Ras Al Khaimah to add 1,300 new hotel rooms to cope with staycation boom

Movenpick Hotel and Resort, Hampton by Hilton and Radisson Resort will welcome guests by the end of 2021

Movenpick Hotel and Resort, set to open in September, will have 418 rooms, and Hampton by Hilton and Radisson Resort will add 515 rooms and 400 rooms, respectively.

Three new hotels with 1,333 rooms will be available to guests by the end of 2021 on Al Marjan Island, the emirate's man-made archipelago. Antonie Robertson / The National

On Monday, engineers used a crane to fit a suspended bridge that connects the east and west wings of one of the hotels under construction on the island.

People fly the world's longest zip line at Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah at Jebel Jasi, Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ras Al Khaimah is opening new hotels as the emirate wants to welcome three million annual visitors by 2025. Courtesy: Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

A crane is being used to fit a suspended bridge that connects the east and west wings of one of the hotels under construction.

The bridge is 44 metres above ground, 36 metres long and weighs more than 300 tonnes.

Ras Al Khaimah Sailing Club. Reem Mohammed / The National

People at a beach in Ras Al Khaimah. Pawan Singh / The National

An adventure enthusiast at the Jebel Jais mountain in Ras Al Khaimah. Pawan Singh / The National

The mosque area of Jazirat Al Hamra heritage village and archaeological site in Ras al Khamiah. The site is the only and best preserved traditional coastal town in the Gulf region. Christopher Pike / The National

The 19th century Dhayah Fort located North of the town of Al Rams, near the Hajjar Mountains. Ryan Carter

Bin Majed Museum in Ras Al Khaimah. Satish Kumar / The National

A look inside Al Qasimi Haunted Palace, Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ras Al Khaimah is set to add more than 1,300 new hotel rooms to its offerings this year during the UAE’s staycation boom.

Three new hotels with 1,333 rooms will be available to guests by the end of 2021 on Al Marjan Island, the emirate's man-made archipelago.

Movenpick Hotel and Resort, set to open in September, will have 418 rooms, and Hampton by Hilton and Radisson Resort will add 515 rooms and 400 rooms, respectively.

There are currently three hotels open on the island with 1,600 rooms, including suites, family rooms and penthouses.

“We carried out a deep study on the performance of our hospitality market and Ras Al Khaimah has an aggressive plan to reach three million annual visitors by 2025,” said Abdullah Al Abdooli, chief executive of Marjan, master developer of Al Marjan Island.

“To achieve that we need to add at least 15,000 additional hotel keys to the emirate, 50 per cent of which will be on Al Marjan Island.

“In 2019, the annual visitor numbers to Ras Al Khaimah were about 1.1 million, but there is demand to widen that scope for both tourists and domestic guests.”

Mr Al Abdooli said the emirate's tourism sector performed well during the pandemic because "more people turned to staycations due to international travel restrictions".

On Monday, engineers used a crane to fit a suspended bridge that connects the east and west wings of one of the hotels under construction on the island.

The bridge is 44 metres above ground, 36 metres long and weighs more than 300 tonnes.

“Today, we are witnessing the installation of the longest bridge between two buildings in the northern emirates,” Mr Al Abdooli said.

“That bridge, part of the Movenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, will be one of the most iconic features of the property.

“There will be eight family rooms positioned within the bridge once complete.”

The bridge is supported by four main trusses, each weighing 55 tonnes and the structure was assembled in two pieces before being lifted into place using a 650-tonne crawler crane.

The bridge project – from design to installation – was completed in about 65 days by more than 55 workers.

The rooms will offer sea views on both sides of the hotel. It will also have private chalets and standalone villas with private pools and gardens – a first for the island.

Last year, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority started an online campaign called #FindRAKLater to encourage tourists to explore the emirate when travel restrictions eased.

The UAE travel and tourism sector accounts for about 12 per cent of the country's gross domestic product, according to government data.

Raki Philips, chief executive of the tourism authority, said the sector was the fastest contributor to the emirate's economic growth.

Of the 1.1 million visitors who visited Ras Al Khaimah last year, 60 per cent were international tourists.

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