Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has signed an agreement with Ras Al Khaimah International Airport to start operations on October 3, providing another option for air travel in the Northern Emirates.
The service — the carrier's third in the Emirates after Abu Dhabi and Dubai — will operate on a year-round schedule between the UAE's northernmost emirate and the airline's Manama hub, connecting Ras Al Khaimah to regional and international destinations, Gulf Air said in a statement on Saturday.
The agreement was signed by Zayed Alzayani, chairman of Gulf Air's board, and Sheikh Salem bin Sultan, chairman of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.
In attendance were Waleed AlAlawi, acting chief executive of Gulf Air, Atanasios Titonis, chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, and Raki Phillips, chief executive of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAK TDA).
“This agreement expands Ras Al Khaimah International Airport’s airspace by introducing multiple destinations from east to west. It is a great development to cater for the needs of regional and international travellers,” Sheikh Salem said in the statement.
“This agreement enhances the services between Bahrain and the UAE, and we are delighted to have this in partnership with Gulf Air.”
Gulf Air's new service is expected to give a boost to Ras Al Khaimah, which is heavily promoting tourism — considered as central to the GCC's long-term economic growth — and has unveiled several initiatives to attract visitors.
This month, the emirate was included in Time magazine's World's Greatest Places of 2022 list, an annual compilation of 50 must-visit destinations, which praised Ras Al Khaimah's adventure offerings and “stunning geodiversity”.
Last year, RAK TDA announced a Dh500m investment to develop new attractions at Jebel Jais that will “integrate seamlessly into the mountain ecosystem”.
Ras Al Khaimah is on track to boost the number of visitors by 12 per cent this year to more than 1.11 million in 2022, Mr Phillips last month said. The emirate hosted almost 1 million visitors in 2021.
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Al Jazirah Al Hamra and its fort in Ras Al Khaimah. The once abandoned pearling village has been restored. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National -
Christian Velde, chief archaeologist at RAK's department of antiquities and museums. -
The Bin Mahzam mosque in Al Jazirah Al Hamra. -
Mr Velde shows some of the restoration work at the fort. -
The house of Abdulla Al Karim Al Jazirah Al Hamra. -
The wind tower inside the house of Abdulla Al Karim at Al Jazirah Al Hamra. They were an early form of air-conditioning. -
The area around Al Jazirah Al Hamra. -
Part of the renovated area near Al Jazirah Al Hamra. -
Mr Velde talks about the architecture of the homes. -
The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah. -
Inside the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah. -
View of the boundary wall and traditional architecture at the museum. -
Traditional boats used for fishing and pearl diving on display at the museum. -
Pottery on display at the museum. -
The museum also has numerous displays such as pottery sherds. -
A traditional door at the museum. -
Tour guide Bilal Al Khaled shows different types of pearls at the Al Suwaidi pearl farm in Ras Al Khaimah. -
The Al Suwaidi pearl farm is reached via a short boat trip. -
A boat used to take tourists to the pearl farm. -
The farm has been producing tens of thousands of oysters each year, 60 per cent of which create pearls. -
Mr Al Khaled explaining the oyster-breeding technique at the farm. -
Pearls displayed at Al Suwaidi pearl farm. -
A traditional boat used for fishing and pearl diving at the pearl farm. -
Al Suwaidi pearl farm in Ras Al Khaimah. -
Dhayah Fort was built in the 19th century. -
The view from Dhayah Fort. -
The view from Dhayah Fort in Ras Al Khaimah. -
The entrance to Dhayah Fort. -
Mr Velde showing the tombs at Shimal. -
The area is still being excavated. -
The area around the Shimal tombs. -
The megalithic tombs were the burial places of up to 40 people each. -
The Shimal area offers a beautiful view of RAK.
Discussions between Gulf Air and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport began in early 2021, and a preliminary agreement was signed by the two parties at the Dubai Air Show that built on these talks.
Gulf Air, founded in 1950 and one of the biggest and oldest airlines in the Middle East, operates scheduled flights from Bahrain International Airport to cities in the region, Europe, Africa, the Indian Sub-continent and the Far East.
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport was established in 1976 and operates passenger and cargo services, and is a gateway for an increasing number of international visitors.
