RAK hotel renovations are gathering pace across Ras Al Khaimah as established resorts upgrade their rooms and rethink their positioning ahead of the September 2027 opening of Wynn Al Marjan Island, the UAE’s first casino resort. According to a report published by Skift on 1 October 2026, neighbouring properties are completing lifecycle refurbishments and changing how they sell themselves to travellers. For visitors, it means a noticeably different hotel scene on Al Marjan Island and beyond over the next twelve months.
What is happening to Ras Al Khaimah’s hotels
Alison Grinnell, CEO of Marjan Hospitality, told Skift that new hotels entering a market naturally push existing neighbours to refresh their product. In her words, when new, shiny hotels are coming into the market, neighbouring hotels want to make sure they have done upgrades. Two projects illustrate the trend clearly.
Rixos Al Mairid is refurbishing 323 rooms in its main building and is moving to a more premium positioning, with the change due in December. Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island is refurbishing 300 rooms and is scheduled to reopen as an adults-only resort in the second quarter of 2027. Both moves signal that operators expect the arrival of Wynn to raise the benchmark for quality across the destination.
Another shift is in how hotels package their offers. Hotels are expected to move away from all-inclusive packages towards bed-and-breakfast and half-board options. The reasoning is that guests staying near Wynn will want to spend on dining at the resort, which is set to debut with 22 restaurants. Gaming itself makes up only about 3% of the footprint of the 1,543-key resort, so the property is positioned as a wider leisure and dining destination rather than a casino alone.
The market backdrop: soft trading before the Wynn effect
The renovations come at a time when trading is under pressure. Skift reports that August occupancy fell to 60.5% from 76.4% a year earlier, while visitor growth in the first half of 2026 reached just 2.4%, driven entirely by domestic travellers, whose numbers rose 47%. Bookings for the fourth quarter are running 10 to 20% below expectations.
That picture is consistent with the softer first half already reported by the tourism authority, even though the emirate recorded a record 670,000 visitors in the period. In other words, demand is shifting in mix as much as in volume, and hotels are using the quieter months to renovate rather than compete on price alone.
The supply side is moving fast. Ras Al Khaimah currently has 8,197 hotel rooms, with a further 5,470 under construction. At that pace the destination is on course to roughly double its key count by the end of 2030, a target that the tourism authority has also set out publicly. Refurbished and repositioned existing resorts will compete with a wave of new luxury and branded openings, which is why upgrading now makes commercial sense.
Impact on Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism offer
For the emirate, the renovation cycle is part of a deliberate move up the value chain. A cluster of premium, adults-only and branded properties around Al Marjan Island gives Ras Al Khaimah a broader range of stays, from family beach resorts to quieter, couples-focused retreats. It also gives the destination a stronger story for international markets as Wynn approaches its opening.
The change in meal plans may also reshape the wider visitor economy. If guests eat out more, independent restaurants, beach clubs and attractions could benefit alongside the big resorts. Travellers who like to explore can pair a stay with the things to do in Ras Al Khaimah, from Jebel Jais to the mangroves and heritage sites, rather than staying inside a single resort.
Our guide to the Wynn Al Marjan Island project tracks the latest on the resort’s design, timeline and facilities, while our RAK hotels section covers where to stay across the emirate today.
What this means for visitors and travellers
If you are planning a trip in the coming months, check carefully whether your chosen resort is mid-refurbishment. Rixos Al Mairid’s main building is due to emerge in a more premium form from December, while Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island is expected to be closed or partly closed for works until its adults-only reopening in Q2 2027. Families should confirm room availability and facilities before booking, and anyone seeking a quiet adults-only stay may want to note the Pullman timeline.
The softer market also works in travellers’ favour. With occupancy below last year’s levels and fourth-quarter bookings behind forecasts, resorts are likely to be competitive on rates and packages through the winter season. Keep an eye on our RAK deals page for current offers, and read our RAK travel tips before you go.
Expect meal plans to evolve, too. If you prefer all-inclusive convenience, confirm what is included before you book, since some hotels may shift towards bed-and-breakfast or half-board. For longer stays, that could mean more flexibility to try the destination’s growing restaurant scene.
Investors and property buyers should also note the broader signal. Existing hotels investing in upgrades, combined with a pipeline of more than 5,000 rooms under construction, suggests operators are backing the emirate’s long-term growth despite short-term softness. The Wynn opening in September 2027 remains the central catalyst for that confidence.
Source: Skift