Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s (RAKTDA) CEO Raki Phillips (LinkedIn) will step down from his role in October following a six year tenure, Skift reports. He will move to a new role at Accor, based out of Dubai, where he will be regional president for premium, midscale and economy division in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey. It’s not yet clear who will take his place.

Phillips helped develop the authority’s international tourism strategy during his tenure, while developing hospitality and leisure infrastructure that transformed the lesser-known emirate to an investment destination. One of his biggest achievements during this time: securing the USD 5.4 bn Wynn Resorts project on Al Marjan Island, the emirate’s largest foreign direct investment to date. The resort, set to open in 2027, will feature the Middle East’s first regulated gaming facility.

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