Ras Al Khaimah is actively developing its tourism infrastructure and establishing itself as a world-class destination for leisure and business travelers. In 2022, it was named one of the World’s Greatest Places by Time Magazine and ranked among CNN Travel’s Best Destinations to Visit in 2023. But it needs to mitigate the negative impacts of exponential tourism growth, while still embracing the positives it delivers, especially that today’s travelers seek genuine and science-backed sustainability commitments from destinations.
In fact, Ras Al Khaimah aims to become the UAE’s and the region’s sustainable tourism leader by 2025. It recently became the first Middle Eastern destination to receive Silver Certification from EarthCheck’s Sustainable Destination, a scientific benchmarking and certification program for tourism destinations. This recognition is significant given the challenges posed by the region’s climate, which calls for a more robust approach to managing energy and water consumption to meet EarthCheck’s stringent requirements.
The certification process involved meticulous monitoring, benchmarking, and auditing across the 10 sustainability indicators listed below.
- Greenhouse gas emissions.
- Air quality protection, noise control, and light pollution.
- Management of freshwater resources.
- Wastewater management, drainage and streams.
- Ecosystem conservation and management.
- Land use planning and development; transport.
- Solid waste management.
- Management of environmentally harmful substances.
- Cultural and social management.
- Economic management.
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has launched its own sustainability certification program for tourism businesses called “Responsible RAK”. Over 20 tourism businesses are part of the program today. Responsible RAK is powered by EarthCheck’s science and data, ensuring businesses are measuring their environmental impact and taking real action.