Sterling Hospitality Consulting released the sixth edition of its report “Investment Pulse in Ras Al Khaimah,” offering new insights into the integrated investor journey for hotel development and operation in the emirate. Ras Al Khaimah welcomed over 654,000 visitors during the first half of 2025, recording a 6% increase in arrivals and a 9% rise in tourism revenues compared to the same period last year.

The report highlights that this growth is supported by a comprehensive and cost-effective investment framework, giving investors greater confidence to enter the market. These figures reflect the direction of the “Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Vision 2030,” aiming to attract more than 3.5 million visitors annually through a five-year roadmap focused on enhancing competitiveness, encouraging investment, and improving quality of life.

In addition to the tourism sector’s performance, the report also points to broader economic momentum in the emirate, with residential rents growing by 13%, average sales values rising by 39%, and over 13,000 new companies established in 2024.

Fastest Market Entry Pathways

The sixth edition of the “Investment Pulse in Ras Al Khaimah” report provides in-depth insights into the full investor journey for hotel development and operation, revealing that the emirate offers one of the fastest and most efficient market entry pathways in the UAE. Research shows investors benefit from clear structures across six project lifecycle stages, from acquisition and feasibility studies to financing, construction, licensing, and asset management, with government entities such as Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Economic Zones Authority, and Ras Al Khaimah Municipality effectively streamlining procedures. This coordinated approach reduces complexities and provides investors with greater clarity on timelines, costs, and regulatory requirements, distinguishing Ras Al Khaimah’s market from other regional markets.

Supportive Investment Framework

The report also highlights the competitive financing environment, where banks typically require a self-financing ratio between 20% and 30%, offering loans with interest rates ranging from 1.5% to 2.5% above interbank lending rates. These conditions, alongside the supportive investment framework in the emirate, attract strong interest from both regional and international investors. Notably, projects collaborating with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority during the design phase benefit from significantly shorter approval cycles, accelerating market entry and enhancing overall returns.