Ras Al Khaimah achieved record performance in the tourism sector in 2025, receiving 1.35 million visitors, a 6% annual increase, along with a 12% growth in tourism revenue, reflecting the emirate's continuous development in solidifying its position as a global tourist destination ready for the future. The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority predicted that occupancy rates and bookings will see a gradual increase during the holy month of Ramadan, stating: "Demand starts at a moderate pace and increases as Eid al-Fitr approaches, for both room bookings and halls and restaurants. Momentum is also expected to continue during the winter season, especially with a variety of attractive offers and the emirate's mild winter weather, which boosts expectations for strong and competitive hotel performance." The authority confirmed that the emirate recorded strong performance in key markets during 2025, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the United Kingdom, India, China, and Central and Eastern Europe, with notable growth in the number of visitors from Romania, Poland, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, thanks to enhanced air connectivity through direct flights. Philippa Harrison, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: "2025 was an exceptional year for Ras Al Khaimah. While the emirate saw significant growth in visitor numbers, we also enhanced our tourism offerings by presenting a unique range of events, opening new hotel projects, and signing various partnerships." She added: "As we look towards 2030, we continue our commitment to developing the tourism sector and delivering continuous value to visitors, investors, and the community." The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority also revealed a more than 25% increase in revenue for the meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions, and weddings (MICE) sector last year, in addition to the opening of luxury hotels and the announcement of major hotel projects featuring world-class brands such as "Jumeirah", "Four Seasons", "Fairmont", "Taj", and "NH Collection", supporting the emirate's goal of doubling its hotel room capacity by 2030. The authority also highlighted the announcement of projects to develop key destinations like "Marsa Al Marjan" and "Ras Al Khaimah Central", which enhances integrated, multi-use communities and achieves significant urban development, in addition to expanding a variety of unique events. The authority also reviewed other achievements from the past year, including enhancing aviation infrastructure with plans to build a dedicated terminal for VIPs and private aircraft hangars at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, and forging strategic partnerships with major online travel networks in China and Saudi Arabia, including "Trip.com", "Tongcheng", "Fursan Travel", and "Weigo", as well as launching the "BeRAK" app to boost interaction among tourism sector employees and organizing the first Tourism Excellence Awards ceremony to honor innovation and leadership in the sector. The authority also reviewed the performance of the hospitality and hotel sector in Ras Al Khaimah during 2025, recording strong growth in local markets by 7%, with a 14% increase in visitors from India, 19% from China, and 10% from the UK, and a 20% increase from Russia, confirming that direct air connectivity boosted visitor numbers from Romania by 41%, Poland by 22%, Uzbekistan by 19%, and Belarus by 26%. The authority confirmed that the emirate continued to diversify its hospitality offerings in 2025 with the opening of the "Coral Island Rove" hotel and the "Soul" hotel and resort in Ras Al Khaimah, part of Accor's portfolio of luxury brands, in addition to announcing major projects for international hotels. The authority also highlighted the "Wynn Marsa Al Marjan" project, where construction on its 70-story tower has reached a height of 283 meters. It is expected to open in 2027 at a cost of $5.1 billion and will become the tallest building in the emirate upon its completion in 2027, offering over 1,530 rooms and suites, 22 restaurants, cafes, and a theater, luxury retail, a marina, and more than 9,000 new jobs. The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority confirmed that Ras Al Khaimah has strengthened its position as a cultural and sports hub in 2025 by hosting major events, including the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, which attracted over 10,000 participants and spectators, the "Tour of UAE", and the "Highlander Challenge" for long-distance walking. The "Ras Al Khaimah Arts Festival" brought together over 100 international artists, while the "Exotic for Wedding Planners" conference attracted international wedding planners. The celebrations peaked with the 2026 New Year's Eve show, which set a new Guinness World Records title.
