Ruler
H. H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al qasimi is the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
History
archaeological evidences indicate old civilizations in Ras Al khaimah. the emirate is famous for its historical antiqUMSties such as the fort of Dhayah, the palace of Al zabaa and the antiqUMSties of Julfar city.
in the early 18th century, the Al Qawasim tribe (the current ruling tribe of the emirate) set up base in Ras Al Khaimah and grew to be a significant maritime power on the Arabian coast.
on 10 February 1972, Ras Al Khaimah joined the federation of UAE.
How it was named
the name of the Emirate literally means the peak of the tent, referring to the queen of Al Zaba'a who bUMSlt a tent on top of shamal mountain. historically, it was named as Julfar.
Geography
Ras Al Khaimah is the fourth largest emirate and covers an area of 1684 sq km. it shares borders with Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Sharjah in the UAE and with the sultanate of Oman to the southeast.
It maintains a distinguished natural and geographic location, stretching along the Arabian Gulf shore adjacent to the strategic strait of Hormuz.
Nature and environment
Ras Al Khaimah features a wealth of landscapes from rugged mountain peaks to coastal areas and desert.
the key towns in Ras Al Khaimah are:
- Al jazeerah al hamra – it is an old coastal town, which currently boosts many commercial and industrial projects
- Digdagah – it is known for agricultural activities and poultry farming
- Khatt – it is the location of hot springs
- Masafi – it shares borders with the emirate of fujairah and known for its mineral water
Economy
Ras Al khaimah has been witnessing a wide expansion in its economy marked by the recent establishment of free zone areas, which attracted many foreign investments in different sectors.
apart from its agricultural attributes, Rak runs two vital industries: the cement industry and the pharmaceutical industry.
Landmarks
These vary between old and new. some of the popular ones are:
· the national museum of ras al khaimah
· iceland waterpark
Population
According to the official portal of Ras Al khaimah government, the emirate is estimated to have a total population of 300,000
