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Ras Al Khaimah Aims To Be India’s Next Favourite Emirate
Bhisham Mansukhani - Mumbai
Ras Al Khaimah is positioning itself to become India's next
favourite Emirate destination following the success of Dubai as both an investment
and tourism hub over the past two decades.
While the Emirate has been actively marketing its attractive investment policies
to India, it is also considering a local representative for tourism promotion,
given its proximity and easy connectivity to Dubai.
Dr Izzat Dajani, CEO (Investment & Development Office) Government of Ras
Al Khaimah, said, "Ras Al Khaimah is witnessing a huge infrastructure boom
in the hospitality industry and plans for the constructing an international
air terminal are in advanced stages. While a lot of tourist attractions are
already being promoted by Dubai, we are looking at capturing a niche. The combination
of the desert and the beach gives us a distinct advantage."
 Dajani
said that his Emirate was confident of the presence of a captive market in the
Indian subcontinent owing to the proximity and the affinity between the communities
in the two regions. "It is a natural choice for a hub and also has an appeal
for many budget profiles. A new three-lane highway linking Ras Al Khaimah with
Dubai, which separates the two Emirates by 45 minutes is already operational.
It is also perhaps prudent to build on the infrastructure that Dubai has already
created. We see the UAE as a single country and will therefore ally with Dubai,"
he added.
He revealed that opening an office on private initiative
is a possibility in case of India. "Tourism is part of Ras Al Khaimah's
economic department and it is presently considering an Indian presence to enhance
it's status as a destination. Low-frill airlines will be one of the major drivers
in terms of delivering visitors to Ras Al Khaimah.
“While Air-India used to fly to Ras Al Khaimah, we will promote no-frill
carrier flights as the easiest way to make the Emirate more accessible to Indian
tourists and businessmen," Dajani concluded.
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