International visitation to Ras Al Khaimah – home to Wynn Resorts’ US$5.7 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island integrated resort development – plummeted in the first half of 2026 as foreigners steered clear due to the nearby conflict in Iran.
According to information from the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), reported by local media outlet Arabian Gulf Business Insights, total visitation during 1H26 reached an all-time high of over 670,000 – driven by value-added hotel offers that drove domestic demand.
However, Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Center data shows that hotel occupancy fell by 19 percentage points versus the same period in 2025, ranging from the low-30% and mid-40% range between March and June.
Airport arrivals in Ras Al Khaimah also dropped by 80% within two months of the Iran conflict starting while the number of European guests slumped by almost 90%.
In comments to Arabian Gulf Business Insights, RAKTDA CEO Philippa Harrison said that airport arrivals had shown some signs of improvement in recent months but warned it is “still too early to describe international travel as recovered.”
RAK Airport is also tracking well below last year’s high of over 1 million passengers, which had represented. 51% year-on-year increase.
“Visitor numbers and forward bookings from some of our key source markets have been progressing at pace, led by India, Russia and the UK,” she said. “[But] renewed Gulf incidents and continued foreign airline suspensions mean the recovery remains vulnerable and volatile.”
The disparity between strong overall visitation in 1H26 and lower hotel occupancy was, Harrison explained, because “domestic demand is typically concentrated around weekends and characterized by a shorter length of stay.”
A campaign aimed at bolstering domestic visitation had contributed 127,000 incremental domestic visitors in Q2, up 67% year-on-year and generating over 224,000 room nights.
The report noted that Ras Al Khaimah is currently in the process of transforming from a mass market tourism destination to one shaped by ultra-luxury – with Wynn Al Marjan Island at its center.
Wynn earlier this month announced September 2027 as its planned opening date although it also revealed a US$600 million cost increase – in part due to delays and rising expenses as a result of the Iran war.
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