Ras Al Khaimah visitor numbers hit record high as domestic demand supports tourism
The emirate’s record first-half visitor figure was supported by local travel, while international tourism continued to face pressure from regional conflict and airline suspensions.
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has reported Ras Al Khaimah, the site of Wynn Resorts’ ongoing casino resort development, recorded more than 670,000 visitors in the first half of 2026. The figure was the emirate’s strongest first-half performance on record.
According to the RAKTDA, domestic arrivals increased 47 per cent year on year, while May became the destination’s busiest month on record. The headline visitor growth, however, masks a more mixed picture for the tourism sector. The increase was driven heavily by UAE residents travelling within the country, while international tourism was affected by the regional conflict. As a result, overall arrivals rose even as hotel occupancy weakened.
RAKTDA said its RAK Moments domestic campaign generated 127,817 incremental visitors in the second quarter, up 67.1 per cent year on year. The campaign also produced 224,000 room nights and AED104.4m (US$28.4m) in room revenue. The authority promoted the campaign through online travel agencies and travel platforms including Wego, Expedia, Booking.com, Cleartrip, Almosafer and Yandex.
While the campaign boosted domestic tourism, local visitors generally make shorter stays than international travellers. Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Center data showed hotel occupancy was 19 percentage points lower than in the first half of 2025, with occupancy falling into the low-30 per cent to mid-40 per cent range between March and June.
Airport arrivals also declined by more than 80 per cent within two months of the conflict in Iran beginning, while European visitor numbers fell by almost 90 per cent between February and April. The average length of hotel stays dropped by nearly one-third.
Phillipa Harrison, CEO of RAKTDA, said “The destination remained resilient through a period that affected international travel across the region, and a record first half is testament to Ras Al Khaimah’s strength as a short-break destination. With new hotels opening and anchor developments advancing at pace, the emirate is entering its next phase of growth with real momentum.”
Ras Al Khaimah is expanding its hospitality capacity as it works to attract more international and high-value tourists, with Wynn Al Marjan Island remaining one of the most significant developments in that expansion. The integrated resort is targeting a September 2027 opening and will feature a casino alongside a large hospitality and entertainment offering. RAKTDA said the project is expected to strengthen Ras Al Khaimah’s international profile and attract high-value leisure travellers.
