Ras Al Khaimah celebrates record-breaking tourism year in 2024

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) reported its strongest year ever, welcoming a record-high 1.28 million overnight arrivals in 2024, it said on Wednesday.

It reflects a 12 per cent growth in tourism revenues and a 15 per cent increase in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) visitors.

This success is a testament to the Emirate's strategic and sustainable growth vision to attract over 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030.

Several factors contributed to the performance, including the opening new hotels and resorts, a growing calendar of international events, increased connectivity to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, best-in-class marketing campaigns and over 2,200 international activities and market engagements across 70 cities.

RAKTDA gained global recognition for its sustainability efforts. Its sustainability programme was named the Middle East's Most Sustainable Project at the Forbes Middle East 2024 Sustainability Leaders' Summit.

The Emirate also solidified its reputation as a hub for world-class events. Highlights included the third HIGHLANDER Adventure hiking challenge, the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Championship, the Arab Aviation Summit, and the Global Citizen Forum, hosted for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, the 16th Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, the HUAWEI AppGallery Gamers Cup, and the debut of the Seven Wonders experiential concert series drew significant attention.

Ras Al Khaimah welcomed 2025 with a spectacular New Year's Eve celebration, setting two new Guinness World Records titles for the Largest aerial display of a tree formed by multi-rotor drones and the Largest aerial image of a seashell formed by drone.

The emirate was also named the world's best city for expats to get started abroad, second for working overseas, and fifth for ease of settling in.

Commenting on the Emirate's achievements, Raki Phillips, CEO of RAKTDA, said, "2024 was a milestone year for Ras Al Khaimah, showcasing our commitment to sustainability, enhanced connectivity, and diverse experiences tailored to every traveller. Looking ahead, our vision extends beyond attracting more visitors; we aim to position Ras Al Khaimah as a destination of the future. With significant investments, world-class events, and groundbreaking developments on the horizon, 2025 is set to be another remarkable year.