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The master developer of Al Marjan Island says it has not slowed investment through the regional conflict, and expects visitor numbers to return to pre-conflict levels in 2027, with a caveat about the next few months. Behind that is a pipeline that is as much about housing and branded residences as it is about hotels.

Ras Al Khaimah · Tourism & Development

Marjan Expects Ras Al Khaimah's Tourism to Recover by 2027, as Wynn, Marjan Beach and Jebel Jais Take Shape

MARKET DESK 6 MIN READ RAS AL KHAIMAH · MARJAN PIPELINE

Key Figures

Recovery Expectation

Pre-conflict levels in 2027

Conditional on how the next three to four months unfold, per Marjan Hospitality.

Wynn Al Marjan Island

$5.7 billion

Resort under construction on Al Marjan Island, with its opening approaching.

Marjan Beach, Planned Capacity

22,000 homes, 12,000 keys

Across eight neighbourhoods, for about 74,000 residents.

RAK Central Opens

September 2027

The emirate's first Grade A, LEED-certified office buildings.

Why This Matters

Ras Al Khaimah's property story has leaned heavily on tourism and branded residences. If visitor numbers are recovering and investment never paused, the supply now being planned has a clearer path to demand. But the recovery is described as underway, not complete, and it depends on conditions beyond the emirate's control, so it is worth separating what has been confirmed from what is still an expectation.

Where Things Stand

A Recovery Under Way, Not Yet Back to Last Year

What was lost

International visitors fell first, which was the biggest immediate hit to hotels.

How hotels responded

A fast pivot to UAE and GCC staycations, which supported the destination through the difficult months.

First market back

Russia and the wider CIS region, traditionally important, and booking only two to four weeks ahead.

Other signs

International travellers, tour operators and transient guests are returning as airline capacity recovers.

Current volumes

Still below the same period last year, so the recovery is partial.

Investment

Not slowed. Refurbishments at Pullman on Marjan Island and Rixos Bab Al Bahr continue, using the quieter period.

"We haven't slowed down investment."

Alison Grinnell, Group COO of Marjan and CEO of Marjan Hospitality

Marjan Beach

A Mixed-Use District on a Very Large Scale

Planned capacity as described by the master developer. Figures are plans, not delivered stock.

Neighbourhoods

8, mixed residential, hospitality, commercial, civic and logistics

Beach frontage

3 km

Open green space

6.5 million sq ft

Residential units planned

About 22,000

Hotel keys planned

About 12,000

Resident capacity

About 74,000

Projected workforce

About 32,000

Hotel operator talks are under way with what the developer described as probably all of the large operating companies, with more announcements expected within two to three months. Hard Rock Hotel and Residences is already named as a signature project in the Vive district.

Dates to Watch

The Next Twelve Months or So

NEXT 3 TO 4 MONTHS

Key window for the recovery. Marjan says the 2027 return to pre-conflict levels depends on what happens here.

NEXT 2 TO 3 MONTHS

More hotel-operator announcements expected for Marjan Beach.

EARLY NOVEMBER 2026

Closed areas of Jebel Jais are expected to reopen after development work.

NOVEMBER 2026

Topping-out expected for the RAK Central office blocks.

SEPTEMBER 2027

RAK Central opens as the emirate's main business district.

DATE NOT STATED

Wynn Al Marjan Island opening is described as approaching, without a date in this interview.

Beyond the Beach

Jebel Jais, Branded Residences and the Wider Offer

Mountain

An 80 km Grand Loop and a Five-Day Via Ferrata

The Jebel Jais programme links existing and new trails into an 80 km Grand Loop, with a planned five-day Via Ferrata of up to 20 km across four sections of varying difficulty, plus hiking infrastructure, mountain rescue support, wayfinding and food and beverage concepts.

Branded Residences

Called "An Integral Part" of the Strategy

Marjan says branded residences support developer returns, strengthen the hotel ecosystem, give buyers access to hotel facilities and bring residents who spend money in the emirate. Ritz-Carlton branded residences are planned in the desert.

Business District

RAK Central Adds a Working Population

First Grade A, LEED-certified offices give the emirate a commuter and corporate demand base that tourism alone does not provide.

Analysis

What It Means for Property

Demand Mix

Visitor Profile Is Already Shifting East

Luxury resorts have drawn more travellers from China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea over five years, and Wynn is expected to bring gaming-market visitors on top. A broader mix lowers reliance on any single source market.

Resilience Signal

Domestic and GCC Demand Cushioned the Shock

Hotels leaned on UAE and GCC staycations while international visitors were away. That suggests a base of regional demand beneath the destination, which matters for rental and branded-residence income.

Market Context

It Fits the Moderation Seen in Sales Data

H1 market reviews noted pricing and absorption cooling since late February, even as year-on-year numbers stayed strong. A tourism recovery in 2027 would be consistent with that picture, though those reviews do not themselves attribute the cooling to tourism.

Sequencing Risk

Everything Has to Arrive Together

Marjan's own stated challenge is making sure transport, infrastructure and supply chains are ready when Wynn and the other projects open. Homes delivered ahead of the surrounding ecosystem tend to be the ones that disappoint.

Conditional Timeline

"By 2027" Depends on the Next Few Months

The recovery forecast is explicitly tied to near-term developments. Treat it as a base case, not a guarantee, and watch whether international volumes close the gap to last year.

Check the Number

The Reported Visitor Figure Looks Inconsistent

The interview cites up to 180,000 visitors a year for Marjan Beach, which looks low beside about 12,000 planned hotel keys. The unit, annual or at one time, is unclear, so treat that number as unverified until it is clarified.

How to Read Ras Al Khaimah's Outlook

Separate confirmed items, such as the RAK Central date and Jebel Jais reopening, from expectations such as the 2027 tourism recovery.
Watch international arrivals and Russia and CIS bookings over the next few months as the earliest signal.
For branded residences, ask when the hotel or operator opens relative to handover, since amenities and income depend on it.
Compare Marjan Beach's 22,000 planned homes against the emirate's wider 2026 to 2030 pipeline cited in market reviews, noting that overlap between the two is not stated.
Treat planned capacity numbers as targets, and check what has actually launched, sold and been delivered.

Closing

Recovering, With the Pipeline Still Moving

Ras Al Khaimah's operator says the worst of the visitor disruption has passed, investment has continued, and the big openings are approaching. The honest reading is a destination mid-recovery, with a sizeable housing and hospitality pipeline that works best if the visitors, infrastructure and operators all arrive on the same schedule.

This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Statements about recovery timing, capacity and project dates are forward-looking and reflect the master developer's views at the time of the interview; they are subject to change. Verify current project status directly with the developer before making a decision.

About the author

Aldrin Thomas

Associate Partner

With over a Billion in closed transactions, Aldrin Thomas has earned a trusted reputation as one of Dubai’s most accomplished real estate advisors. As an Associate Partner at M R ONE PROPERTIES, Aldrin is recognized for his in-depth market knowledge, integrity, and client-first approach, values that resonate with high-net-worth investors, entrepreneurs, and global professionals alike. Specializing in Dubai’s most prestigious neighborhoods, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Hills, Downtown, and beyond, Aldrin delivers strategic, ROI-focused guidance whether you're buying a trophy home or building a wealth-generating portfolio. Respected by developers and clients alike, Aldrin is a regular presence at exclusive launches, private briefings, and international investor summits. When experience, trust, and results matter. Aldrin Thomas is the name to know in Dubai real estate.

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