Ras Al Khaimah expecting more visitors

Ras Al Khaimah looks set to follow the example of its fellow emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai over the coming years with a boom in visitors numbers.

The territory, which is in the north of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is set to benefit from a number of new hotels and other accommodation providers starting operations in the next five years.

RAK Tourism, the organisation responsible for promoting the emirate's travel industry, said nearly two dozen five-star hotels and premium establishments are expected to be up and running by 2012, reports Gulf News.

A statement from the company said: "The new hotels are expected to more than double the current supply of hotel rooms in Ras Al Khaimah, helping accommodate the projected 2.5 million tourists in the emirate by 2012.

"From a current capacity of over 1,800 hotel rooms, the influx of new hotel developments - including at least 20 internationally renowned five-star hotels - will deliver up to 3,700 new rooms by 2012."

Khater Massaad, chief executive of the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority, said hotel development had "jumped to a new level" to cater for the rising interest that travellers are showing in Ras Al Khaimah.

UK travellers visiting the UAE can fly into Abu Dhabi or Dubai.