Ras Al Khaimah’s hotel and resort portfolio is expected to grow by more than four thousand rooms over the next three years.
Targeting one million visitors by the end of 2018, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) reveals the latest hotel signings to accommodate increased arrivals to the emirate.
Attracted by continued high occupancy levels and growing RevPAR rates, in addition to the cost of land in Ras Al Khaimah being lower than in neighbouring destinations, RAKTDA has announced an anticipated 4,445 new rooms to open over the coming years, ranging from 3 to 5 star properties.
RAKTDA CEO Haitham Mattar said in statement: “As Ras Al Khaimah draws closer to reaching the one million visitors target by the end of 2018, the need for quality hotel rooms has never been so important. To accommodate this growth in visitors, we are providing potential investors a range of innovative opportunity to develop stand out properties across the emirate.”
According to STR Global, Ras Al Khaimah achieved the second highest ADR and RevPAR, and third highest occupancy in the GCC during the first quarter of this year. Official visitor numbers from RAKTDA’s reports reveal that occupancy during this period averaged 75.5%, an increase of 6.2% when compared to Q1 last year. Similar results were posted across all key hotel performance indicators, with RevPAR increasing by 2.5% and room revenue swelling by 9.3%. The average length of stay also increased to 3.9 days year-to-date, up from 3.6 during Q1 2016, a growth of 9.6%.
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A key area for hotel growth is Al Marjan Island, an archipelago stretching 4.5km out to sea. Already boasting the Rixos Bab Al Bahr, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Resort & Spa Marjan Island, and Marjan Island Resort & Spa, managed by AccorHotels, the islands have been earmarked for and additional 16 hotels by 2025.
Expected to open in the third quarter of 2018, Rezidor have announced its Park Inn by Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island, which will feature 408 rooms. A further five hotels are scheduled for the second half of 2020, with Diamonds International Corporation investing in a five star luxury hotel and residential apartment project with 300 rooms, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts opening its first property in Ras Al Khaimah on the islands with 460 rooms, and the 225-key Avani Al Marjan Island scheduled for the same period. Millenium will add a further 350 rooms when it opens during the last quarter of 2020.
A further two international hotel chains have been announced by property developer RAK Properties. The Anantara Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah, featuring 306 rooms, and the 350-room InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort, scheduled to open in 2018 and 2019 respectively, will be located in Mina Al Arab.
“With the increased focus on Jebel Jais and active adventurers over the last 12 months, and with further products to be introduced later this year, there are a range of opportunities to develop luxury mountain resorts and wellness retreats in the coming years,” Mattar added.
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