ABOUT RAS AL KHAIMAH

Population     :  250,000

Area              :  1,684 square kilometers

Coastline      :  40 kilometers

Climate         :  Moderate, cool and refreshing climate from

                        October to April. Summer is Hot and Humid

Languages      :  Arabic, English and Hindi/Urdu

Religion           :  Islam

Local Time      :  GMT + 4

Currency         :  Dirham (1 Dirham = 100 Fils)

                           (1 US $ = 3.67 Dirhams)

HOW TO GET:

Ras Al Khaimah can be reached by road or by air. The Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, located about 15 kms from the city, is 45 minutes by Emirates road from Dubai International Airport , 35 minutes from Sharjah International Airport and 3 hours from Abu Dhabi city.

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport serves destination in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Africa and the Far East .

HISTORY:

Remnants of a Glorious Past:

Ras Al Khaimah was the home of Ahmed Bin Majid, one of the renowned Arab navigators in history. He aided Vasco De Gamma in his historical voyages to India across Cape Horn .

Ahmed Bin Majid was referred to as the first Arab seaman and was also fondly called Shihan Al Dein (Sea's Lion) for his fearlessness, strength and experience as a sailor who excelled in the art of navigation. He wrote several books as well.

Ras Al Khaimah, like the rest of the country, takes great pride in its heritage and has taken special measures to preserve the surviving remnants of its glorious past. Many archaeological excavations have unearthed artifacts, some dating as far back as the 6th Millennium B.C. For the heritage lovers and connoisseurs of history, Ras Al Khaimah has a treasure trove of archaeological sites.

Shamal:

A place of historical significance, Shamal is tucked away in the mountains in the north of Ras Al Khaimah. One of the most fertile area in the Emirate, Shamal houses several tombs, one of which dates back to Umm A l Nar period, about 4500 years ago. The modern village of Shamal also features the UAE's only medieval palace which, according to legend, was the palace of the Queen of Sheba.

Dhayah:

Dhayah Fort, about 15 km north of Ras Al Khaimah city, located atop a verdant hill, was a strategic military castle that has played a pivotal role in the annals of Ras Al Khaimah. It was here that the last battle between the local and the British troops was fought in 1819. Restored in 2001, the Dhayah Fort today features two towers that overlook the Arabian Gulf , offering breathtaking views of the mountains and the coast.

Bay of Dhayah :

The Bay of Dhayah is one of the fertile regions of Ras Al Khaimah. Set against The Bay of Dhayah is one of the fertile regions of Ras Al Khaimah. Set against a backdrop of steep mountains, the oasis is believed to have been a settlement since the third millennium BC. For centuries, a conical hill at the edge of the palm groves at the foot of the mountains served as a natural fortification for the local tribes. Two forts - one on the hill, a second larger one at the foot of the hill (which served as a "sur" or retreat) - and watch towers scattered in the palm gardens together formed sophisticated defense system for the fertile Dhayah Oasis. Today, Dhayah Fort, the 19th century fortress here is the only existing hilltop fort in the UAE.

Julfar

I the 16th century, Julfar was the largest trading centre on the Arabian side of the Gulf. Most of the Indian Ocean trade happened here - with Chinese porcelain, silk, spices and wood changing hands for pearls, copper and incense. Apart from being a major part of trade, Julfar was the home Ahmed bin Majid, one of the most famous Arab navigators in history. From the 

late 18th century most of the trading activity shifted to the modern Ras Al Khaimah city, divesting Julfar of its exotic glory. Today, only the remains of the central mosque stand to tell the tales.

Umm an Nar Tomb

the Umm an Nar Tomb, excavated on the edge of the fertile palm groves of Shimal, date back to 2600 - 2000 B.C. This archeological site is a pointer to the sophisticated culture, the trade in copper and the international relations that flourished between the people of this region and civilizations as far as Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Indus Valley (India) in the third century B.C.

A unique specimen of a high evolved design, the prehistoric Umm an Nar tomb was circular in shape and used as a communal grave. The interiors of the tomb had a complex arrangement, with three vaults divided into several burial chambers by internal walls. The deceased were buried with their personal belongings such as jewellery, pottery, weapons and stone vessels. Some of these artifacts clearly came from distant lands are displayed at the site.

The National RAK Museum

The National RAK Museum , the prestigious repository of the emirate's precious historical remnants, is itself a relic of its eventful past. Known as the Al Hisin Fort, it was the residence of the ruler of Ras AL Khaimah back in the early 19^th century. It was rebuilt and converted onto today's museum in 1987.

Divided into different sections, one of the museum's significant parts is the Al Qawasim Room, located on the upper floor. It contains, most notably, historical manuscripts and documents, the treaties signed by the Ruling Family and the British government, as well as the traditional arms of the Ruling Family.

One downstairs section is reserved for the antiques discovered across the emirate, some dating back to the 5th Millennium BC , other tracing their history to the early Islamic Era. Their display in neat chronological order makes it easy for tourists to browse through them. Another room is dedicated to the silverware, showcasing a huge collection of antique, ethnic, Bedouin silver jewellery as well as a massive collection of shells and mollusks. Still another section is

devoted to the ethnography of the region.

The National Rak Museum , situated in the heart of the city, next to the old police station, is a "must see" for tourists ands visitors, for the glimpse it offers into the emirate's rich past.

Opening times: Winter (September - May) 1000 - 1700 hrs (closed on Tuesday) summer (June - August) 0800 - 1200 and 1600 - 1900 hrs; Ramadan times:  0900  1300 hrs (closed on Friday)

AL Falayah

AL Falayah was set up in 18th century as a summer residence for the AL Qawasim Family. Scenic palm gardens surrounded the buildings, making this place an ideal retreat for the town people during the scorching hot summer months. AL Falayah also acquires historical significance when Sheikhs of Qawasim and the British Government signed their peace treaty here in 1820. Today, twp fortified towers and an old mosque survived as the relics of its glorious past.

Al Jazirat Al Hamra

Al Jazirat Al Hamra, is located 15 kms southwest of Ras Al Khaimah, was at one time an island off the coast. This small abandoned village, featuring traditionally built houses, mosques, and a Sheik's fort is well worth a visit, for its indications of the region's bygone past.

NATURAL REREATS

Beyond the City

Ras AL Khaimah, the most fertile emirate in the UAE, is a veritable paradise for tourists who love nature. Its special location on the Arabian Gulf has endowed Ras AL Khaimah with a kaleidoscope topography that is breathtakingly enchanting. its pristine 64-km coast, sandy beaches, verdant expanses of land , majestic mountains, coupled with a balmy weather have turned the emirates into a haven of unsurpassed tranquil beauty, an idyllic gateway where an increasing number  of tourists flock to seek a rejuvenating refuge from the tumult and tensions of large cities

Ras Al Khaimah is the home of the wildlife sanctuaries, and of conserved wetlands. A wide variety of flora and fauna bloom here. The rare Arab tiger, the red lynx and the thick-tailed fox live here. Migratory and nestling birds, as well as turtles, dolphins and a large spectrum of fish frolic in its coastal waters. Among its most sought-after tourists attractions are:

Mountains and Wadis

The mountains of Ras Al Khaimah rise to a height of 2000 meters, and are dotted with plethora of Wadis (steep-sided valleys) that wind their serpentine ways through the rocky terrains. The most popular excursions are through the Wadi Bi and towards Massif to Wadi Ghayl, wadi Shakwa, Wadi Daftah and Wadi Idhn.

An endemic feature of Ras AL Khaimah, its mountains and wadis offer exciting and fun-filled sojourns for the adventurous tourists. The challenge to reach remoter places, places out of range of even a 4 wheel drive, is temping though the terrain is rocky, rough and physically demanding. Professional mountaineers can scale the sheer faces rising out of Wau Bih. Also a venue or a popular relay run, the wadi Bih crosses the mountains from Ras Al Khaimah to Dibbah, climbing to over 1000 meters and covering distance of 7 kilometers.

The Desert

The desert, at once evoking a ensue of vastness and adventure, lend a unique majesty to Ras Al Khaimah 's natural charm. The breathtaking red dunes that lie to west of digdaga an course a northerly direction out south of kharran provide one of the most scenic camping sites in the country. Surprised tourist find camel camps, farms oasis scenic camping sites in the country. Surprised tourist find camel camps, farms oasis and beautiful valleys on their drive through these desert passes.

Mangroves

So rare and beautiful are Ras Al Khaimah's mangroves that recently they have been designated as a part of an Environmental Protection Programme. Easily accessible and a great fun to explore by canoe, Ras Al Khaimah's mangroves run northward along the coast in sheltered inlets, and ate teeming with bird and marine life.

Khatt Springs

Situated in Ras Al Khaimah's western mountain range, this oasis is renowned for its hot springs of sulphuric water, sought after for its therapeutic and relaxing properties. During a 1992 archaeological survey, almost 170 sites, comprising stone tools to 19^th century mud-brick fortification towers, were discovered at Khatt, establishing that the place was also popular in ancient times.