Set to Transform Emirates’ Northernmost Destination Into
Middle East’s Next Premium Real Estate Hub
SINGAPORE, 21 July 2025 – Christie’s International Real Estate Singapore has announced a strategic focus on Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), the rising star among the United Arab Emirates’ seven Emirates, as a prime destination for international property investment. With the launch of transformative projects such as Wynn Al Marjan Island, a SGD 6.5 billion (USD 5.1 billion) integrated resort set to open in 2027, RAK is rapidly emerging as a compelling opportunity for investors seeking growth, lifestyle appeal, and long-term capital value.
For Singapore-based investors, Ras Al Khaimah’s transformation echoes Singapore’s own integrated resort success story. Following the launch of Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa in 2010–2011, Singapore welcomed an additional 5.89 million international tourists within just three years, catalysing widespread development across its hospitality, retail, and commercial sectors. Similarly, Wynn Al Marjan Island is projected to reshape RAK’s tourism landscape, with annual visitation expected to grow from 1.5 million in 2022 to over 5.5 million by 2030. This exponential growth will not only boost demand for real estate, but also necessitate the evolution of RAK’s broader economy, from infrastructure and services to talent, transport, and lifestyle offerings, positioning it as the UAE’s next frontier for integrated urban development.
First-Mover Advantage in an ‘A+’ Rated Market
With a stable ‘A+’ sovereign credit rating from Fitch, full foreign ownership rights, freehold land availability, and zero personal income tax, RAK offers Singapore investors a unique value proposition. The emirate maintains one of the UAE’s strongest fiscal positions, with government debt at less than 10% of GDP and consistent budget surpluses since 2013. Entry prices for premium properties start at approximately SGD 600 per sq. ft. (AED 1,700), with apartment prices starting at approximately SGD 500,000 (AED 1.43 million), making RAK an attractively priced alternative with great potential for upside, especially when compared to more saturated regional markets. This economic stability, combined with RAK’s 45-minute proximity to Dubai International Airport, further enhances its appeal to early investors.
“In many ways, Ras Al Khaimah feels like what Dubai was 20 years ago, or Singapore in its early transformation phase – a location with the fundamentals, infrastructure and ambition to scale globally," said Harmeet Singh Bedi, Co-Founder of Christie’s International Real Estate Singapore. “The timing is ideal for discerning investors to get in early, before international demand accelerates pricing and availability."
Strategic Partnership with Al Hamra
Driving this transformation is Al Hamra, the flagship lifestyle development arm of the Ras Al Khaimah royal family. As one of the most integral pillars of the royal family’s business interests, Al Hamra commands over SGD 900 million in assets and a 77-million-square-foot masterplan. Al Hamra has pioneered RAK’s premium to ultra-luxury residential market through partnerships with global hospitality brands including Waldorf Astoria, Sofitel, and Ritz-Carlton. Christie’s International Real Estate Singapore has been appointed as Al Hamra’s exclusive distributor in Singapore for all their residential offerings, bringing this exceptional portfolio to discerning Singapore-based investors.
“We’re witnessing unprecedented international interest in Ras Al Khaimah, particularly from sophisticated markets like Singapore,” said Christopher Hewett, Senior Vice President of Al Hamra. “RAK’s emergence as a lifestyle emirate, offering natural beauty, a 45-kilometre coastline, and a thriving environment for both tourism and enterprise, is driving this momentum. With over 30,000 new businesses established last year and a growing manufacturing base, early investors are recognising a rare window of opportunity to enter a market on the cusp of global recognition.”
Golden Visa Gateway and Lifestyle Investment
The UAE’s Golden Visa programme offers an attractive pathway for Singapore-based families seeking long-term residency abroad. Property investors who commit approximately SGD 700,000 (AED 2 million) gain access to a 10-year renewable visa, granting the freedom to live, work, study, and invest in the UAE without the need for a local sponsor.
Market fundamentals support continued growth, with RAK forecasting a residential supply gap of 45,000 to 60,000 units by 2030 based on current development pipelines. Early investors are capitalising on attractive entry points, particularly in branded beachfront residences, which remain significantly more accessible compared to similar offerings in Dubai or Singapore’s prime districts. With strong yield potential and long-term lifestyle appeal, RAK continues to gain traction as the UAE’s next real estate hotspot.
“This is not just about real estate – it’s about rethinking where wealth lives and grows in the next decade,” added Himmat Singh, Co-Founder of Christie’s International Real Estate Singapore. “With the combination of luxury infrastructure, political stability, and rising global connectivity, Ras Al Khaimah presents a rare opportunity for Singapore-based investors to diversify early into a future-facing destination.”
