Locations

Ras Al Khaimah

The dawn of a new Emirate

Dubai may be perceived as the UAE's prime investment location, but now there is another Emirate taking advantage of the same fundamentals that launched Dubai as a property, business and investment haven several years ago. That destination is Ras Al Khaimah.

Ras Al Khaimah, part of the Northern Emirates, is rapidly becoming the investment destination of choice in the UAE for savvy international property investors and holiday home buyers. The Emirate has grown rapidly in the past four years, beginning an ambitious phase of development to re-invent itself as an economic powerhouse with a world-class infrastructure. Multi-million Dirham Government investments are being implemented for infrastructure improvements, tourism, shopping, air and port facilities and efforts to attract industrial and commercial enterprises as well as the tasteful development of the 65km of stunning beach, amazing mountain foothills and desert plains. Ras Al Khaimah is already being tipped internationally as one of the region's most buoyant and exciting investment destinations, and investing in property in Ras Al Khaimah at this early stage of expansion is without a doubt a prosperous opportunity.

In 2007 Ras Al Khaimah enjoyed 40% growth in tourist numbers and hotels recorded 93% occupancy levels throughout the year. With over 25 luxury hotels being planned for the next five years and luxury developments underway including Al Hamra Village, Al Marjan Island, The Gateway City, Jebal Jais Mountain Resort, The Banyan Tree Desert Resort and Mina Al Arab, world-class theme parks, international golf courses, the George Mason University and the new Ras Al Khaimah airport to serve the Northern Emirates, specialists are predicting the number of visitors to the Emirate to rise to 2.5 million by 2012. It is clear that this market provides an attractive value proposition for investors.

The vibrant free trade zone in Ras Al Khaimah (RAKFTZ) is another huge pull for local and international investors, as it allows clients to set up businesses in the UAE with 100% ownership and without paying personal or business taxes.

It is this unique combination of Ras Al Khaimah's strategic location at the crossroads between East and West, its attractive tax-free environment, its unique pro-business opportunities, thriving tourist industry, robust infrastructure and low entry-level investments that make Ras Al Khaimah the destination to invest in NOW. When The Financial Times' fDI magazine said in a report that Ras Al Khaimah was the most cost-effective place to be in the Arabian Gulf, it was talking about more than just the business environment. Ras Al Khaimah is the next Dubai.