Number of tourists from Russia in Ras Al Khaimah grows almost twice

Throughout 2023, we've been writing about a bold new player that stormed into the world of Emirati real estate – the city of Ras Al Khaimah. It's the northernmost emirate with a milder climate and less competition in the market for new developments. Millions are investing here in anticipation of the opening of casinos in 2027. Russian tourists are flocking to explore this new resort destination in the UAE. In 2023, their number almost doubled.

Ras Al Khaimah is becoming increasingly popular

 In 2023, the city welcomed 1.2 million foreign tourists, which is 8% more than the previous year. According to the Department of Tourism Development in Ras Al Khaimah, the number of Russian guests increased by 80.8%.

If in 2022 there were about 107,000 Russian tourists, by 2023, there were around 193,500. Thus, Russia has become the number one tourist supplier market. The top 5 donor countries include Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and India.

Reasons for the growth

Several factors contribute to this growth. Air connectivity has expanded, with flights to Doha now offering 160 destinations. IndiGo's direct flights from Hyderabad, India, significantly increased the flow of tourists to Ras Al Khaimah.

Now, India is one of the key markets for Ras Al Khaimah, especially in the realm of wedding and corporate tourism. In 2023, the emirate saw a 23% increase in revenue from MICE events and a 103% increase in revenue from weddings.

Moreover, new hotels have opened, and hotel occupancy rates have increased by 74%, which is 12% higher than the previous year. In the future, branded hotels like Nobu, Le Méridien, W Hotels, JW Marriott, and Hilton will open on Al Marjan Island, as well as Nikki Beach in the Mina Al Arab area.