Smaller emirates beef up visitor appeal

Dubai: Dubai and Abu Dhabi may make the headlines when it comes to launching major tourism projects, but the UAE's smaller emirates are also beefing up their visitor appeal.

Ras Al Khaimah, the fourth largest of the UAE's seven emirates, is aiming to attract 2.5 million visitors in 2012, compared to 500,000 last year.

Fujairah, which has an estimated population of 103,600, is targeting a 200,000 visitor number in the same year. Last year the coastal emirate attracted 160,000 tourists, up 10 per cent on 2005.

The plans translate into multi-billion dirham projects, numerous new hotels and thousands of new jobs. However, tourism officials insist they are not competing for visitors with their wealthy neighbours.

"The UAE is one country and we all share a common goal - to attract more tourists here. It doesn't matter if it is Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi so long as the country benefits," said Saeed Bin Saeed Al Sharqi, chairman of the Fujairah Tourism Bureau.

Fujairah's visitor targets depend on its ability to boost hotel capacity, said Al Sharqi. Two new hotels will open this year - Hotel JAL Fujairah Resort & Spa and Miramar Fujairah Resort - boosting the overall number to eight beach resorts and three inland hotels.

Meanwhile, nearby Ras Al Khaimah has been one of the the country's most active emirates in terms of launching tourism projects.

Last week, the Government of Ras Al Khaimah said it will set up a Dh10 billion tourism and hospitality hub, International Hospitality Trade and Training Zone.

Project development company Rakeen recently unveiled the Dh1.2 billion Bab Al Bahr resort. It will feature, among other things, a four-star hotel, time-share apartments, and freehold residential apartments.