Ras Al Khaimah awarded EarthCheck Silver Certification in a Sustainability First for the Middle East
Ras
Al
Khaimah
was
awarded
Silver
Certification
under
EarthCheck’s
Sustainable
Destinations
program
–
the
world’s
leading
scientific
benchmarking
and
certification
program
for
tourism
destinations.
The
emirate
is
the
first
destination
in
the
Middle
East
to
earn
this
level
of
recognition
for
sustainability.
The
certification
process
is
underpinned
by
EarthCheck’s
in-depth
scientific
criteria
and
also
involves
meticulous
monitoring,
benchmarking,
and
auditing
across
10
sustainability
indicators
–
from
energy
and
water
consumption
to
waste
management,
carbon
footprint
analysis
and
community
engagement.
Ras
Al
Khaimah’s
sustainability
certification
is
all
the
more
significant
considering
the
challenges
posed
by
the
region’s
climate,
calling
for
a
more
robust
approach
to
managing
energy
and
water
consumption
than
most
in
order
to
meet
EarthCheck’s
stringent
requirements.
The
Silver
Certification
comes
just
weeks
out
from
the
United
Nations’
climate
change
conference
COP28,
being
held
in
the
UAE
in
late
November.
The
conference
agenda
this
year
will
focus
on
achieving
the
global
emissions
reduction
target
of
43%
by
2030.
Ras
Al
Khaimah
Tourism
Development
Authority
(RAKTDA)
Chief
Executive
Officer,
Raki
Phillips,
said
that
achieving
EarthCheck’s
Silver
Certification
reinforced
Ras
Al
Khaimah’s
ambition
to
become
the
UAE’s
and
the
region’s
sustainable
tourism
leader
by
2025.
“This
landmark
achievement
amplifies
our
commitment
to
sustainable,
balanced,
and
purpose-driven
tourism
industry
growth,”
Phillips
said.
“My
gratitude
goes
out
to
our
tourism
community
for
their
relentless
dedication
to
achieving
EarthCheck’s
Silver
Certification,
which
not
only
substantiates
Ras
Al
Khaimah’s
commitment
to
sustainable
tourism
but
also
aligns
with
our
ambitious
goal
of
welcoming
over
three
million
visitors
by
2030.”
EarthCheck
founder
and
Chief
Executive
Officer,
Stewart
Moore, said
Ras
Al
Khaimah’s
Silver
status
would
bolster
and
enhance
its
tourism
industry
and
its
business
operators
locally.
“Congratulations
to
Ras
Al
Khaimah
for
being
certified
under
EarthCheck’s
Sustainable
Destination
program,
and
for
being
a
part
of
EarthCheck’s
Leading
Destinations
of
the
World
Program™,”
Moore
said.
“The
destination
management
commitments
and
sustainable
tourism
guidelines
not
only
provide
a
strategic
framework
to
drive
and
foster
action
across
the
community
and
industry,
but
they
position
Ras
Al
Khaimah
as
a
regional
leader
in
sustainable
tourism.
Embracing
sustainable
principles
will
ensure
that
Ras
Al
Khaimah’s
unique
environment
and
rich
culture
can
be
both
fostered
and
protected
as
the
tourism
industry
continues
to
grow.
EarthCheck
looks
forward
to
being
an
active
partner
in
this
journey.”
Ras
Al
Khaimah
Tourism
Development
Authority
has
also
launched
its
own
sustainability
certification
program
for
tourism
businesses,
Responsible
RAK.
Over
20
tourism
businesses
are
part
of
the
program
today.
ResponsibleRAK
is
powered
by
EarthCheck’s
science
and
data,
ensuring
businesses
are
measuring
their
environmental
impact
and
taking
real
action.
Numerous
Ras
Al
Khaimah
tourism
businesses,
including
hotels,
attractions
and
tour
operators
have
earned
Responsible
RAK
Silver
Certification.
The
list
includes:
-
Ras
Al
Khaimah
Tourism
Development
Authority
(RAKTDA) -
The
Ritz-Carlton
Ras
Al
Khaimah,
Al
Hamra
Beach -
The
Cove
Rotana
Resort
Ras
Al
Khaimah -
Jais
Flight,
the
world’s
longest
zipline -
Jais
Sledder,
the
region’s
longest
toboggan
ride -
1484
by
Puro,
the
UAE’s
highest
restaurant -
Bear
Grylls
Explorers
Camp -
RAK
Leisure
Administration
Office -
SAFARAK
Travel
and
Tour
company
More
stakeholders
are
set
to
achieve
Responsible
RAK
Silver
status
in
the
near
future.
The
destination
is
also
partnering
with
leading
developers
and
operators
that
put
sustainability
at
the
heart
of
their
business.
One
example
is
the
eagerly
anticipated
Wynn
Al
Marjan
Island,
which
will
be
developed
with
local
partners
Marjan
LLC
and
RAK
Hospitality
Holding
LLC.,
to
the
highest
standards
of
sustainability
best
practice.
Wynn
Resorts’
sustainable
design
and
development
practices
have
earned
its
buildings
LEED
Platinum
and
Four
Green
Globes
certifications
globally.
