Ras Al Khaimah welcomed a record 670,000 visitors in the first half of 2026 — the strongest tourism half in the northern UAE emirate’s history.
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) released the results on 24 July 2026. Here are the numbers and why they matter for business.
A record half
Over six months the emirate hosted 670,000 guests — an all-time high. The domestic market led the way, with in-country trips up 47% year on year. May 2026 was the single strongest month in the emirate’s tourism history.
Campaigns and revenue
The Q2 RAK Moments campaign generated 224,000 hotel room nights and AED 104.4 million in room revenue, and drew an extra 127,817 visitors — up 67.1% on the same quarter of 2025. It shows how targeted marketing converts into real hotel occupancy.
Strategy and economy
The emirate is working toward 3.5 million visitors a year by 2030. Its economic base is solid: 2025 GDP was around USD 13 billion, up 4.3%. RAKTDA CEO Phillipa Harrison said the record half is testament to the emirate’s strength as a short-break destination.
What it means for business
Rising tourism builds demand for hospitality, real estate and services — and opens opportunities beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi. How the UAE economy is structured and where it is heading is covered separately: the UAE economy in 2026.
This material is for information only and is not investment advice. For current data, see RAKTDA’s official resources (raktda.com).
