Ras Al Khaimah tourism development authority partners with TUI Russia to open new direct travel routes between Russia and the Emirate

• The flight marked the first charter operation for TUI Russia by Ural Airlines to Ras Al Khaimah
  

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE: Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development authority (RAKTDA) today announced the commencement of the first charter operation from Moscow to the Emirate, in partnership with TUI Russia, part of the TUI Group, one of the world’s leading travel companies.  The inaugural Ural Airlines flight for the Winter Season 2019 – 2020, touched down in Ras Al Khaimah International Airport at 18:50 on the 30^th of October, carrying 220 passengers from Domodedovo Moscow Airport.

The partnership with TUI Russia comes in line with the increasing number of inbound tourists to the Emirate from key international markets including Russia. The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has witnessed a 5% growth in overall visitor arrivals YTD, with the peak reaching 117,995 visitors in August 2019. Russia has significantly contributed to this record-breaking number of visitors recorded in August 2019 with growth percentages of 25.3%.

The first cohort of passengers arriving in Ras Al Khaimah were welcomed by the CEO of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, Sanjay Khanna, the CEOs of Desert Adventures Tourism, Mr. Peter Payet and Mr. Tarek Mohamed, and key members of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. The arrival was celebrated through an exclusive culture program, comprised of a red carpet welcome and a selection of gifts from the Duty Free for each passenger.

H.E. Engr. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation Ras Al Khaimah commented “We are happy to welcome TUI Russia to Ras Al Khaimah, this new partnership will help us to further introduce Ras Al Khaimah to the Russian market and will offer our guests greater choice and convenience. I welcome all the guests to Ras Al Khaimah and am confident that this partnership will thrive here in this dynamic, innovative and welcoming Emirate. We look forward to welcoming and ensuring the guests enjoy a relaxing and smooth experience throughout the airport and around the Emirate.”

Raki Philips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said: “Russia has held its position as one of the key source markets responsible for a big share of the increasing number of inbound tourists to the Emirate. We are honoured to be welcoming further visitors from Russia to experience the diverse landscape and abundance of attractions Ras Al Khaimah has to offer as a result of our fortuitous partnership with TUI Russia. This new addition is an important step in our continuous drive to increase accessibility and visibility, attract more high yield visitors, and ultimately boost both first-time and repeat visitation from our source markets.”

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is currently connected to over 20 destinations around the world including Prague, Moscow, Luxembourg, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Katowice, Poznan, Brno, Cairo, Calicut, Peshawar, Jeddah, Islamabad and Lahore, highlighting the Emirate’s soaring popularity in markets outside the region. It plays a key role in the Emirate’s plans to draw in 1.5 million visitors by 2021 and 3 million visitors by 2025, supported by partnerships with globally recognised bodies such as the TUI Group.

Sanjay Khanna, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport said “Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is pleased to collaborate with TUI Russia and we continue to welcome such partnerships, whilst investing in enhancing operations to meet the rising number of visitor arrivals. We are constantly focusing on increasing connectivity and ensuring one of the most convenient and hassle free airport experience for the passengers. We believe that a destination can be successful if there is a good airlift and our agenda is to find the right opportunities and capitalize on them. We identify the potential of a route and aggressively work on getting it done. We would like to thank the authorities and the team at TUI Russia for making this possible.”

With over 7,000 years of fascinating history, traditional culture and magnificent landscapes, Ras Al Khaimah promises an authentic Arabian experience to the incoming guests resulting from the partnership with TUI Russia.  The haven of year-round sunshine, features a rich backdrop of spectacular landscapes, ranging from pristine beaches, lush mangrove trees and undulating terracotta desert, to fertile, green oases and the dramatic, awe-inspiring vistas of the majestic Hajar mountains.

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About Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is the northernmost of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is known for its rich history, dating back 7,000 years, and diverse landscape, from 64km of pristine beaches, to terracotta deserts and an imposing mountain backdrop. The Emirate is home to the highest peak in the UAE, Jebel Jais, which features the world’s longest zip line, at almost 3km.

RAK is also centrally located at the modern crossroad between Europe and Asia, with one third of the world’s population within four hour’s flying time, making it an ideal location for businesses to expand into the UAE, the Middle East and Africa and beyond.

At the Emirate's economic heart lies several major companies and sectors - industrial (including RAK Rock and Stevin Rock’s quarries, RAK Ceramics and Julphar Pharmaceuticals); RAK Ports; RAK Economic Zone; banking via RAKBANK; RAK Gas and tourism. Supporting these industries is a modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art industrial areas and business parks and world-class hotels, facilities and attractions for tourists.

For the past decade, Ras Al Khaimah has been consistently rated ‘A’ by Fitch and Standard & Poor’s rating agencies and already the Emirate is home to more than 15,000 businesses from 100 countries representing over 50 industries. RAK Courts is also the second-fastest court in the world at enforcing contracts in commercial disputes.

To learn more about Ras Al Khaimah, visit us at:

• www.visitrasalkhaimah.com 
• www.raktda.com 
• www.facebook.com/visitrasalkhaimah 
• www.youtube.com/visitrasalkhaimah 
• https://twitter.com/raktourism 

#VisitRasAlKhaimah

About Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA)

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) was established in May 2011 under the government of Ras Al Khaimah. In order to attract 1.5 million visitors by 2021, and 3 million visitors by 2025, the Ras Al Khaimah TDA aims to develop the Emirate’s tourism infrastructure and establish Ras Al Khaimah as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel, creating sustainable investment opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for its residents. In order to achieve its goals, the Ras Al Khaimah TDA has a government mandate to license, regulate and monitor the Emirate’s tourism and hospitality industry.

About Ras Al Khaimah International Airport

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport was established in March 1976 under the government of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT) is the gateway between Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and the world. It operates Passenger and Cargo services to a variety of destinations.

Currently, flights from various destinations in the world like Cairo, Islamabad, Jeddah, Lahore, Peshawar, Calicut, Katowice, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Luxembourg, Prague, and Moscow operate to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. Ras Al Khaimah International airport is on its way to add many more important and interesting destinations to its current connectivity in near future.

For further information, please contact:

Asda’a Burson Cohn & Wolfe
+971 (4) 4507600
RAK@bcw-global.com 

Noura Dabo
Public Relations Manager, RAKTDA
noura@raktda.com 
+971 (0)7 204 4063

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Amer Alazaiza
Manager of Business Development
Tel: +971 7 2075223
Email: amer.alazaiza@rakairport.com  

© Press Release 2019