OUR TEAM

As CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Raki Phillips is tasked with growing the destination’s tourism infrastructure and sustainability investments. With a vision to position the Emirate as the ‘Destination of the Future’, Phillips aims to elevate Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism contribution from 5% to one-third of its economy, and drive over 3 million visitors to the destination by 2030. Raki has led hotel and project developments across the Emirate, with the goal to drive industry performance and enhance the quality of life for all of Ras Al Khaimah’s residents. He namely secured the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ras Al Khaimah to date – the USD $3.9 billion deal with Wynn Resorts to develop a 1,500-plus-key integrated resort on Al Marjan Island. Phillips is an award-winning industry veteran and a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in leading some of the world’s most renowned brands, including Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI), and Universal Studios Orlando. He also pioneered a game-changing online dessert concept – SugarMoo- in the Middle East, and led the design-centric eco-friendly hotel brand, Earth Hotels. An American national and a fluent Arabic speaker, Phillips has a great understanding of the region having worked in the Middle East since 2005, and was recently recognized as one of Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Travel & Tourism Leaders 2023, and as Businessperson of the Year by Arabian Business. In his previous role as Senior Partner and Senior Vice President of Development with International Hospitality Consulting Group (INHOCO), Phillips developed hotel project pipelines exceeding $5 billion in assets and successfully negotiated multimillion-dollar hotel deals for global luxury brands in over 25 markets worldwide. Phillips is a member of the Executive Board of RAK International Airport, the UAE Energy and Sustainability Summit Advisory Board, the Ministry of Culture UNESCO Committee in Abu Dhabi, World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC) Board in UK, and the Pacific Asia Travel Association in Singapore. He holds a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida, and a MA in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix in Orlando.

As Vice President of Destination Tourism Development at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Iyad is responsible for the continued tourism growth of the Emirate. His role entails strategic partnerships with leading global partners to drive visibility and visitation to the destination. As Ras Al Khaimah becomes a destination of the future, Iyad will play an integral part in the 2030 strategy and that will see the Emirate develop in a responsible and sustainable way leading up to 3 million visitors annually by 2030. Iyad previously held the title of Executive Director, Destination Tourism Development & MICE at RAKTDA. It was a role that he held during a very challenging time with the pandemic and other global crises, but the Authority managed to record the highest visitor numbers to date in 2022 at 1.13 million. He also put Ras Al Khaimah on the global MICE map with blockbuster events, including Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Leadership Summit and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Summit. Leading the authority’s tourism development strategy is a role that Iyad is well equipped and passionate about, given his over two decades of experience. As a tourism sector expert, he has worked for major global tour operators and DMCs as well as has consulted for numerous tourism boards and committees.

As Vice President, Destination Marketing & Communications for Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Alka is responsible for spearheading the authority’s multi-faceted communications strategy at a time when effective multi-channel messaging and storytelling is critical. With an 18-year track record in strategic planning, Alka specialises in corporate communications, brand and tactical marketing, media relations, reputation management and stakeholder communications. Alka’s career has taken her from Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel to Accor. At Accor, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, she was the custodian of 30 brands. She oversaw a portfolio of over 350 hotels across 36 countries. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including PR Week Middle East’s Brightest & Most Influential PR Professional, Hotelier Middle East Magazine PR & Marketing Person of the Year and Green Hotelier of the Year. Alka advocates diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is a member of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPS) in association with UN Women and the UN Global Compact. She is also a MEPRA strategy board member helping shape the region’s overall standards in communications and PR practices. Alka holds a Bachelor’s Degree from McGill University in Canada.

As Director of Tourism Licensing and Quality Assurance for Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Mohamed Loojab has over two decades of experience in the business sector, specialising in licensing, quality assurance and classification standardisation. Mohamed is a member of the RAKTDA Licensing Committee and has been vital in developing e-portals, regulating change, introducing best practices and overseeing quality assurance. His role at the tourism authority is diverse, and he’s responsible for the voice of Ras Al Khaimah through the federal tour guide, concierge and mountain guide training programmes. He also heads up the Events Committee and the Head of Happiness and Quality of Life Committee. He has played a key role in directing the tourism authority into the future since 2011. He’s a member of the Cyber Future Leaders, the Uses of Artificial Intelligence in the Tourism Sector, part of the UAE Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Counsel, Vital Facilities Security Project Team, Crisis and Emergency Committee in the Tourism Sector and Economic Activities Committee in the UAE. Mohamed holds Diplomas in Business Administration and Professional Executive Management from the Association for Young Mediators (AYM), United Kingdom.

As Vice President of Finance & Corporate Services for Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Abeer Shoujaa has a key role in driving the financial performance and achieving the vision and strategic targets of the Emirate. She works closely with stakeholders, government entities and the destination's expansive collection of hotels. Abeer joined RAKTDA in January 2022. The role is pivotal in leading, enhancing and developing medium and long-term operational strategies that optimise efficiency and mitigate risk to the authority. She strategically promotes the destination and ensures that the economic revival is adequately supported. She is hands-on, navigating the complex post-pandemic roadmap with excellent business acumen and a blend of hospitality and corporate experience. Abeer's experience encompasses hotel operations and corporate services. Her career spans more than two decades in the hospitality sector. She's worked extensively with Marriott Hotels, Hilton and most recently, IHG Hotels. Abeer spent most of her career with Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI) Management Office in Dubai, leading the corporate and regional finance division for MEAI. Abeer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from Beirut Arab University.

As Director of Investments and Special Projects for Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Mohamed Belkhodja ​is responsible for leading the key investment related strategies and increase global awareness of the Emirate. He aims to enhance the existing destination product portfolio and develop new tourism attractions and to enhance the current infrastructure. He strives to develop a conscious ecosystem for entrepreneurs, tourists and residents with projects that blend health, sustainability, and technology. He also implemented the first Bureau Veritas Safe Guard Programme in Ras Al Khaimah. He is a true hospitality professional who brings over 15 years of hospitality and management consulting experience to the team. Mohamed’s hospitality career has taken him from Renaissance Hotels and IHG Hotels & Resorts to Grand Heritage Hotel Group in the capacity of the Hotel Manager at Grand Heritage Doha. Prior to joining RAKTDA, Mohamed held the Managing Partner position in the International Hospitality Consulting Group. Belkhodja​ holds a Master's Degree in International Hotel Management from Vatel Hotel & Tourism Business School and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Management Information Systems from the Université Pierre Mendès-France.

Farah started her journey at Ras al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority in 2013 as Head of Events. Bringing more than 15 years of experience, Farah was responsible for bringing and executing a wide range of successful events that helped raise the profile of the destination. In 2017 Farah was appointed Director of Government Relations and Events at the Authority. She is responsible for joint projects with local authorities, entities and communities in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. She works closely with event management companies to ensure each event's smooth execution and success. Farah has worked on many of the biggest Authority events, including Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon – the world’s fastest half marathon, The UAE Tour, Tough Mudder and the Desert Warrior Challenge, attracting thousands of visitors to the Emirate.

As Senior Director of Human Resources for Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Mira plays a cross-functional leadership role throughout the Authority, acting as a powerful agent of change and dynamism for RAKTDA’s employees. Mira has over two decades of professional experience, delivering growth solutions internationally and regionally, across a variety of sectors including healthcare, upstream oil and gas and education. Today, Mira’s responsibilities include managing the employee life cycle at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, supporting the organisation to develop a strategic, operational and compliant HR function where employees can grow and thrive. Her responsibilities include HR strategy, organisational behaviour and design, talent acquisition, performance management, training and development, compensation and benefits, diversity inclusion and belonging, managing risks as well as auditing. Mira's expertise includes strategy implementation, culture transformation, and leadership effectiveness and development. As an HR auditor and instructor, Mira holds an MBA, concentration in Strategic Management, and a B.S in Public Health & Development Sciences from the University of Balamand, and a Diploma in HRM from the American University of Beirut. She is also a Certified Senior Professional by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP).

Emil Petrov brings more than 15 years of strategic leadership experience across tourism, telecommunications, and consulting, to his role as Vice President of Strategy and Insights at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA). Emil is responsible for shaping Ras Al Khaimah’s long-term tourism vision, bringing stakeholders into alignment, and building the data and insights capabilities necessary to solidify the emirate’s reputation as one of the region’s fastest-growing destinations. In his previous role as Head of Strategy and Strategic Projects at Tourism New Zealand, Emil led the creation of the "Enrich 2025" strategy, which positioned the country for sustainable tourism growth. His strategic foresight contributed to a 50% increase in tourism export earnings, strengthening New Zealand’s global reputation as a sustainable tourism leader. Emil is a passionate advocate for the power of tourism to enrich communities, economies, and cultures. His data-driven approach has consistently delivered tangible results in his previous positions. These roles also include senior customer insight and data strategy positions at New Zealand telecoms and energy providers. His strong commitment to utilizing data and analytics to fuel growth, along with his experience working with government ministries, private sector partners, and regional tourism bodies uniquely position him to lead RAKTDA’s strategic initiatives. A New Zealand citizen, Emil has previously lived in Africa, New Zealand, and the United States, where he completed his MBA at the University of California, Berkeley.