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RAK Hotel to undergo massive renovation

RAS AL KHAIMAH - To cope with the emirate's ever-increasing tourism and entertainment sector and to lure more both get-away seekers and business travellers,

The RAK Hotel will be made to undergo massive expansion and renovation.

The hotel, which was built more than 30 years ago, occupies a unique position atop a sand dune that overlooks the picturesque Al Qewasim Corniche and Khuzam area and within walking distance from the Tower Links Golf Course, not far away from the Hajar Mountains and other tourist attractions.

"The essence of the plan is to transform this hotel into a five-star one that allures visitors from all over the world so as to boost the local tourism industry," Nail Sohoglu, General Manager of the hotel, told Khaleej Times.

The first part of the two-year and two-part plan includes, "upgrading of the services offered by the hotel's rooms, suites, event halls, restaurants and sports facilities," he said. The second part features the introduction of three more food and beverage outlets in addition to other modern amenities, he added.

As for those who are seeking more special services that maintains privacy, "we are also planning to build around ten villas on the hotel's surrounding area," he said.

The resort has for the time being 92 rooms including 10 suites, two restaurants, swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, Jacuzzi, health club, billiard room and squash, badminton, basket, tennis and volleyball courts.

"The surrounding area will also undergo a landscaping process with palm trees, different flowers and lush to give it exceptional flavour," he said. This is in addition to an Aqua Park that evokes that marine side of the emirate, he added.

The plan also includes, establishment of a man-made beach just across the road that would be connected to the hotel with a pedestrian flyover, said Sohoglu. The beach will also feature a dhows restaurant that serves different Arab, Asian, continental and international cuisines, he added.

According to Sohoglu, the hotel is also planning to launch a massive promotion campaign to attract more tourists from Europe and other parts of the world to come to the emirate and enjoy its unique natural beauty and historical attractions. The RAK tourism industry has witnessed a tremendous leap throughout the previous years and its contribution to the emirate's Gross National Product (GNP) for the year 2003 has registered 1.9 per cent and the number of hotels has jumped from only three in the year 1999 to six in the year 2003, said a report issued recently by RAK Economic Department. Besides the desert and mountain climbing safaris, the hotel organises trips to the city's shopping malls and to Ain Khet Spa and Health Resort and other tourist destinations besides dune derives, camel rides, water skies, traditional Bedouin dessert dinners, etc.

The emirate has a number of sports and cultural facilities like the RAK National Museum, RAK National Theatre, the Emirates Centre for Diving and Marine Sports, RAK Shooting Club and Al Jazzerah Aviation Club this is besides a number of cultural and folkloric troupes that organise different traditional shows.

The emirate is also linked with the other emirates with an advanced network of highways and has a modern airport and seaport.