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Everybody is talking about Ras Al Khaimah. One of the region’s top tourism success stories, the northern emirate has seen a boom in development, especially when it comes to hotels.
The STR report revealed that the UAE has over 202,000 existing rooms, and expects to add 8,910 that are in the pipeline as of September. This would mean that by 2030, at least 251,000 rooms will be available for hotel guests in the UAE.
Dubai leads the count, the report stated, with Ras Al Khaimah in second place with over 5,000 rooms coming up there. Ras Al Khaimah’s active pipeline numbers match the combined upcoming inventory of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah – a testament to the renewed focus on tourism for the emirate.
With more and more attention to Marjan Island, Jebel Jais and other areas, RAK is readying to welcome some of its most luxurious hotels ever.
Read on to see 12 of them.
New hotels opening in Ras Al Khaimah
1. Address Al Marjan Island (Opening TBC)
Announced back in 2018, Address Al Marjan Island hotel and residences will be managed by Emaar Hospitality Group.
Address Al Marjan Island will be a resort-style development that draws on its exceptional natural location, directly by the Arabian Sea. The hotel will have 249 rooms, including suites, while Address Residences Al Marjan Island will comprise 234 high-end apartments. As part of Views, the largest of the four islands that make up Al Marjan Island, residents will be near the urban core of the master-planned community as well as the town centre. With direct access to over 600 metres of beachfront, residents and guests will have uninterrupted views of the sea in addition to a range of lifestyle amenities.
2. Anantara Mina Al Arab (2023)
Resorts inspire the property in Maldives and will have 306 guest rooms, suites and overwater villas (a first of its kind in the emirate). It will overlook a mangrove-lined eco-reserve and will feature a discovery and eco-learning centre.
In addition to the villas, the Anantara resort will offer a range of dining options, including a signature seafood restaurant and a rooftop bar, as well as a wellness center with a spa, gym, and yoga studio. Guests will also be able to enjoy a variety of water sports, including snorkeling, diving, and kayaking.
The hotel’s F&B will include an Asian restaurant, a seafood grill, and a beach and pool bar.
Developer RAK Properties has awarded a project management agreement to Hill International as it approaches its opening at the end of 2023.
3. Cloud7 Camp Jebel Jais (2023)
Operated by Kerten Hospitality, Cloud7 Camp Jebel Jais will make the most of its location and position itself as a luxe adventure destination.
Cloud7 Camp Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah, is opening this year, offering a unique mountain glamping experience in the heart of the UAE. Set amidst spectacular mountain views and a diverse ecosystem, this campsite will provide a real mountainous getaway for those seeking an adventurous and authentic experience.
With winding hiking trails, adrenaline seekers can learn about the local flora and fauna, while also enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Jebel Jais mountain from the world’s longest zipline certified by Guinness World Records, which is nearby. The campsite features 30 units built with local stones and will be a destination for eco-tourism, outdoor activities, family trips, and tourists wanting to experience authentic Emirati hospitality and bedouin heritage and lifestyle.
4. Conrad Marjan Island (Opening TBC)
Conrad Marjan Island Resort is set to open its doors this year on Treasure Island, one of the five man-made islands that make up the Marjan Islands cluster to the west of Ras Al Khaimah. This five-star resort promises to combine beachfront luxury with contemporary design, featuring stunning exteriors, interiors, and curated art that Conrad is renowned for showcasing. With 120 guest rooms, including beach and over-water villas, the resort will offer world-class facilities such as a fitness center, salon, spa, outdoor pool, tennis courts, and kids’ club.
Dining options will include two signature restaurants, a pool bar, and a beach club. The Conrad experience promises to provide a seamless connection between contemporary design, innovation, and art, with a distinctive service style that allows guests to personalize every aspect of their stay.
The resort will be an ideal base for exploring Ras Al Khaimah’s historic sites, pristine beaches, and adventure attractions, such as the world’s longest zipline.
5. Earth Hotel Altitude (2023)
Earth Altitude will be located in Jebel Jais, 1,934 metres above sea level. “Earth Altitude is a minimalist’s dream”, says the brand, where 16 retreats will be tucked into the rugged Jebel Jais terrain.
It will house a fitness centre, be located close to the world’s longest zipline, and provide easy access to a range of hiking trails and cycling tracks.
6. Earth Hotel Marjan Island (Opening 2024)
Earth Marjan Island will offer resort rooms, cabana rooms or duplex sky suites, all of which will be underpinned by sustainability. Promising an “effortlessly cool and social vibe”, the hotel will host resident DJs, dance parties and comprise its own beach bar.
Inviting guests to “party all night” the hotel will also have a dining social hub, central bar, indoor and outdoor communal spaces and much more.
7. RAK Marriott Hotel and Resort (Opening TBC)
The RAK Marriott Hotel and Resort is a five-star luxury development with 300 keys comprising 269 rooms, 10 suites and 21 villas, conference halls, health and leisure facilities and numerous food and beverage outlets.
8. Rove Al Marjan Island (Opening 2024)
Rove Al Marjan Island will have 450 rooms with comfortable mattresses, 48-inch TV with a smart media hub for super-charged entertainment, free high-speed wifi, power showers in ultramodern bathrooms, interconnecting rooms for families, a unique beach club concept, 24-hour boutique convenience store, outdoor pool, sundecks to relax, a 24-hour gym, a 24-hour self-service laundromat, luggage store rooms, safety deposit boxes, sofa beds for extra guests, mini-fridge and more. Rove Al Marjan Island will feature a trove of artworks that take inspiration from the natural setting of Al Marjan Island.
Rove Al Marjan Island will also feature The Daily, an all-day restaurant that serves international flavours. The hotel will also offer convenient meeting facilities. The Rove Pit Stop is ideal for informal chats and socialising.
9. Saij, A Mantis Collection Mountain Lodge (Opening 2023)
Announced last year as part of an impressive line-up of more than 20 new attractions headed to Ras Al Khaimah, Mantis Collection will arrive in the adventure emirate with Saij, A Mantis Collection Mountain Lodge. Famed for excelling in the sustainability stakes, the Ras Al Khaimah property will be located on Jebel Jais, offering 35 luxury lodges, an array of mindful pursuits, and guided treks on the activity roster.
10. Sofitel Ras Al Khaimah Resort (2023)
Sofitel Ras Al Khaimah Resort will be located within Al Hamra’s existing tourism destination. This means it will provide direct access to the Al Hamra Golf Club, Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre, and the Al Hamra Mall.
Additionally, the 300-key property will boast its own private beach and six dining outlets which will come together to offer food options from around the world. In the future, the resort will also provide access to an expanded beach boardwalk and sports complex under Al Hamra.
11. The Westin Ras Al Khaimah (Opening TBC)
At the time of writing, there is little information on the Westin, apart from the promise of its opening according to state news agency WAM.
Our sources suggest the hotel will house approximately 235 keys, ranging from 40 sqm classic rooms to 80 sqm executive suites while offering private chalet units with direct access to the beachfront.
The project will also include the 25 serviced apartments, which include one-bedroom (75 sqm) and two-bedroom (115 sqm) arrangements, with access to a private pool.
12. Wynn Resorts (2026)
Ras Al Khaimah will open its integrated resort in 2026. Wynn Resorts is a well-known hospitality brand hailing from Nevada. The new integrated resort is a multibillion-dollar undertaking according to Marjan, RAK Holding and Wynn Resorts Limited.
The development is the first beach resort being developed by Wynn Resorts globally. The current scope includes a 1,000-plus room hotel, high-end shopping mall, a state-of-the-art meeting and convention facility, a spa, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, a wide array of entertainment choices, a gaming area, and other amenities.
The upcoming Wynn Resort in the UAE will be located on Dream Island – an unused patch of Ras Al Khaimah’s Marjan Island once hoped to bring Ibiza parties to the Middle East. Unlike the rest of Marjan Island, Dream Island has seen no development, meaning Wynn will be the sole resort on the site as current plans stand.
