Snapshot Of The Emirates
RAS AL KHAIMAH
HH Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al
Qasimi, Founding Father of the UAE
and former Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi,
Member of Supreme Council and Ruler
of Ras Al Khaimah.
Founding Father: HH Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi (1948 – 2010)
Current Ruler: HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi (2010 – present)
Important Landmark: The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah
Key Industries: Tourism, investment agencies, bulk port
T
he name Ras Al Khaimah
translates to ‘top of the tent’ in
Arabic. The capital of the emirate
is Ras Al Khaimah City. The
city is divided in two by a creek with the
Western part known as Old Town (Ras
Al Khaimah) and the eastern part called
Muairid.
According to the official government
website of Ras Al Khaimah, the emirate
is ‘the cradle for ancient civilisation which
has an impressive archaeological heritage
and rich cultural history.’ Its history spans
many important periods such as the Ubaid
period (5000 – 3800BC), Hafeet Period
(3200 – 2600BC), Umm al-Nar Civilisation
(2600 – 200BC) up to the Iron Age (1250
– 300BC) to the later Islamic Era (14th
– 19th Century). Monuments from the
various time periods can be found at the
National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah.
Ras Al Khaimah is a popular tourist
destination and is known for its beautiful
beaches and wonderful hotels. Special
attention is given to preserving traditional
sporting activities as well as those done
on a global scale. Local sports activities
include camel racing, falconry, equestrian
sports and hunting with greyhounds to
name a few. There are also numerous
festivals and sports clubs that focus on
entertainment within the emirate.
Source: Government of Ras Al Khaimah
(Photo Credit: National Archives, UAE)
Special Feature
Nov - Dec 2014
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