Ras Al Khaimah - A Quiet Emirate Making A Splash

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority was only established in 2011, but its ambitions are clear - to develop and promote the tourism infrastructure and to establish Ras Al Khaimah as a luxury travel destination.

For those who find Dubai a little too lively, this quieter neighbouring emirate could be the antidote they're looking for. While many will head to Ras Al Khaimah with the simple wish to relax in the year-round sunshine, those who are usually drawn to culture on holidays will also find plenty to do.

The finest hotels have established a wealth of desert, coastal and historical experiences to offer guests - so far, Waldorf Astoria and Banyan Tree are the main luxury brands with a foot in the sand, and more will undoubtedly follow.

Alongside these brands, the new Al Marjan Island is set up to seriously expand the luxury offering. This is a 2.7 million square metre complex set to house around 30 of the world's most luxurious accommodation options, restaurants and theme parks, so there are endless options for a luxury experience here.


Beach openings
The emirate has set its sights on becoming a strong contender in the luxury market and there are a number of projects on the horizon, including the opening of a new Marriott five-star beach resort.

The 300-room Ras Al Khaimah Marriott Resort is to open in 2019 in the north of the emirate and will feature 45 suites and six food and drink outlets, as well as direct access to a private beach with the Hajar Mountains as the backdrop.

These developments will continue to solidify Ras Al Khaimah's reputation as one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the world.

The plan certainly seems to be bearing fruit, with the first quarter of 2015 showing an increase in visitors of 17%.

Ras Al Khaimah achieved 2.14 million guest nights in 2014, a 72% increase on 2013, and talks with global airlines are said to be ongoing to get more carriers to use RAK International airport as an operational base. 

Currently, only Air Arabia operates scheduled services throughout the region, but they are to be joined by Qatar Airways, who effective October 01, will operate one daily round trip between Doha and Ras Al Khaimah. 

QR 1120  Doha to Ras Al Khaimah  2015 - 2230
QR 1121  Ras Al Khaimah to Doha  2330 - 2345

Operated by Airbus A320 equipment, the carrier will operate the aircraft in a two-class (economy and business class) configuration. This service will allow connections throughout the Qatar Airways network, thus encouraging guests to travel to the emirate for both leisure and business requirements.

The airport will ultimately support more than 400,000 visitors flying in and out annually, while the emirate currently has 5,000 hotel rooms and will add 1,000 more by 2017.

Desert days

For now, Banyan Tree is a key player, with two properties in Ras Al Khaimah; Banyan Tree Al Wadi, for luxury with a desert twist, and Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach, which stretches along a private beach.

At both resorts, spa is key, in keeping with the Banyan Tree philosophy, while activities such as falconry shows, horse riding and nature walks to discover the Arabian wildlife such as gazelle and oryx are the main attractions at Banyan Tree Al Wadi, with a free shuttle connecting the two resorts in 20 minutes. Learning the ancient art of archery is also on offer, and the resorts are family-friendly with kids' clubs available. Private dining under the stars, sunrise yoga and sunset cruises ramp up the romance factor.

All the villas at both resorts are private pool villas - Banyan Tree Al Wadi has 101 villas, 31 of which are designed with a Bedouin-inspired, tented roof, while Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach as 32 Bedouin-inspired villas.

Further Information on Ras Al Khaimah
If you would like to learn more about Ras Al Khaimah, why not the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism website, which will give you lots of advice about this destination.


Call To Action

If Ras Al Khaimah, or indeed any of the emirates in the UAE are destination(s) that you are considering visiting, why not email World of Transport Travel with you requirements.