Mina Al-Arab travel tips

The United Arab Emirates boasts an abundance of luxury accommodations where opulence and grandeur take center stage, offering guests an unparalleled level of hospitality. But for a select few like me who want something different, a trip to Ras Al Khaimah Emirati, an hour’s drive north from Dubai, comes highly recommended. Here the majestic Hajar Mountains (yes, UAE has mountains) rise almost 1973 meters, and lush mangroves hug the coastline. The new Anantara Mina Al Arab is the first of its kind that brings traditional Maldives-style over-water accommodations to the Middle East. The resort is set on a private peninsula that overlooks protected mangroves and the open Arabian ocean.

World Travel Awards – the leading authority that recognises and rewards excellence in travel and tourism – has revealed its Middle East 2024 winners. The announcement coincides with the start of Arabian Travel Market, the region’s leading industry event.

While most people are familiar with Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah is fast claiming its place as one of the top tourist destinations in the UAE.

While a Dubai holiday might conjure images of sleek skyscrapers, high-end shopping in swanky malls and gold-leaf-topped dishes, your trip to the United Arab Emirates could also be an opportunity to prioritize your wellness with specialized treatments.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) reports its best year for tourism ever, welcoming a record 1.22 million overnight arrivals to the nature Emirate in 2023, up 8% on 2022 numbers and bolstered by a significant 24% year-on-year pick-up in international visitors. The robust performance is underscored by RAKTDA’s strategic growth plans. From investment in tourism infrastructure, targeted initiatives to drive more visitors to the emirate, to developing an ecosystem rooted in sustainability, Ras Al Khaimah continues to reinforce its position as a destination of the future. Its key 2023 achievements include:

A magnificent firework display is set to return once again to Ras Al Khaimah and welcome 2024 with a bang this New Year’s Eve. Confirmed by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), and the Organising Committee of the Emirate’s New Year’s Eve celebration, the dazzling performance will wow visitors of all ages, as fireworks light up the sky with an eye-popping show and electrifying beats.

“Responsible growth and environmental stewardship can exist in harmony, by making smart changes from the ground up,” says Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) CEO Raki Phillips.

Ramsey, an accomplished professional with academic achievements from the University of Surrey, City University London, and Cornell University in New York, contributes a wealth of two decades’ worth of experience in the premium hospitality sector.