UAE's new premium travel stop to have 1.22 million visitors and it is not Dubai

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) in UAE is well-positioned to become a premium travel destination, with plans for new, upscale hotels, expanded airport amenities, and a multibillion-dollar integrated casino resort.

On the fringes of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai this week, tourism authorities informed Al Arabiya English that the emirate hopes to quadruple the number of rooms and triple visitor numbers by 2030, as well as solidify RAK's standing in the local hospitality industry.

The 62-hectare Wynn Resorts RAK, a massive project that will have 1,500 hotel rooms and the nation's first gambling establishment, is at the heart of those plans and will serve as a model for the emirate's development.

Wynn Resorts informed Al Arabiya English that the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) of the nation is presently "underwaying" the consideration of a gaming license for the massive hotel.

Raki Phillips, CEO of the RAK Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), presented the emirate's tourism plan, emphasising that RAK gains from the UAE's robust tourism environment, security and stability, and natural resources.

"We’re blessed to be in the UAE. When you think about the UAE, 12 percent of the country’s GDP comes from tourism," Phillips said. "And this is an oil-rich country; 750,000 people work in the [tourism] industry. And that shows you how important tourism is."

RAK experienced international tourism growth by 28% in 2023 to 1.22 million visitors. This is expected to rise to 1.35 million in 2024. Moreover, it aims to attract 3.5 million overnight tourists annually by 2030.