Today's Edition
Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi)
Resorts across the UAE have experienced a surge of bookings following the announcement of a nine-day public holiday in celebration of Eid Al Fitr. Raki Phillips, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, told Aletihad that bookings were higher than usual, in what is already a busy part of the year.
“2024 to date has been a great year for Ras Al Khaimah; we expect this momentum to carry on for the rest of the year, particularly during the upcoming Eid break – traditionally a very busy period here in Ras Al Khaimah. Following the outstanding occupancy rates seen during Eid Al Fitr in 2023, we are confident that this year will see the same level of success, if not more,” he told Aletihad.
“Since the nine-day holiday was announced, we have seen a surge in bookings with travellers wanting to make the most of the extended break and do something out of the out of the ordinary.”
Raki said he believed the northern emirate’s unique offering of nature, adventure, and luxury have made it a desired staycation destination for residents. He said a wide variety of hotels are offering Eid-specific packages, which are further attracting families to make a trip to the city.
“Much of our tourism success is owed to the diverse range of hospitality experiences available. From luxurious beachfront resorts to charming glamping options and serene desert and mountain retreats, the emirate caters to every traveller’s preference,” Raki said.
“From Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak, offering a range of exhilarating mountain activities to cultural exploration at Suwaidi Pearls – the UAE’s only Arabian pearl farm, thrilling desert off-roading, quad biking, hot air ballooning, aerobatic flights. The destination is the perfect place to do something different this Eid.”
According to data from hospitality data and analytics firm, STR, major markets across the region have recorded high increases in booking leading up to the Eid break this year. Last year, the firm found that Qatar’s extension of its holiday boosted the already common spike in demand during Eid, with a similar impact expected on the UAE market this year.
The Chief Executive of 5 Hospitality, which runs properties Five Palm Jumeirah, Five Jumeirah Village, and Five Luxe, recently said that the company had experienced a 30% increase in revenue from the same time last year, which he attributed to a surge in bookings from local residents.
