In an age in which rapid economic development is reshaping tourism destinations around the world, striking a balance between progress and preservation is crucial. Modernisation and urban expansion often risk overshadowing historical sites and traditions.
Fortunately, many travellers today seek authentic experiences that connect with the history, traditions and people of the places they visit. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation, cultural tourism accounts for an estimated 40 per cent of global tourism revenues and is expected to grow by 4.1 per cent by 2030.
From Europe’s mediaeval towns to Asia’s ancient temples, destinations that have maintained their cultural integrity and embraced responsible tourism have seen remarkable success. Case studies from Kyoto’s traditional districts to Peru’s archaeological sites demonstrate that with careful planning and stakeholder engagement, heritage tourism can create lasting value and ensure long-term ecological and cultural resilience.
Cultural tourism has also proven to be a robust economic driver globally, as it significantly contributes to the local economy by supporting small businesses, creating jobs and fostering long-term sustainable growth. As this trend becomes evident in destinations worldwide, it raises a crucial question: how do destinations balance heritage conservation while developing tourism through modern infrastructure?
Balancing heritage preservation with tourism development is a nuanced endeavour. After all, unregulated development poses risk to historical sites and cultural integrity.
To address this, destinations must adhere to sustainable tourism practices, guided by international standards set by organisations such as Unesco. Further, destinations must conduct environmental and cultural impact assessments before initiating any development projects, ensuring that infrastructure enhancements are in harmony with the historical and cultural context of each site.
Ras Al Khaimah is a land steeped in history, its shores, sands and mountains bearing the footprints of civilisations that are more than 7,000 years old. From the ancient Julfar trading port to the majestic Dhayah Fort, the emirate is a living tapestry of heritage with hundreds of tangible and intangible cultural assets.
Tourism currently accounts for five per cent of Ras Al Khaimah’s gross domestic product, with goals to increase this to one third of the economy and attract 3.5 million visitors annually by 2030. Cultural tourism is necessary to achieve these goals.
The government of Ras Al Khaimah has recognised the intrinsic value of its cultural assets. With the involvement of key authorities – including Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Ras Al Khaimah Department of Antiquities and Museums, the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, and Ras Al Khaimah’s government master developer, Marjan – it has launched the Culture and Heritage Vision 2030.
This comprehensive plan has identified 20 priority heritage sites for preservation and sustainable development in the emirate, including celebrated landmarks and sites that are already on the Unesco World Heritage Tentative List.
These include Dhayah Fort, the UAE's only remaining hilltop fort; Al Jazeera Al Hamra, the last authentic pearl fishing village in the UAE; Shimal, a dense archaeological landscape consisting of more than 100 prehistoric tombs, prehistoric settlements and a mediaeval palace; and Julfar, known to have been the only port in the Gulf providing access to the Arabian Peninsula before the dawn of the Islamic era until the 18th century.
Preserving these heritage sites requires close collaboration with conservation experts, archaeologists and historians to protect historical integrity while adopting sustainable practices that align with global ecotourism goals. Involving local communities is equally vital, grounding preservation efforts in authenticity and protecting both the structures and cultural traditions of each site.
Ras Al Khaimah is a land steeped in history, its shores, sands and mountains bearing the footprints of civilisations that date back to more than 7,000 years
The conservation of Al Jazeera Al Hamra exemplifies this approach. The village is an emblem of Emirati heritage and Ras Al Khaimah’s socio-economic landscape. Once a thriving centre for pearl divers and traders, the village’s coral and mudbrick structures reflect the architectural ingenuity needed to endure the test of time.
Established in the late 16th century by the Zaab tribe, Al Jazeera Al Hamra, meaning “Red Island”, was a tidal island divided into two sections: the northern quarter of Umm Awaimir and the southern quarter of Manakh. The village thrived on pearl diving, fishing and trade. By the early 20th century, the 45-hectare village comprised about 500 houses and was home to around 2,500-3,000 residents.
The village encompasses a variety of traditional elements, including a fort with watchtowers, mosques, a souq and extensive courtyard houses of various designs. The residential structures range from small, simple houses to large courtyard residences, such as the Abdul Kareem House, which features four distinct wind towers. The fort’s complex includes the oldest round watchtower and a rectangular one, providing panoramic views of the town.
Restoration efforts have focused on preserving the village’s traditional architecture using original materials like coral stone, mangrove wood and sand bricks. However, due to the endangered status of some materials, sustainable alternatives have been employed to replicate the original features without compromising authenticity. Modern conservation techniques ensure structural stability while maintaining the site’s historical integrity.
The preservation of Al Jazeera Al Hamra has been a collaborative effort involving local and international experts. Initial conservation work began in 2010, focusing on stabilising the existing structures and preventing their further deterioration. Subsequent phases have included detailed structural assessments, material testing and the restoration of key buildings.
Today, Al Jazeera Al Hamra serves as a living cultural hub, hosting art festivals, educational programmes and cultural events that invite visitors to engage deeply with the emirate’s history. The site offers guided tours, workshops and interactive experiences, allowing guests to explore traditional Emirati architecture and heritage. These initiatives have stimulated the local economy, creating jobs and supporting small businesses and craftsmen, thereby ensuring the village’s cultural and economic sustainability.
As developing destinations such as Ras Al Khaimah navigate the path towards modernisation and attempt to build the destinations of the future, it is imperative to balance the emirate’s economic ambitions with the responsibility of protecting its unique heritage. By doing so, we not only honour its past but also enrich the lives of those who come to explore it today and in the future.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers
Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.
It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.
The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.
Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.
Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.
He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.
AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”
A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.
Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.
Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.
Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.
By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.
Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.
In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”
Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.
She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.
Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.
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Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
