Emaar Revives Hotel Project in Ras Al Khaimah, Now Five Times Bigger

Home to the most developed hiking trail network in the UAE of 80km on Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah is excited to announce that HIGHLANDER – the region’s ultimate hiking challenge – is confirmed to make a welcome return to the Emirate on February 2-4, 2024. Drawing hundreds of participants from around the world when it was last staged in November 2022, the adventure challenge offers hikers and adventure lovers the chance to physically test themselves on the Emirate’s spectacular trails while exploring the Hajar Mountains’ impressive rockscapes, rugged canyons and famous wadis.

Ras Al Khaimah is set to make history once again by attempting to break two GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ with its spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display featuring novel choreography and groundbreaking techniques that have never been attempted before. The awe-inspiring showcase spanning eight minutes of pure enchantment will unfold along 4.5KM of shoreline stretching from Al Marjan Island to Al Hamra Village, providing a stunning backdrop to the celebrations.

There are many places where you expect to see jaw-dropping architecture, but the quiet Brittany countryside isn’t one of them. As we walked toward Hotel l’Essenciel (not a typo, ciel means sky) with its 36 rooms, or “nests” suspended around its central structure, with the flying-saucer shaped restaurant La Table des Pères at its foot, I had to wonder if I’d stepped into a parallel universe or on to another planet.

Dubai’s homegrown hotel group, Jumeirah is now on a fast-track journey to become a global leader in luxury. The Burj Al Arab operator wants to double its footprint by the end of the decade, meaning more than 50 hotels.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, December 13. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

In the dynamic world of air travel, sustainable growth and adapting to shifting demographics stand as both opportunities and challenges.

The upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council unified visa, which would ease crossing borders like in the Schengen Zone, is forecast to supercharge inter-regional travel in the Gulf states, according to Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism boss.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, December 14. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

The most powerful decision-makers from across the region’s travel and tourism landscape will be attending the Skift Global Forum East over the course of three days. The event kicks off tonight (Tuesday, December 12), with an invite-only networking event at Atlantis The Royal’s panoramic Cloud 22 venue. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Diamond Ballroom of the Atlantis will set the stage for two days of thought-provoking panels and discussions with the greatest minds in the Middle East.

Honduras is a rugged and raw country in Central America that often flies under the tourism radar, but is absolutely brimming with reasons to visit.

Dubai’s home-grown hotel group FIVE is looking at potentially expanding beyond the emirate into the world’s largest hospitality markets. This includes a potential resort in party haven Las Vegas and in the conservative Gulf kingdom Saudi Arabia.

The $1,500-a-night Vakkaru Maldives resort in the Baa Atoll will launch a sister resort in the UAE’s relatively quiet emirate of Fujairah. The project is called Naama Beach Villas and Spa, vying to become the most luxurious property in the emirate.