Arts and culture (0) Business (7) Education (2) Government (1) Health (0) Home and Garden (0)

Hotels and restaurants (4) Internet and Computer (0) News and Media (0) Real Estate (1) Shopping (0) Sports and Entertainment (1)

With a name that translates from the Arabic in to “the top of the tent,” Ras al Khaimah is part of the United Arab Emirates. It boasts a total area of about seventeen hundred square kilometers. The emirate is situated in the north of the Arabian Peninsula and borders Oman. Ras Al Khaimah is led by Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi. Ras Al Khaimah’s total population is estimated at around two hundred fifty thousand. The city has a total population of about 102,000 denizens.

The city Ras Al Khaimah is comprised of two sections – Nakheel and Old Ras Al Khaimah – which are divided by a creek that runs through it, called Khour Ras Al Khaimah. The Old Ras Al Khaimah section of the city includes several governmental offices, as well as the Ras Al Khaimah Museum. The Al Nakheel section of the city also includes governmental offices, as well as several business centers and the office of the Ruler. A bridge connects the two sections of the city.

Originally known as Julfar, it is believed that the city was initially occupied by the Azd in the eighth century, during which wooded houses were built to house the citizens. The area was ruled by the Qawasim clan beginning in the first half of the eighteenth century. In the following century, the Brits briefly occupied the area, until a treaty was signed. In the year 1972, Ras Al Khaimah became a part of the United Arab Emirates.

Today, visitors flock to Ras Al Khaimah to sop up its natural beauty and sense of adventure it promises as the “Wild West” of the country. While initially the emirate made its fortune as a major source for pearls, in recent years they have regained their wealth after oil was discovered off shore here.

Also located in Ras Al Khaimah is Khaat, a thermal spa popular among ailing visitors for its purported medicinal springs. Masafi is another area that is popular to visit, as it contains beautiful orchards and natural water that is safe for drinking.

On your next trip to United Arab Emirates, don’t overlook Ras Al Khaimah!

There's no web links here.