Ras Al Khaimah records its strongest-ever first half of tourism growth; over 670,000 visitors in H1 2026

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) today announced that the emirate welcomed more than 670,000 visitors in the first half of 2026, marking its strongest first-half performance on record. The growth was driven by robust domestic demand, despite regional conflict disrupting international travel flows.

Tourism Performance
- 670,000+ visitors in H1 2026 — strongest first half on record.
- Domestic arrivals up 47% YoY, with May the busiest month ever.
- Average Daily Rate stable compared to 2025.
- RAK Moments campaign delivered:
- 224,000 room nights
- AED 104.4 million in revenue
- 127,817 incremental visitors (+67.1% YoY)
- Campaign amplified via OTAs: Wego, Expedia, Booking.com, Cleartrip, Almosafer, Yandex.

Hospitality Pipeline
- Rotana Ras Al Khaimah – The Mangroves (Q3 2026): 258 keys, large ballroom, MICE capacity.
- SAIJ Mountain Lodge by Mantis (Q4 2026): Jebel Jais lodge with organic farming, treks, stargazing, wellness.
- Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island: Refurbishment, reopening Q1 2027.
- Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah: Renovation completing Q4 2026.
- Wynn Al Marjan Island (2027):
- Partnership with Punchdrunk immersive theatre.
- Dining concepts: Alain Ducasse steakhouse, Delilah supper club.
- 22 restaurants, lounges, and bars.

Landmark Developments
- Marjan Beach: 85 million sq ft, 22,000 residential units, 12,000 hotel keys.
- RAK Central Square: Grade A office hub, 25% complete, opening Q4 2027.
- GDP growth: US$13 billion in 2025, +4.3%.

Airport & Connectivity
- VVIP terminal at RAK International Airport (early 2027).
- Duty Free Americas appointed for retail upgrade.
- RAKTA transport network:
- New transit stations, autonomous shuttles (late 2026).
- Classic Taxi Service with heritage-inspired vehicles.
- Skyports air taxis from 2027.
- Yacht movement streamlined via Dubai Maritime Authority.
- Sayr smart mobility platform integrates planning and payments.

Experiential Tourism
- Astronaut training programme (H2 2026):
- G-force aerobatic flights
- Zero-gravity parabolic flights
- Advanced parachuting/freefall
- Designed to attract high-value adventure and space-tourism visitors.

Destination Branding
- Emma Campbell appointed CMO (ex-Tourism Fiji, VisitScotland, Abu Dhabi).
- M+C Saatchi engaged to sharpen Ras Al Khaimah’s global positioning.

India Impact
- India recorded 14% year-on-year growth in 2025, making it one of Ras Al Khaimah's strongest-performing source markets.
- The momentum has continued into 2026, with Indian visitor arrivals increasing by 27.5% in May 2026 compared to the same period last year.
- Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority remains committed to the Indian market as the emirate works towards its goal of welcoming 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030, with India playing a central role in achieving that goal

This record-breaking half-year shows Ras Al Khaimah balancing domestic resilience with ambitious international expansion, positioning itself as a premium leisure and investment destination heading toward its 2030 target of 3.5 million visitors annually.