The Northern Emirates region of the UAE now has a hospitality profile to match its striking topography and will soon be giving its neighbours a run for their money, discovers Dominic Ellis.
A genuine old fort stands on desert sand outside the modern offices of Rakeen, the government-owned master developer in Ras Al Khaimah, whose foyer is now awash with all manner of futuristic developments. Across the road stand wave upon wave of replica windtowers that dot the Al Hamra skyline. Along this stretch is where the new Ras Al Khaimah will shoot up over the next five years, dominated by the 270-hectare Marjan Island and the massive Mina Al Arab mixed-use development, which will be built in three phases.
Driving back into the city, though, you still get the feeling of old Arabia. It’s a mix of the modern and the ancient: countless, glistening showrooms housing just about every car brand under the sun, counteracted by an unending line of humble, low-level outlets that probably haven’t changed much in decades, selling everything from sandwiches to car parts. Some of the houses, not to mention the roads, are decidedly less than five-star standard, but they give the place a sense of character.
Clearly, the Northern Emirates is at a crossroads. Proud of its history, culture and unique mountains-meets-sea geography, it has nonetheless decided to jump on the development bandwagon that is now freewheeling across the UAE. Maritime projects, luxury resorts, apartments and commercial districts – the casual observer won’t have to dig too deep to see where the inspiration has come from, although comparisons with other emirates are usually shot down as quickly as the projects go up. “We’re different” is the battle cry time and again, but the perennial question remains, for how much longer?
The 12-tower Financial City, for instance, complete with trendy curves and striking angles, is a million miles away, conceptually, from much of what this nature-filled region has to offer. The same applies to the US$400 million Ras Al Khaimah Convention and Exhibition Centre, which was launched at Arabian Travel Market this year. Ras Al Khaimah is definitely changing.
Under the shrewd leadership of HH Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler HH Sheikh Saoud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, it has been transformed from a sleepy backwater into one of the fastest-growing emirates. The government is predicting that by 2020 its current population of fewer than 200,000 will have increased to upwards of 750,000. Local hotels are doing a roaring trade: they recorded an average occupancy rate of up to 93 per cent last year.
The industrious emirate has an established track record as an exporter of ceramic tiles, medicines, cement, crushed rocks and fish, but it is in property (31 projects are underway, and counting) and hospitality (at least 30 more hotels are coming) where it is poised to make the biggest noise.
And in the aviation sector things are hotting up too. RAK Airways, the UAE’s fourth national carrier, has ordered four new-generation Boeing 737-800 NGs, with purchase rights for two additional aircraft. It is the first carrier in the UAE to buy the Boeing 737-800 NG – a short-to-medium-range plane – in a deal worth almost US$450 million.
Currently offering services to Dhaka and Colombo, RAK Airways hopes to spread its wings to India and is also targeting Nepal, Chittagong and Beirut. “We plan to adopt a hub-and-spoke network strategy by attracting passengers from other countries to Ras Al Khaimah and then flying them to onward destinations,” says Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, RAK Airways’ deputy chairman.
Developments on the ground have been equally significant in attracting greater investment and raising the emirate’s profile. With the tyre-friendly Emirates Road providing a 45-minute link to Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah is now closer to neighbouring emirates than ever before; although this improved accessibility is something of a two-edged sword, as the emirate strives to position itself as a distinctive, stand-alone destination, not an appendage to the larger cities down the highway.
Hilton has firmly nailed its colours to the mast and already operates two properties in Ras Al Khaimah. Essam Abouda, vice president of operations at Hilton Hotels for the Middle East and Africa, says the group isn’t finished yet – the second and final phase of the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort and Spa will open next year, and the Hilton Mina Al Arab Resort will open in 2010. “Within the next two years we will have 1,100 rooms in the emirate, if not more,” comments Abouda. “These developments are a testament to our ambition of identifying potential in emerging destinations.”
Unsurprisingly, several hotel chains are now eyeing up the emirate’s potential. The Cove Rotana, for example, is rapidly taking shape on the way into the city. The 175-room property is slated to open by the end of 2008 and will offer access to a 600-metre stretch of private beach. Meanwhile, Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with RAK properties to develop the Intercontinental Mina Al Arab Resort. The 300-room property will be conveniently located an hour from Dubai International airport on the Coast Road, which connects all of the UAE emirates. The Intercontinenal will incorporate extensive food and beverage options, including a 150-seater, all-day restaurant, three speciality restaurants, two bars, a lobby lounge and an outdoor pool bar.
While its state-of-the-art facilities, which include two high-tech meeting rooms, a business centre and several retail units, are expected to appeal to corporate bookings and business guests, those looking for a more relaxing experience can enjoy leisure amenities such as a health club, gym, spa and pool.
The resort is set to open in 2010 as part of the Mina Al Arab development – a Dhs10 billion (£1.6 billion) mixed-use leisure resort situated along a 13km beach. Mina Al Arab will feature numerous resort hotels, an Arabian Adventures theme park, a Thalasso Therapy centre, a small water park, a marina, a heritage village and two eco-friendly hotels. The project will also contain a cluster of 3,500 residential units and 388 villas of various architectural styles.
Amenities at Mina Al Arab will include a harbour, pedestrian and bicycle pathway, a traditional Arabian souk, 310 hectares of open spaces, ecological preserves and landscaping, traditional abras (water taxis), parks, medical facilities, a mosque, cafés and restaurants, and recreational facilities such as tennis courts, spas and a gym.
Also coming to the emirate is Accor Hospitality Middle East, which together with Action Hotels is building an Ibis, set to be the first budget hotel in the emirate and the 17th Ibis in the region. Due to open in 2011, it will offer 180 fully equipped rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, 24-hour café and other facilities. The hotel will be centrally located in the commercial area of Ras Al Khaimah, close to the Exhibition Centre and Free Zone.
New company Aakar Marjan Island, formed through a partnership between Canadian real estate and property developer Aakar Developers and Kayi Construction, a Turkish-based development and construction company, will invest Dhs600 million (£94 million) in the development of an exclusive hotel and residential project on the 2.7 million sqm Al Marjan Islands, which should be ready by June 2009.
Chief executive Yadvinder Singh said Aakar Marjan is currently in management talks with leading hotel operators. “Ras Al Khaimah’s emergence as a hotspot for iconic properties and its recent liberalisation of commercial laws are a strong attraction for us to invest in luxury developments in line with the vision of the emirate,” he notes.
Island projects seem to be all the rage in Ras Al Khaimah: RAK Properties’ Dhs2.7 billion (£422 million) Mangrove Island is being built on 72 hectares of land. The project is located between the Al Manar shopping mall and the Tower Links golf course.
Yet another island development is taking place at Saraya Islands, which will comprise six five-star hotels and resorts across four islands, as well as a wealth of villas, townhouses, apartments, marinas and other amenities. One of the operators will be Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, which recently announced it would open a Luxury Collection resort there in 2011. The property’s 300 rooms, including 40 suites, will predominantly target leisure guests, but corporate clients will be courted by almost 3,400 sqm of meeting space.
In January, two more high-profile brands signed up for Saraya Islands, both of which should also come on stream by 2011. The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa will contain 180 rooms and suites, and 30 bungalows as well as conference facilities, restaurants, a spa and health club. Raymond Bickson, managing director and CEO of the Indian Hotels Company, comments: “It’s important for Taj Hotels to be present in this region, which is rapidly developing into a tourism hub of the future.”
The second is the Banyan Tree resort, which will be the group’s first property in the Middle East that realises its “Villas in the Sky” concept, which will see the creation of 150 large-sized suites overlooking the Gulf. The resort will also contain a spa, gallery and restaurants.
The planned US$400 million RAK Convention and Exhibition Centre – comprising 50,000 sqm of rentable area and five exhibition halls, each with seating capacity for between 400 and 600 delegates – will also be the site of three new hotels.
The 62-level, five-star Tower, the 12-level, four-star Oasis and the 12-level, three-star Expo will each have 750 rooms and access to a green park located in between a three-floor shopping mall, seven-screen cinema and food court, where restaurants and cafés will be available.
With this much development in the pipeline, it is little wonder that tourism in the emirate is predicted to increase by a phenomenal 400 per cent over the next four years, reaching more than 2.5 million visitors annually by 2012. Ras Al Khaimah is shaping up as a force to be reckoned with when it comes to emerging Gulf destinations.
The other side of the Emirates
Dubai tends to grab the headlines, but the other UAE emirates are also making waves in the hospitality sector.
Al Ain
Sorouh Real Estate has signed Movenpick Hotels and Resorts to manage and operate its boutique hotel in the inland city of Al Ain, marking the developer’s first foray into the hotel-development business. Located next to Jebel Hafeet, the Movenpick Resort and Spa Al Ain will overlook the town centre and oasis, as well as the Al Ain Sports Club. Construction of the 230-room hotel is due to begin soon and the property will open at the end 2010. A multi-purpose ballroom, four meeting rooms and business centre will be on site, along with a range of leisure facilities.
Al Ain will also get a Dhs3.5 billion (£555 million) convention centre, which will add another dimension to the emirate’s mushrooming conference scene. Al Ain Convention Centre, to be developed by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), will be located in Al Khubaisi, with a gross area of 275,000 sqm, 230,000 sqm of which will be assigned for investors.
The centre will include a hotel and a modern conference centre at a cost of Dhs387 million (£60 million), a cultural centre, library and 21 residential buildings, serviced apartments and commercial offices. The centre will most likely target the educational and medical sectors, two areas where the city has built up a strong reputation; this will also help it position itself differently to the rapidly growing ADNEC, which now hosts a number of major year-round conventions and exhibitions.
Fujairah
The Coral Residence Tower, Fujairah, close to the beach, has been officially inaugurated, featuring 176 fully furnished apartments. The Masafi meeting room is available for small meetings and seminars, accommodating up to 50 and equipped with the latest technology. Executives can keep fit in the cool-sounding Gym and Tonic health club.
Sharjah
Sharjah has recently unveiled a new identity brand designed to sharpen the emirate’s focus on the tourism sector. Last year it received 1.5 million visitors, a notable increase from 600,000 in 2000. Hotel occupancy has risen to 85 per cent and the total number of hotels in Sharjah has increased to 96, up from just 20 properties in 2000.
Commenting on the initiative, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority chairman Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, said: “This brand is not simply a slogan, but an all-inclusive identity whose inherent character provides a clear direction and serves as a yardstick by which we can continue to promote the emirate on an international stage.”
The visuals for the new Brand Sharjah consist of a combination of symbols, colours and typography, representing several aspects of the emirate’s identity, and will become the standard branding used in all future communications.
The emirate’s new brand comprises three elements: namely, the Sharjah symbol, the Arabic word mark for Sharjah and the Latin word for Sharjah. These are rendered in a combination of light and deep blue, gold, purple and orange, with each of the colours symbolising a particular facet of the emirate’s identity: light blue for wellbeing and the east coast, deep blue for education, gold for business and industry, purple for art, heritage and culture, and orange for tourism and retail.
