HOTELS
Home to the UAE's tallest mountain range and the world's longest zipline, Ras Al Khaimah's hotel industry is experiencing an influx of local and foreign tourists.
Do people in Ras Al Khaimah naturally take to luxury in the same way that those in other Emirates do?
ALAN STOCKER There is no difference in terms of how we define luxury in Ras Al Khaimah compared to any other Emirate. We look at the broader field worldwide, not just in the UAE. When we position luxury, we look at it from a world-class perspective. Ras Al Khaimah is benchmarked against global luxury standards. Initially, when showcasing an up-and-coming location, quite often it is done on a price point basis. However, in our case, we look at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah more on a par with Abu Dhabi or Dubai. When we look at it competitively, we certainly have our eyes on the broader UAE market. Things are changing, and awareness of Ras Al Khaimah has grown over time. Located only a one-hour drive away from Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah complements perfectly its metropolitan neighbors, offering some of the most scenic landscapes in the UAE.
AMIT ARORA Although many people in Ras Al Khaimah go to Dubai for shopping and leisure activities, they also enjoy leisure in Ras Al Khaimah; there is a great number of Emiratis and local guests who stay here for special occasions or eat in our restaurants. We have two hotels, one in the heart of the city in Al Hamra and another in part of the Al Wadi Nature Reserve, and both complement each other well. We cater for the local market on a daily basis, however our largest segment of visitors is not from the local market, but from overseas. Our normal guest is a global affluent traveler who frequents the best luxury hotels around the world. We also appeal to UAE residents looking for staycations; UAE residents do not mind driving out to experience the tranquility.
Are the Emirate's tourism strategy goals achievable?
AS The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is strengthening Ras Al Khaimah's position on the map, and we are doing the same through the Hilton network. Ras Al Khaimah is also home to Jebel Jais, the tallest mountain range in the UAE, and the government has taken a great initiative to open the world's longest zipline here. Moreover, we have had several large MICE events come in already, and we see more potential in this segment. With RAKTDA and our owners, we are looking at building a convention center that might be an all-purpose development covering everything from entertainment to conferences and events. This would lift our profile further and allow us to compete at another level. We are currently discussing how this might evolve. As the Emirate develops, this is a natural progression. Having MICE provides support to the sector given that there are peaks and troughs in tourism patterns. For example, weekends tend to be the peak for leisure guests at the hotel, and MICE tourism would help support our mid-week business. MICE business would be a significant development for the Emirate moving forward. Ras Al Khaimah is relatively quiet, which makes it easier to organize delegates without other distractions; people do tend to stay together as a group.
AA RAKTDA's activities truly place strategy and resources behind the Ras Al Khaimah marketing engine to put it the forefront of a competitive scene. It is not just about building hotel rooms; it is about giving Ras Al Khaimah enough bandwidth to welcome guests and give them enough offerings to come and enjoy. There is a lot to be explored in Ras Al Khaimah: Wadi Shawka, Jebel Jais, the new zipline, the observation deck, some unique thermal springs, and more. Ras Al Khaimah does not aspire to be Dubai; the Emirate does not aim to host 16 million tourists a year. We target 1 million tourists who are seeking a different experience. Another key strategy for RAKTDA is the emphasis on sustainability and eco-tourism. We are truly at the forefront of this pillar as we are set in a protected nature reserve. For example, we have upcycled our entire fleet of 250 bicycles in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. Our guests have the opportunity to plant an indigenous Ghaf tree in the resort's Heritage Forest as part of their stay; or enjoy the local produce at Farmhouse, our new signature restaurant inspired by the farm-to-fork concept.
HOTELS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
ndrea Di Gregorio, , Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables , RAK Municipality Department
TBY talks to Andrea Di Gregorio, Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables of the RAK Municipality Department, on the Emirate's overall strategy, specific programs, and early supporters of energy efficiency and renewables.
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Abdulrhman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director General, Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (RAK DED)
TBY talks to Abdulrhman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director General of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (RAK DED), on improving the ease of doing business, key diversification pillars, and the impact of new VAT.
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Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)
TBY talks to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), on offering investors a global platform, creating a one-stop shop, and the strategic comparative advantages of access to the Indian Ocean.
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Manu Mehra, CFO, RAK Investment & Development Office (RAK IDO)
TBY talks to Manu Mehra, CFO of the RAK Investment & Development Office (RAK IDO), on the role of free zones in diversification, the benefits of smart state intervention, and the keys most needed for a strong manufacturing sector.
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Yousef Esmaeel, Chairman, Supreme Committee of Saud Bin Saqr Establishment for Youth Enterprises Development (RAK SME)
TBY talks to Yousef Esmaeel, Chairman of the Supreme Committee of Saud Bin Saqr Establishment for Youth Enterprises Development (RAK SME), on incentivizing young people, working with local government to encourage entrepreneurialism, and the role of SMEs in the UAE marketplace.
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Abdullah Al Abdooli, Managing Director, Al Marjan Island
TBY talks to Abdullah Al Abdooli, Managing Director of Al Marjan Island, on the continuous growth of the real estate market in RAK, its robust investment landscape, and the Emirate's ambitious plans to develop its tourism sector.
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Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President , American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK)
TBY talks to Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), on the consequences of growing global demand for education and AURAK's efforts to attract students from beyond the Emirate.
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Gurumadhva Rao, Vice Chancellor, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU)
TBY talks to S. Gurumadhva Rao, Vice Chancellor of the RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU), on the further development of higher education, its key differentiators, and the need for qualified doctors.
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Taner Topcu, Director, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone’s (RAKEZ) Academic Zone
Taner Topcu holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Anadolu University in Turkey. He is an industry expert with more than 20 years of successful experience in education, hospitality, business development, and customer relations. Prior to joining RAKEZ in 2015, Taner worked at TECOM Investment's Education Cluster in Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, where he worked in operations, business development, and account management. He also worked at Aabar Investments in Abu Dhabi as a Business Development Manager and at Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority as a Director of Engagement Operations.
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