Ras Al Khaimah crossed the magical milestone of exceeding one million overnight tourist arrivals, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, the Emirate welcomed over 1.13 million overnight arrivals, a significant increase of 15.6 percent compared to last year.
December was the highlight of the year for Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), as RAK received its highest-ever footfall in one month, with over 128,000 visitor arrivals. This was 23 percent more than the corresponding month in 2021.
The record-breaking New Year’s Eve fireworks and drones display, which saw two new Guinness World Records set for the ‘largest number of operated multi-rotors/drones with a simultaneous fireworks display’ and the ‘largest aerial sentence formed by multi-rotors/drones’, played a big role. As many as 30,000 visitors attended the event and hotels across the Emirate were fully booked.
Raki Phillips, CEO, RAKTDA, said: “It has been quite a year. From January’s announcement of the multibillion-dollar integrated Wynn resort – a project that will usher in a new era of economic development through tourism – to securing two Guinness World Record titles for our New Year’s Eve fireworks and drone display, we have shown just how dynamic we are as a destination.
“Our success has been led by our agility and responsiveness – and the fact we think like a community, shaping our experiences to appeal to visitors and residents. With a determined focus on diversification, accessibility and sustainability, we are on track for even bigger things in 2023.”
Also playing a critical role in the increase in numbers was RAKTDA’s efforts to create international partnerships, encouraging and opening of new properties and hosting world-class events.
The year saw a 40 percent increase in international visitors, with Kazakhstan, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and Czech Republic being the key source markets. This was driven by a series of partnerships with airlines and leading tour operators to target emerging and growing source markets, supported by nearly 100 events and roadshows in 24 markets worldwide.
RAK’s inventory of rooms increased by nearly 17 percent to 8,000 keys during the year, with the launch of new Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Mövenpick and Radisson properties.
There are 19 upcoming projects, including global brands like Marriott and Sofitel, and an additional 5,867 keys are in the pipeline over the next few years. A major addition will be the integrated resort development with Wynn Resorts in 2026, which is the largest-of-its-kind foreign direct investment in Ras Al Khaimah, including 1,000+ rooms and a gaming area.
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Ras Al Khaimah received three luxury cruises in 2022, welcoming over 2,500 passengers and crew. It aims to reach 50 cruise ship calls each season and over 10,000 passengers within the next few years.
The Emirate was included in Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2022, thus finding a place in a highly curated list of 50 must-visit global destinations.
RAK also strengthened its position as a leading sporting destination, hosting over 50 events. This included the 15th RAK Half Marathon, 23rd Annual Gumball 3000 rally, the UAE Tour cycling and two DP World Tour Golf Championships. Ras Al Khaimah also won the competitive bid to host the 2023 Minifootball World Cup, beating Budapest and Manila.
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