19 Jan 2017
With guaranteed sun, authentic Arabian culture, luxury indulgence and adventure activities abound, it's no surprise that Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE's northernmost emirate, continues to grow as a premier tourism destination.
Riding that momentum, Ras Al Khaimah will continue to rise in the minds of discerning travellers, thanks to ongoing development of new tourism attractions and a full calendar of events. Read on to discover what's new and hot in the destination for 2017 and beyond:
Coastal Marvels
As a sun and sand destination, Ras Al Khaimah is no slouch. The emirate has over 64km of pristine coastline to please visitors, and if that's not enough, Al Marjan Island is still in development. Encompassing an area of 2.7 millions square metres and extending 4.5km into the sea, Al Marjan Island is the region's newest hotspot for breathtaking beaches, luxury resorts, world-class hotels, five-star facilities and kids' clubs, as well as traditional water sport activities like jet skiing and parasailing.
Once completed, the Al Marjan Island project is expected to take in foreign investments starting at an estimated £361 billion. Overall, Ras Al Khaimah will be home to over 20 world-class hotels and resorts from leading brands in the hospitality industry, including Anantara, Crowne Plaza and Marriot, with capacity to host up to 20,000 guests.
Mountain Adventure Products
Home to Jebel Jais, the UAE's tallest peak, which stands 1,934m high, Ras Al Khaimah is already positioned as a mountain paradise. Yet, the destination's tourism offering is soaring to new heights with its brand new Via Ferrata iron path.
The 470m long Via Ferrata spans the rocky facades of Jebel Jais and complements the rugged Al Hajar mountain range, where the average climate is 10 °C below mean Gulf temperatures. Comprised of three individual start and finish points, as well as three zip-lines measuring 165ft, 195ft and 985ft, the Via Ferrata caters to a wide range of ages and fitness levels.
For more information, visit the official Via Ferrata website at www.jebeljais.ae.
The thrills don't stop there as the Via Ferrata is just the first in a series of mountain, activity and adventure products being developed specifically for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Also on the drawing board is the world's longest zip-line and adventure park, which is tentatively set for a Q4 2017 launch.
World-Class Events
To appeal to lovers of special occassions, Ras Al Khaimah debuted an exciting series of sporting, leisure and cultural events in 2016, with many scheduled to become a permanent staple in the destination's annual calendar.
Last October, Ras Al Khaimah successfully hosted leading professional golf players during the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge, the penultimate event of the European Challenge Tour 2016. With one flawless sporting experience already in the books, Ras Al Khaimah is poised to deliver an even better event in 2017.
On the entertainment front, Ras Al Khaimah hosted Destination Dawn, its first ever 12-hour music festival, in May 2016. True to its name, more than 1,500 people flocked to Al Marjan Island beach from 5pm onwards to dance until sunrise. The event made for a night to remember with the beach for a dance floor, non-stop tunes spun by well-known DJs and a lively party atmosphere for revelers. Much to the delight of party-goers around the world, Destination Dawn is now set to become a regular event in Ras Al Khaimah's events offering.
Learn more about Ras Al Khaimah at http://www.rasalkhaimahtourism.com/.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For all media enquiries, please contact Alexander Gray, UK Account Manager for Ras Al Khaimah:
T: +44 (0)20 3 534 0110
M: +44 (0) 7507 353 853
About Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah is just a 45-minute drive from Dubai International Airport and is the perfect getaway for leisure, adventure and luxury travel destination for all ages. Visitors to Ras Al Khaimah can enjoy fun activities in the water, enchanting experiences on desert sands, thrilling adventures in the mountains and attractions based on authentic Arabian culture and history, as well as a full range of family-friendly accommodations.
To learn more about Ras Al Khaimah, visit us at:
- www.rasalkhaimahtourism.com
- www.facebook.com/visitrasalkhaimah
- www.youtube.com/visitrasalkhaimah
- https://twitter.com/raktourism
How to Get There
Qatar Airways offers flights to Ras Al Khaimah with services available from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburg via Doha. From UK airports, you can also choose from a range of airlines for flights to Dubai International Airport, with Ras Al Khaimah just a 45-minute car ride away.
