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Indian Destination Weddings Flock to RAK

The emirate received 1.22 million tourists from across the world last year; Indian arrivals therefore contributed to more than 10 per cent of the total…reports Asian Lite News

After Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s northernmost emirate with an uninterrupted history of 7,000 years, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), has begun to attract Indian travellers, whose numbers grew by 22 per cent in 2023 to touch 1,40,000.

The emirate received 1.22 million tourists from across the world last year; Indian arrivals therefore contributed to more than 10 per cent of the total.

The growing interest in this primarily leisure destination led to IndiGo flagging off a daily flight to the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport last year to complement the other daily service from Mumbai. RAK, as a result, receives 14 flights weekly from India.

Interestingly, some of the momentum for this growth has come from the wedding market, with Indians seeing in RAK a new and exciting place to get married at. And the tourism authorities at RAK are ready to go to any lengths to meet the demands of Indian brides and grooms.

Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, who was in New Delhi, mentioned how an Indian bride was hung up on being escorted by police vehicles, sirens blaring, from the airport after she landed. The emirate’s police chief ensured she wasn’t disappointed.

Although RAK, which has a rich maritime history, is known for its white-sand beaches, pearl divers and being home to one of the world’s largest ceramics companies, it is very much on the map of wedding planners.

India’s outbound wedding market pie is what the world seeks to dip its fingers into. Phillips recalled how Hollywood’s favourite wedding planner, Preston Bailey, speaking at a major international conference of his fraternity, had declared that people who haven’t been to an Indian wedding do not really know what a big fat wedding really is all about.

“In 2023, Ras Al Khaimah’s wedding revenue surged by 103 per cent, driven by the demand for destination weddings from India,” Phillips said, adding that the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority conducts online certification programmes for wedding planners to acquaint them with the legal process to facilitate and fast track civil marriages.

The wedding market, coupled with the adventure sports segment, which is a big attraction at RAK, has also propelled the hospitality industry in the emirate, with the biggest development being the upcoming $3.9 billion, 1,500-key Wynn Al Marjan Island.

“We are doubling our hospitality portfolio with a pipeline of more than 20 properties set to add 6,999 keys to the current hotel inventory of 8,049 keys over the next few years,” Phillips said, mentioning also that global brands such as the Waldorf Astoria, Anantara, Nobu Hotels, W and Sofitel are all in different stages of opening, eyeing of course the affluent traveller.

Outwardly mobile Indians now have a new destination to check out within a nation they are all too familiar with.

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-Top News Arab News UAE News

RAK non-oil foreign trade sees 14% increase

The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has seen a 14 percent increase in non-oil foreign trade in 2021, surging from AED 14.78 billion in 2020 to AED 16.83 billion in 2021, according to the RAK Centre for Statistics and Studies…reports Asian Lite News

Exports accounted for the largest portion of the emirate’s total non-oil foreign trade, reaching 57 percent, at AED 9.539 billion compared to 2020, followed by imports, which accounted for 35 percent of the total, amounting to AED 5.97 billion, compared to AED 5.36 billion in 2020, followed by re-exports at 8 percent of the total.

Asian non-Arab countries were ranked first in terms of trade exchange volume in 2021, with their total reaching AED 6.25 billion (36 percent of the emirate’s total trade volume), followed by GCC countries in second place with AED 2.98 billion (18 percent), then Europe with AED 2.49 billion (15 percent), Arab countries with AED 2.14 billion (13 percent), the Americas with AED 1.24 billion (7.35 percent), and finally African non-Arab countries with AED 1.21 billion (7 percent).

Earlier, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has revised up its projections for the country’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, which is expected to reach 4.2 percent in 2023, compared with its previous forecast of 3.3 percent.

In its Annual Report for 2021, the CBUAE estimated the non-oil GDP growth to reach 3.9 percent in 2023, compared with previous estimates of 3.3 percent, while the oil GDP growth will reach 5 percent in 2023, compared with earlier estimates of 3.4 percent.

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The CBUAE has projected the real GDP growth to reach 5.4 percent in 2022, after the growth jumped to 3.8 percent in 2021.

The non-oil GDP growth rose to 5.3 percent in 2021, and is expected to reach 4.3 percent in 2022, in light of sustainable government spending, positive outlook for loan growth and the improvement in business sentiment, according to the estimates of the central bank.

The oil GDP growth is anticipated to grow 8 percent in 2022, due to the expected recovery in global demand, as well as the recovery of the transport and travel sector, and production increase of OPEC member countries.

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Arab News Dubai UAE News

RAK Ruler performs Eid Al Fitr prayer

RAK Ruler performs Eid Al Fitr prayer

A number of Sheikhs, senior officials, dignitaries, citizens and residents also performed prayers alongside the Ras Al Khaimah Ruler…reports Asian Lite News

H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, today morning performed Eid Al Fitr prayer at the Eid Grand Musalla in Khuzam.

A number of Sheikhs, senior officials, dignitaries, citizens and residents also performed prayers alongside the Ras Al Khaimah Ruler.

The imam delivered the sermon, which dealt with the noble meanings and values of the Holy Month of Ramadan. He also wished President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan good health and further progress and pride to the UAE and its people.

The imam asked Allah Almighty to rest the souls of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and founding rulers in eternal peace.

ALSO READ: Hamdan performs Eid Al Fitr prayer at Zabeel Grand Mosque

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-Top News Travel & Tourism UAE News

RAK tourism authority named one of UAE’s best workplaces

RAK tourism authority named one of UAE's best workplaces

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has further added to its credentials as an employer of choice with a top ten ranking on the Best Workplaces List of 2022 – Small & Medium Organisations…reports Asian Lite News

Awarded by the Great Place to Work, the global authority that recognises high-trust, high-performing workplace cultures, RAKTDA is the category’s highest placed government entity at number six.

The latest in a series of accolades, the Authority was also named one of the Best Workplaces for Women and a Great Place to Work in 2021, the first and only organisation in Ras Al Khaimah to be awarded this certification. It was also recognised as the ‘Government Entity with the Happiest Work Environment’ in the Emirate and ‘Happiest Employees in Ras Al Khaimah’ by the Sheikh Saqr Program for Government Excellence (SSPGE).

Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “This amazing recognition for our tourism board didn’t happen overnight or come following a one-off initiative. It was a sustained approach that began two years ago and touched almost every part of our employees’ lives in very meaningful ways. The pandemic took a huge toll not only on the industry but on everyone working in tourism and hospitality, and I believe our dedication to ensuring employee well-being, not only for our own colleagues but across the sector as a whole, has resulted in our successful recovery as a destination.”

As part of its ongoing employee driven efforts to create a work environment that places employee health and wellbeing at the core of its operations, the Authority has recently announced a platform of initiatives aimed at enriching connectivity, community life and facilities for tourism sector employees in the Emirate.

Working closely with government entities, industry stakeholders and hospitality partners, the Authority has set out a roadmap for the Emirate to drive its attractiveness for people to live, work and be immersed into a larger community.

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These initiatives include expanded public and inter-city transport across the Emirate, a thorough review of employment regulations and policies, community engagement programmes, employee recognition schemes, a RAK FAM community card, providing travel and tourism employees with special discounts across retail, leisure and activities in the Emirate, and certification for travel and hospitality partners. These initiatives build on the progressive policies put in place by the Authority, such as its ‘Lifestyle Benefits’ programme which ensures employees are provided for equally, regardless of age, gender, parental or marital status. It was also one of the first government entities in the Emirate to introduce an Official Remote Working policy and extensive hardship assistance programme. Additionally, its robust Emiratization programme provides Emirati nationals with leadership training and development opportunities for placement within the Authority or in leading industries throughout Ras Al Khaimah.

Sara Boueri, Senior Director of Human Resources at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, added: “At the Authority, we embrace our role in creating a progressive and welcoming working environment for everyone in the industry and are delighted that are efforts have been recognized once again. Our goal is to make Ras Al Khaimah one of the best places to live, work and raise a family, driven by a happy and strong community, diversified economy and a sustainable environment. As such we are continuously working on innovative ways to boost the mental wellbeing and livability of our Emirate.”

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Arab News News UAE News

RAK Ruler receives Prime Minister of Curacao

H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, today received, at his Palace in the Saqr bin Mohammed City, Gilmar Pisas, Prime Minister of Curacao…reports Asian Lite News

H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, today received, at his Palace in the Saqr bin Mohammed City, Gilmar Pisas, Prime Minister of Curacao, who is visiting the UAE. Lody Embrechts, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the UAE, attended the meeting.

RAK Ruler receives Prime Minister of Curacao (WAM)

Sheikh Saud welcomed Prime Minister Pisas, and discussed with him ways to strengthen ties between the UAE and Curacao in a number of areas.

Sheikh Saud also hailed the friendship ties and bilateral relations of cooperation between the UAE and Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island. (WAM)

ALSO READ: RAK Ruler receives Botswana President

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-Top News News UAE News

RAK Ruler receives Botswana President

RAK Ruler receives Botswana President

Sheikh Saud praised the growing partnership between the two countries in various fields…reports Asian Lite News

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, received today at his palace in Saqr bin Mohammed City, Dr. Mokgweetsi Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, who is on an official visit to the country.

H.H. Sheikh Saud and President Masisi discussed ways to enhance cooperation relations between the UAE and Botswana to serve the common interests of the two friendly countries at various levels.

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Sheikh Saud praised the growing partnership between the two countries in various fields. For his part, Masisi affirmed his country’s endeavors to strengthen cooperation relations with the UAE, and commended the Emirates’ prestigious status at the regional and global levels

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Arab News Events UAE News

RAK Ruler attends opening of 13th International Workshop on Advanced Materials

RAK Ruler attends opening of 13th International Workshop on Advanced Materials (WAM)

IWAM 2022 is a hybrid event that sees the majority of international speakers participating in person, with attendees watching online…reports Asian Lite News

H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, has attended the opening of the 13th RAK CAM International Workshop on Advanced Materials (IWAM 2022) at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, during which he spoke of the importance of further progress in the fields of science and sustainable development.

“Scientific discovery is the backbone to humanity’s progress. It is the gateway to advancement and holistic development and something that affects all our lives. With this in mind, it is incumbent upon us to continuously seek ways to enable the scientific community in its pursuit of new discoveries and to encourage younger generations to take up sciences as a means to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said H.H. Sheikh Saud on launching this year’s event.

RAK Ruler attends opening of 13th International Workshop on Advanced Materials (WAM)

“IWAM is a forum for some of the most highly regarded materials scientists and an influential platform where exchanges of ideas and information can lead to breakthroughs that have the potential to improve our world. I am delighted to have been able to attend and support such an event for so many years. Science must remain at the forefront of our vision if we are to achieve the bright future we all aspire to,” H.H. Sheikh Saud added.

The opening day of IWAM witnessed a speech on ‘Youthful Orientations’ by Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In honour of H.H. Sheikh Saud’s support for the international conference, the 2022 IWAM programme, which runs from February 20-22, includes the Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials Science, a prestigious award that recognises the efforts of someone who has made a significant contribution to the field of materials science. It has been named after H.H. Sheikh Saud as a mark of respect for his dedication and support for RAK CAM’s mission to enhance the field of Materials Science in the UAE and the region as a whole.

This year’s Sheikh Saud Prize will be presented to Sir Anthony Cheetham, Research Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore. Prof. Cheetham is one of the world’s most distinguished materials chemists and has been the Chairman of the RAK CAM Board since its creation in 2007.

Michael Klein, the Dean of Science & Technology at Temple University, Philadelphia, and Member of the RAKCAM Board, said: “We congratulate Sir Anthony on this important award and express our heartfelt thanks to His Highness Sheikh Saud for his inspiration, kindness and generosity. Sir Anthony is a brilliant chemist and a world-leading expert in the field of framework materials. He has published more than 700 papers that have attracted nearly 60,000 citations and is especially noted for creating entirely new advanced materials – specifically for synthesising and characterising an array of entirely new so-called ‘framework’ materials. The Sheikh Saud Award to Sir Anthony is for his broad-ranging contributions to the field of inorganic materials.”

RAK Ruler attends opening of 13th International Workshop on Advanced Materials (WAM)

H.H. Sheikh Saud has long been a supporter of IWAM, a scientific conference that focuses on developments in the field of Advanced Materials – materials that are either new or significantly improved to provide a distinct advantage in (physical or functional) performance when compared to conventional materials.

IWAM 2022 is a hybrid event that sees the majority of international speakers participating in person, with attendees watching online.

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It has 22 invited speakers, including two Nobel Prize winners, who will discuss research that has the potential to make a great impact on developing clean and renewable forms of energy, nanomedicine, for improved diagnostics and therapy, and a clean, healthy environment.

RAK Ruler attends opening of 13th International Workshop on Advanced Materials (WAM)

This year IWAM features the 4th Dresselhaus Memorial Lecture, which will be given by Professor Ben Feringa, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016 “for the design and synthesis of molecular machines”. Millie Dresselhaus was a founding Board Member of the Ras Al Khamiah Center for Advanced Materials (RAK CAM) who passed away in February 2017.

Another speaker will be Professor Andre Geim, Nobel Laureate in Physics 2010, who delivered the 3rd Dresselhaus Memorial Lecture, in 2020.

Since its inception, IWAM has grown to become the ‘must-attend’ conference for the world’s leading materials scientists. It has developed into an established incubator for scientists of the future, with more than 100 young scientists from the UAE and the broader MENA region invited to participate each year.

Special lectures on materials science for local high-school students are also included as part of the event’s extensive programme. (WAM)