MANY MEDIUMS
Ras Al Khaimah is in the midst of a number of expansion projects as the Emirate looks to draw new visitors by land and sea.
As Ras Al Khaimah continues to grow, develop, and become a destination for tourism, business, and education, the continued improvement of the Emirate's transport infrastructure is one of the government's top priorities. At present, Ras Al Khaimah's relies heavily upon Dubai's airport to bring in international visitors, but plans are underway to increase capacity at RAK International Airport to make the Emirate a more easily accessible destination for visitors. On the coast, Saqr Port is already the largest bulk-handling port in the Middle East, and late 2017 saw the beginning of an expansion project to increase cargo capacity. The government has also installed a new boutique cruise terminal at Ras Al Khaimah Port.
Ras Al Khaimah is the UAE's fourth-busiest Emirate for air travel, behind Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Recent years have seen significant passenger and cargo volume increases as the Emirate has begun to play a larger role in the GCC. 2016 saw RAK International register a 52% rise in passenger traffic, with just over 470,000 people passing through. In the same year cargo almost doubled to 3,700 tons moved over the year. These gains came largely thanks to key regional airlines Air India Express and Air Arabia, which also established routes directly to Ras Al Khaimah, allowing for increased passenger volumes. 2017 saw continued growth, with the airport opening up its first direct lines to Europe via SmartWings, Enter Air, Travel Service, Ural Airlines, and Red Wings. As a result, volume continued to rise; passenger numbers were up 6% through the first quarter of 2017 and cargo routes up 30%.
Not content to rest on its laurels, Ras Al Khaimah's leadership is looking to launch expansion projects that will grow capacity from the current level of 1.5 million passengers per year to 3.5 million. In 2016, the airport's chief executive announced plans for an expansion that would add six new gates and increase retail space by 40%. A tender was issued in 2017, and construction is currently underway. To increase efficiency and lower processing times, Ras Al Khaimah has also begun utilizing technological improvements at arrival and immigration centers and now offers amenities such as remote check in, free Wi-Fi, and e-gate facilities, and a new business lounge is expected soon. The Emirate's leaders understand that Dubai's airport will remain the UAE's hub for the foreseeable future, and in early 2018, introduced a shuttle bus for tourists from Dubai International to Ras Al Khaimah. At AED20 for a one-way ride, the shuttle can be booked online and will bring visitors directly to hotels and destinations in Ras Al Khaimah.
At sea, Ras Al Khaimah is working to solidify its position as a hub for shipping. Saqr Port is the Middle East's largest bulk-handling port; most of the 60 million cargo tons that enter Ras Al Khaimah by sea come through it. The port has seen volume half over the past five years, and technological improvements have seen turnaround times double as well, ensuring that the port continues to move smoothly. In August 2017, construction began on an expansion to increase Saqr Port's cargo capacity via the dredging and construction of a new quay wall. Ras Al Khaimah Port, located closer to the city, is key to Ras Al Khaimah's cruise tourism ambitions. Through 2017, the port underwent significant renovations in order to accommodate luxury cruise ships up to 214m long. The port's terminal building was turned into a boutique cruise passenger terminal, and new retail and immigration facilities were added to help turn the Emirate's transport points into the high-end facilities needed to meet the government's goal of 1 million visitors annually by 2019.
MANY MEDIUMS
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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