The Week in RAK: 14 to 20 September 2026

14 to 20 September 2026. A three-minute read.

The news from Ras Al Khaimah that matters if you are thinking of buying or living here.

Number of the week

250,000. The extra residents officials expect in RAK by 2030. About 25,600 new homes are planned over the same period.

Economy and business

250,000 more people, 25,600 more homes. Officials project that RAK's population will grow from about 400,000 to 650,000 by 2030. Cavendish Maxwell counts about 25,600 homes planned over the same period. Turner & Townsend's UAE head of project management wrote in Construction Week last week that this, not Wynn, is the number to watch.

RAK keeps its A rating. S&P confirmed RAK's A/A-1 credit rating with a stable outlook, pointing to the government's net assets and cash reserves. It forecasts growth of 1.8% this year, rising to an average of 3.8% a year in 2028 and 2029.

RAK continues to attract manufacturers. Azerbaijan's ZAKH opened a 30,000 sq m solar panel factory in the Al Ghail industrial zone. It can make 600 MW of panels a year and plans to triple that.

Almost 1,000 new businesses in six months. RAK Chamber of Commerce figures show that in the first half of 2026, 1,399 investors from 68 nationalities put AED 771.5 million into RAK. They set up 967 new businesses, expected to create about 2,449 jobs.

RAK builds its links with China and Turkey. RAKEZ, which already hosts more than 400 Chinese companies, signed an agreement with a Chinese business federation. RAK Chamber signed one with Turkey's chambers union, which represents 100,000 companies.

Flying vehicles move a step closer. RAK agreed to set up its first test zone for air taxis with Aridge, the flying vehicle arm of China's XPeng. Aridge will base aircraft and a team in the emirate.

Property and building

Marjan Beach takes shape. First-phase earthworks at Marjan Beach will be finished within two months. The 85 million sq ft masterplan is 60% residential, with about 22,000 homes and 12,000 hotel rooms planned. Wasl, Omniyat and Beyond have already bought plots.

RAK rents are up 7.8% in a year. REIDIN's August index shows apartment rents 7.81% higher than a year ago. Sale prices are 2.05% higher, after easing 1.87% in August. Over five years RAK apartment prices are up 336%, against 71% in Dubai.

RAK's masterplans go online in 3D. Marjan launched the Marjan Digital Universe, a free online 3D map of its masterplans, including Al Marjan Island, Marjan Beach and RAK Central. Anyone can explore it at marjan.ae/universe.

Oceano passes the halfway mark. Middle East Construction News visited Oceano on Al Marjan Island and found the structure 63% complete, with about 1,200 workers on site. All 206 homes are sold.

The Gulf's first Sheraton-branded homes are under way. Atara is building 168 Sheraton homes on Al Marjan Island. Construction began in January.

Villas go on sale inside a nature reserve. Marjan is selling 35 Ritz-Carlton villas in the 1,235-acre Al Wadi reserve, with handover due in early 2028.

Borrowing costs edge up. The UAE Central Bank raised its base rate from 3.65% to 3.90%, following the US Federal Reserve.

Living and visiting

Wynn builds for the world's wealthiest guests. Wynn Al Marjan Island unveiled two seven-bedroom Royal Apartments at the top of its 70-storey tower, each about 1,460 sq m. They sit within Enclave, the resort's hotel within a hotel, which has more than 300 suites and four townhomes. They are for hotel guests, not for sale. The resort opens in September 2027.

An 80 km trail around the UAE's highest mountain. Jebel Jais is getting a multi-day hiking loop and a via ferrata of up to 20 km, with mountain shelters and a rescue network. Work runs through this winter.

Emirates to market RAK worldwide. RAK's tourism authority signed a joint marketing agreement with Emirates, which flies to about 140 destinations. The first half of 2026 was a record, with 670,000 visitors.

Two more hotels confirm 2028 openings. Address Al Marjan Island will have 196 rooms. Al Mahra Resort by Ascott will have 539 units.

Farmhouse by Syrco is back. The restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi reopens with 270 seats and a new wine bar.

If you are weighing a specific RAK development and want to know how it fits this picture, ask us.