “Jano”, “JW Marriott”, “Nobu”, “W”, “Four Seasons”, “Niki Beach”, “Fairmont” and others, which strengthens its position as a global tourist destination that combines luxury, nature and diverse experiences.

Tourism growth

In terms of tourism performance, Ras Al Khaimah recorded a 9% growth in tourism revenues during the first half of 2025, receiving more than 654,000 visitors, which is the highest number of visitors recorded during a six-month period, with an annual growth of 6%, while the emirate received about 1.28 million visitors during the year 2024.

According to the Authority, the UAE is the largest market in terms of reservations, especially for short stays and family vacations, while Russia tops the list of international markets exporting visitors to Ras Al Khaimah, followed by the United Kingdom and Germany, along with Kazakhstan and India as promising markets witnessing rapid growth.

During the first half of 2025, the emirate recorded a remarkable growth in the number of visitors from markets that witnessed an increase in direct air connectivity with Ras Al Khaimah Airport, including Romania by 65%, Poland 56%, Uzbekistan 47%, Belarus 30%, and India 25%.

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Positive forecasts in 2026

Market indicators expect continued growth in demand for hotel stays in Ras Al Khaimah during the year 2026, driven by the expected hotel expansion, enhanced air connectivity, and increasing global markets’ confidence in the destination, which supports the sustainable growth of the tourism sector and enhances the emirate’s competitiveness on the regional and global tourism map.