Ras Al Khaimah makes key appointments...

RAK Tourism Development Authority names two new executives

With tourism in the northern emirate of the UAE booming, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has named Brent Anderson (pictured) as Chief Commercial Officer and Emil Petrov as Vice President of Strategy and Insights.

Ras Al Khaimah welcomed a record 1.28 million overnight arrivals in 2024, up 5% on 2023, while tourism revenues rose 12%.

The latest executive appointments are designed to strengthen RAKTDA’s efforts to position the emirate as a leading destination in the region, as it doubles hotel inventory by 2027, including the Wynn Resort on Al Marjan Island which will be the region’s first casino.

Anderson joins RAKTDA tasked with driving commercial tourism strategy, drawing on three decades of experience in strategic tourism marketing, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement at Tourism Australia.

In his new role, he is responsible for expanding global partnerships, enhancing aviation connectivity and driving marketing awareness through strategic campaigns and global engagement.

With more than 15 years of experience, Petrov is responsible for shaping Ras Al Khaimah’s long-term tourism vision.

Previously, he was Head of Strategy and Strategic Projects at Tourism New Zealand, a position he held for eight years.

Raki Phillips, CEO of RAKTDA said the addition of Brent and Emil to its executive team would "bolster our strategy of attracting best-in-class talent to drive our tourism agenda forward".

Emil Petrov is VP of Strategy and Insights

“As Ras Al Khaimah develops, they will be charged with ensuring that liveability and sustainable tourism growth go hand in hand. Their leadership will be crucial in driving our industry forward and increasing tourism’s GDP contribution to one-third by 2030."

Located around an hour north of Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah is a popular staycation destination for UAE residents and increasingly for international travellers drawn by the beaches, mangroves, mountains (including the UAE’s highest peak Jebel Jais) and desert adventures.

Increased air connectivity to the emirate is boosting international arrivals, with new direct flights launched to RAK International Airport from key cities in Poland, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Czech Republic, Russia, Saudi and India.

RAK has also been added to Celestyal’s Arabian Gulf cruise itinerary due to increased awareness and interest from passengers.

For more information, visit raktda.com

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