Ras Al Khaimah becomes the first city in the world to be certified as safe by bureau Veritas and the first emirate to receive the World Travel And Tourism Council (WTTC) safe travels stamp

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is delighted to announce its certification as an officially safe city, according to the stringent standards demanded by Bureau Veritas, the global leader in testing, inspection and certification services.

The Emirate, the northernmost in the UAE, is the first destination in the Middle East to be awarded the prestigious Safeguard Assurance Label guaranteeing that heightened safety standards, training and hygiene protocols are in place. 

Through a strategic partnership with Bureau Veritas, RAKTDA has implemented pioneering health, safety and hygiene measures across all Ras Al Khaimah hotels to eliminate risk for employees and guests and thus ensure complete peace of mind.

In addition, the 50,000 square foot Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Center is now the only such venue in the Middle East to achieve Bureau Veritas certification.

This first milestone on the new roadmap has been reached as Ras Al Khaimah becomes the first Middle Eastern City and first Emirate in UAE to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp – an accreditation developed for the global travel and tourism industry to address the challenges presented by COVID-19 and similar outbreaks.

Developed in collaboration with WTTC members, leading industry associations and governments, the Safe Travels Stamp aims to facilitate “a future of travel which is safe, secure, seamless” while providing “an authentic and meaningful experience to the traveller across the journey”.

The global protocols follow the current guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will continue to be updated as new information about COVID-19 becomes available. 

Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, comments, “As travel starts to resume, our role as a tourism development authority is to ensure that robust measures are in place to protect the health and safety of our visitors and provide the peace of mind they need for a truly well-deserved holiday. Our goal is for Ras Al Khaimah to set the global benchmark for post-pandemic travel safety and to set the standards to which all other destinations will aspire. We are immensely proud to be the first destination in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas and receive the WTTC safe travels stamp and believe it will go a long way to restore confidence and bring tourists back to Ras Al Khaimah. It also validates the huge efforts of our hospitality partners who are focused on delivering the highest global safety standards, today and every day, as we navigate this new normal for the industry.”   

He added: “WTTC is a very important partner for RAKTDA and one we wholeheartedly support in its efforts to restart and speed up the recovery of the sector in the wake of COVID-19.  The WTTC Safe Travels Stamp is an important vehicle to demonstrate alignment with essential safety protocols of the highest level and we are delighted that we can reassure visitors that Ras Al Khaimah meets these global standards.”

About Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is the northernmost of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is known for its rich history, dating back 7,000 years, and diverse landscape, from 64km of pristine beaches, to untamed deserts and a dramatic mountain backdrop. The Emirate is home to Jebel Jais – highest peak in the UAE at 6,345 feet meters and location of the world’s longest zip line, at 1.75 miles.

Ras Al Khaimah is also centrally located at the modern crossroad between Europe, Asia and Africa, with one third of the world’s population within four hour’s flying time, making it an ideal location for businesses to expand into the UAE, the Middle East and Africa and beyond. The World Bank’s Doing Business report ranks Ras Al Khaimah 30th out of 190 economies for ease of doing business.

At the Emirate’s economic heart lies multiple major companies and diverse sectoral interests, including manufacturing, energy and tourism. Industry is supported by a state-of-the-art infrastructure, including ultra-modern business facilities, world-class hotels and tourist attractions.

Ras Al Khaimah is also a cultural melting pot with a growing population, currently at about 375,000, 31% of which is local Emirati. It is considered an extremely safe place to live, consistently ranked highly in global surveys.

With year-round sunshine, straightforward business set-up and a competitive and affordable cost of living, Ras Al Khaimah is the informed choice for business, lifestyle and travel.

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About Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas is a world-leading provider in testing, inspection and certification. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 78,000 employees located in more than 1,500 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

Bureau Veritas has been present in the Middle East for more than 50 years and currently has more than 4,000 employees across the region in more than 50 offices and laboratories located in 18 countries.

For more information, visit https://middle-east.bureauveritas.com, and follow us on LinkedIn.

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