US-operated hotel brands will manage 6,365 of the 12,811 total hotel keys in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, accounting for nearly half of the emirate’s hotel accommodations. This marks the largest market share held by any operator group in Ras Al Khaimah. The Waldorf Astoria brand established its first UAE hotel in Ras Al Khaimah in 2013, cementing American operators’ longstanding presence in the market.
US Hotel Growth and Major Projects in Ras Al Khaimah
The 6,365 US-operated hotel keys represent a significant portion of Ras Al Khaimah’s hospitality inventory. A notable upcoming project is Wynn Al Marjan Island, scheduled to open in 2027. Covering over 60 hectares, this
integrated resort will include 1,530 rooms, 22 restaurants and lounges, 12 swimming pools, and 550 meters of private beach frontage. It stands as the largest single US foreign direct investment in the UAE to date.
Other key properties include Janu Al Marjan Island by Aman, alongside existing US-affiliated luxury hotels such as Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria that have operated in the emirate for years.
Hospitality Expansion and US Delegation Visits
Fourteen international hotel brands currently operate or are contracted across Ras Al Khaimah’s key locations including Al Marjan Island, Marjan Beach, and RAK Central. From September 20 to October 10, 2026, a delegation from Ras Al
Khaimah will visit five US cities—Miami, Detroit, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and New York—to strengthen trade partnerships and explore investment opportunities within the hospitality sector.
Strategic Vision and Economic Context
Ras Al Khaimah’s municipality has pursued a comprehensive 30-year development strategy that integrates Al Marjan Island, Marjan Beach, and RAK Central to create a cohesive hospitality and lifestyle environment. The emirate recorded 1.35 million overnight visitor arrivals in 2025 and targets 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030. International credit rating agency S&P Global maintains Ras Al Khaimah’s strong rating at ‘A/A-1’ with a stable outlook, reflecting economic stability and development confidence.
The emirate offers
business-friendly policies including full foreign ownership, zero income tax, and low corporate tax, supported by key business hubs such as the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and Innovation City. Dubai International Airport lies under an hour’s drive away, with one third of the global population reachable within four hours by air.
Official Statements on Growth and Planning
Arch. Abdulla Rashid Al Abdouli, CEO of Marjan Group, emphasized the importance of long-term planning: “International capital commits when it can see a comprehensive plan and we are curating Ras Al Khaimah for the next 30 years, so that each project connects to the next rather than standing
alone. The interconnectivity of Al Marjan Island, Marjan Beach and RAK Central bring all that together in a unique environment.”
Alison Grinnell, Group COO of Marjan and CEO of Marjan Hospitality, added, “The number and quality of brands coming to Ras Al Khaimah highlights a considered assessment of this market by some of the most experienced operators in the industry, and we treat it as a responsibility as much as an endorsement. Our role as master developer is to ensure those commitments are matched by the infrastructure, connectivity and planning discipline that allow each property to perform, and to make
sure operators who open here have reason to open a second.”
Dr. Carel Richter, Advisor for International Relations at the Office of the Ruler leading the Delegation to the United States, stated, “The growth we’re seeing across Ras Al Khaimah’s hospitality sector reflects the confidence international operators and travellers have placed in this destination. As new properties come online through 2027, we look forward to continued growth across the Emirate’s hospitality sector.”
