It’s all systems go for the third edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Investment & Business Summit (RAKIS 2026), with government leaders, international investors, business and industry executives expected to converge in the United Arab Emirates next week to, among other things, explore investment opportunities and strengthen cross-border partnerships.
The two-day summit, set to take place on 11–12 November at the RAK Exhibition Centre, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, will be hosted by Ras Al Khaimah Chamber and presented by Valiant Market Services, bringing together public and private-sector participants under the theme Bridging Markets, Building Alliances.
This year’s edition of the summit comes as Ras Al Khaimah seeks to attract more international capital and broaden its economic base. According to figures released by the summit organisers, the emirate attracted more than AED 771.5 million (approximately US$210 million) in new capital investment during the first half of 2026. It also registered 967 new establishments, while 1,399 investors from 68 nationalities entered the market.
The emirate also recorded 138 new free zone entities and 70 new branches of local and international companies, and the Chamber expects the new investment to create about 2,449 jobs.
The speaker line-up for RAKIS 2026nspans government, finance and industry. It includes Dr Rashed Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce, European Union Ambassador to the UAE Lucie Berger, Ibtisam Ali Alsaadi of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Phillipa Harrison, chief executive of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. Executives from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, RAK Properties, RAKBANK, DAMAC Properties, Arada, Cushman & Wakefield, Knight Frank MENA and the UAE-UK Business Council will also speak.
The programme is designed to connect investors with government institutions, project developers, financial organisations and companies operating across these sectors. Alongside keynote presentations and panel discussions, the summit will feature an exhibition, structured business-to-business meetings and a buyer programme intended to connect pre-qualified investors with potential projects and partners.
The conference and exhibition will concentrate on six sectors, namely real estate development, construction and infrastructure, technology and innovation, sustainable energy and the green economy, logistics and industrial services, and tourism and hospitality. Exhibitors include Marjan, Etihad Water and Electricity, the UAE Ministry of Investment, the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority, Gulf Cement Company and Drees & Sommer, and the summit’s partner network spans the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, AmCham Dubai and the Canada-UAE Business Council. Tourism is a major draw, as the emirate recorded a record 670,400 hotel visitors in the first half and expects Wynn Al Marjan Island, a $5.1 billion resort, to open in September 2027, according to a CBRE review.
The organisers of RAKIS 2026 expect more than 3,000 attendees, 100 exhibitors and sponsors, and over 50 speakers from more than 25 countries, reflecting the summit’s ambition to attract a broad international business audience.
For international companies, the summit offers an opportunity to assess Ras Al Khaimah’s investment environment and engage directly with stakeholders responsible for economic development, infrastructure, property, energy and tourism. For local businesses, it provides access to potential investors, suppliers and international partners. The organisers have a dedicated page to register as a delegate for the summit.
RAKIS 2026 also reflects the growing competition among regional economies to attract foreign investment and establish themselves as destinations for international business. Ras Al Khaimah has been investing in tourism infrastructure, industrial development and real estate projects as it seeks to strengthen its position within the UAE and the wider Gulf economy.
African businesses already look to the emirate. The Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, known as RAKEZ, hosts more than 35,000 companies from over 100 countries, and chief executive Ramy Jallad reiterates that the zone is “just four hours away from most African destinations.”
RAKEZ offers full foreign ownership and full profit repatriation, and it has promoted its offer at construction expos in Kenya and Egypt. The Ras Al Khaimah Chamber has also met Uganda’s ambassador to the UAE to discuss deeper trade and investment ties, including partnerships for small and medium enterprises.
Africa Global News is among the media partners supporting RAKIS 2026, extending the summit’s reach to audiences across Africa and the diaspora. The partnership also creates an opportunity to connect African businesses and investors with developments in the UAE, particularly in sectors where cross-border investment, trade and technology cooperation are expanding.
RAKIS 2026 follows last year’s edition at the Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre, which the UAE Ministry of Investment called a key platform for the country’s investor ecosystem. This year’s organisers expect it to connect investors with developers and decision-makers, and to give companies that want to enter or expand in the UAE access to partners, clients and institutional stakeholders.
