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Ras Al Khaimah, home to Wynn’s US$5.7 billion UAE resort, sees international visitation and hotel occupancy plummet in first half on war impact

Thursday, August 20, 2026 10:15 AM
Photo: Marjan RAK/Shutterstock.com
  • Ben Blaschke, Inside Asian Gaming

International visitation to Ras Al Khaimah – home to Wynn Resorts’ US$5.7 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island integrated resort development – plummeted in the first half of 2026 as foreigners steered clear due to the nearby conflict in Iran.

According to information from the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), reported by local media outlet Arabian Gulf Business Insights, total visitation during 1H26 reached an all-time high of over 670,000 – driven by value-added hotel offers that drove domestic demand.

However, Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Center data shows that hotel occupancy fell by 19 percentage points versus the same period in 2025, ranging from the low-30% and mid-40% range between March and June.