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 3.5 million visitors to the destination by 2030. Phillips 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 $5.1 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. He has been recognized as one of Forbes’ Top 100 CEOs in 2024, among the Top 100 Travel & Tourism Leaders in 2024 and 2023, and on the ‘Sustainable 100’ list for 2023 in the Middle East. He was also labelled as Businessperson of the Year 2023 by Arabian Business Magazine, Tourism Business Leader of the Year 2023 by Gulf Business Magazine and Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 by CEO Middle East Magazine. 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 Chief Commercial Officer at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Brent Anderson is responsible for driving the Emirate’s commercial tourism strategy, with a focus on expanding global and regional partnerships, enhancing aviation connectivity, driving high-profile events and strengthening Ras Al Khaimah’s positioning as one of the region’s leading destinations. With three decades’ experience in tourism marketing, partnership development and stakeholder engagement, Brent brings a wealth of international expertise to help RAKTDA unlock new markets and deliver sustainable visitor growth. Prior to joining the authority, Brent spent more than two decades with Tourism Australia in a variety of senior positions. As the Regional General Manager for South & South-East Asia (SSEA), he successfully led the region to become the fastest growing and second largest source of visitors for Australia. Post-pandemic, SSEA became the fastest recovering region for Australia supporting the recovery of Australia’s tourism industry. In his role at RAKTDA, Brent leads the Commercial Tourism Destination teams, overseeing Destination Tourism Development, Marketing & Communications and Community Outreach & Events. His strategic focus includes expanding Ras Al Khaimah’s presence in key international markets, while leveraging luxury tourism as a key growth driver. An Australian national and graduate of James Cook University with a Bachelor of Administration (Tourism) Honours and an Executive MBA from Aalto University, Brent has worked extensively across Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

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.

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.

As Vice President, Commercial Gaming of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Lori is focussed on driving economic development and tourism in the Emirate from gaming and its related industry sectors. Lori is a unique business leader who brings over 26 years of experience in gaming, business operation, regulatory compliance and law. She works closely with RAKTDA leadership and other government entities to showcase the Emirate as a global hub for gaming industry business activity and investment. Lori joined RAKTDA mid-2023 in a new position developed to promote economic contribution from the newly established gaming industry in the UAE. Previous to joining RAKTDA, Lori was an executive leader at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), one of Ontario, Canada's largest revenue generating government agencies. She led large teams driving business transformation and enhanced financial returns to the Government of Ontario as Senior Vice President, Governance, Legal and Compliance and General Counsel, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Land-Based Gaming and Business Development Officer. Lori also spent over 14 years as a corporate lawyer at one of Canada's leading law firms, structuring, negotiating and executing complex commercial transactions for a wide range of clients across a variety of industries. Lori holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, and her Law Degree from Western University, in Ontario, Canada.