# Urban Desert Developments Ras Al Khaimah Financial City By Going Like Sixty | Published 2008-10-09 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skyhigh-sand-castles-tiny-arab-nation-building-goofy-looking-buildings References: [blog.2modern](http://blog.2modern.com/2008/10/sand-castles.html) & [rakeen](http://www.rakeen.com) If you are a tiny desert city surrounded by the exploding [architectural gems of Dubai](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/desert-safari-dubai) and capital city Abu Dhabi, what do you do? You go big. Only 250,000 people live in Ras Al Khaimah, but they plan to erect a huge urban development with the hopes that they will attract some of the attention paid to other surrounding areas. The development is being driven by Rakeen and will form a leading real estate development company with a view to create unprecedented and [iconic projects in the UAE](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/binghatti-city), taking Ras Al Khaimah to a [sustainable, eco-friendly destination](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silk-renaissance). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 41% | Activity: 62% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Regional](https://www.trendhunter.com/regional) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Urban Developments:** Disruptive innovations opportunities arise in creating sustainable and eco-friendly urban developments in small desert cities surrounded by larger metropolitan areas. - **Real Estate Development:** Disruptive innovation opportunities exist in the real estate industry by creating unprecedented and iconic projects in underdeveloped regions, such as Ras Al Khaimah. - **Eco-friendly Destinations:** Eco-tourism and sustainable travel hold disruptive innovation potential for creating environmentally conscious destinations in small desert cities. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Construction:** The construction industry can leverage disruptive innovation opportunities by building large-scale urban developments in underdeveloped areas like Ras Al Khaimah. - **Real Estate:** The real estate industry can tap into the disruptive innovation potential by investing in sustainable and eco-friendly projects in small desert cities to attract attention and visitors. - **Tourism:** The tourism industry has disruptive innovation opportunities in creating eco-friendly destinations in small desert cities like Ras Al Khaimah to attract environmentally conscious travelers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Eco-Conscious Slim Skyscrapers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/muraba-veil.md) - [Waterfront Residential Towers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peninsula-dubai.md) - [Highway-Side Narrow Skyscrapers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/muraba-veil-skyscraper.md) - [Traditional Contemporary Designed Courts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ajman-rulers-court.md) - [Plaza-Surrounding Housing Complexes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/h-residence.md) - [Mixed-Use Skyscrapers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inaura.md) - [Cube-Shaped Skyscraper Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mukaab.md) - [Desert Cultural Landmarks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/al-ain-museum.md) - [Tree-Lined Urban Highways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dubai-green-spine.md)