The northern gateway
RKT is the only airport in Ras Al Khaimah and the closest international field to the northern emirates. The road runs 30 minutes to the northern emirates and about 45 minutes to Dubai.
About the airport · RKT / OMRK
Fifty years on one runway
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport was inaugurated in 1976 and has served the northernmost emirate ever since — one runway, a departure terminal and an arrival terminal, a freight centre, a VIP terminal, and the ground under all of it. In 2025 it carried a million passengers for the first time.
Identity
- IATA
- RKT
- ICAO
- OMRK
- Inaugurated
- 1976
- Elevation
- 94 ft
- Reference point
- 25° 36' 48"N, 55° 56' 20"E
- Position
- 11 NM (about 18 km) south of Ras Al Khaimah city, on Digdaga Road
Planning figures. The UAE AIP is the operational authority.
The airport
What is actually on the field
RKT is a boutique airport in the literal sense: small enough that a passenger walks from kerb to gate, large enough to take a widebody and clear its cargo the same night.
The airport opened in 1976 and describes itself, in its own words, as an evolving boutique airport that connects to destinations around the Middle East region and beyond. That has stayed accurate. Scheduled traffic is concentrated on India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Central Asia, flown mostly by Air Arabia, IndiGo and Air India Express.
The passenger operation runs from two separate buildings — a departure terminal and an arrival terminal — with a VIP terminal alongside them. The RAK Freight Centre occupies two dedicated buildings on the cargo side, with cold storage, X-ray and secure areas for valuables and dangerous goods. Maintenance and flight-training facilities sit on the same field.
RKT is a full port of entry. Customs, Immigration and Special Branch Police are on site around the clock, which is why a cargo flight can land at night and clear before morning, and why a private aircraft can be met, cleared and away without a transfer to another airport.
Air traffic is handled from the Ras Al Khaimah tower inside a Class D control zone, and the airport accepts both IFR and VFR traffic. There is no slot queue to bid for.
2025 in numbers
The year the million came
2025 was the first year RKT carried more than a million passengers — half as many again as the year before, on the same single runway.
1m+Passengers in 2025exactly 1,000,303
+51%Passenger growth on 2024
16Scheduled international destinations
+37%Growth in flights
Figures published by the airport for the 2025 calendar year. The 2024 comparison base is 639,300 passengers. Cargo tonnage for 2025 has not been published.
Position
Where RKT sits in the UAE system
Seven emirates, several international airports, and one of them is in the north with room on the apron. That is the whole proposition, and it holds for passengers, freight and private aircraft alike.
No congestion, no slot bidding
Arrival and departure windows are agreed with the airport directly. For a freighter operator or a charter, that is the difference between flying on the day you wanted and flying on the day you were given.
A hinterland that manufactures
Manufacturing accounts for around 30 % of the emirate's GDP, and RAKEZ operates industrial zones at Al Ghail, Al Hamra and Al Hulaila within a short drive of the freight centre.
Demand being built now
The emirate hosted 1.35 million overnight guests in 2025. Wynn Al Marjan Island, reported as opening in September 2027, sits about fifteen minutes from the runway threshold.
Vision, mission and values
What the airport says it is for
These are the airport's own words, carried over unchanged from its published statements.
Our vision
To be a successful world class airport that serves its customers to the best of its abilities, thereby contributing to the long term growth and prosperity of our airport, our emirate and its people.
Our mission
Through our professional service, we will ensure every customer has a positive experience that does credit to our team, our airport and our emirate.
Our proposition
A refreshing approach by dedicated professionals and an inspiring leadership working together to give you the best possible experience and service.
Our DNA
We canWe have visionYou matter
Our values
- Individual
- Proud to be part of, safe and secure
- Resourceful
- Anything is possible
- Welcoming
- Approachable and easy to work with
- Evolving
- Continually improving
- Integrity
- Straight forward, down to earth and honest
- Inspiring
- We see the possibilities in everything and everyone
Lines of business
Five things happen here
Scheduled passenger
Sixteen scheduled international destinations in 2025 across India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Egypt, with Air Arabia as the based carrier.
Live flightsCargo
The RAK Freight Centre — two buildings, 24-hour customs, cold storage, dangerous goods and valuables handling, and an inter-airport trucking network.
RAK Freight CentreBusiness aviation
The airport's own FBO in the terminal, a second licensed handler on the field, and a VIP terminal for up to 60 passengers.
Business aviationGeneral aviation and training
A flight-training base, aerobatic and balloon operations, and light aircraft that suit a field with Jet A-1 and no queue.
General aviationLand and industry
Over one million square metres set aside for MRO and aviation industry, with free-zone potential, alongside retail and office space in the terminals.
Retail and office space
What this page does not tell you
Two things you will not find here. We do not publish a current headcount — the figure circulating on the old site is undated and we would rather say nothing than repeat it. We also do not publish cargo tonnage for 2025; the last audited figure is for 2024 and appears on the development page with its source attached.