Ras al-Khaimah
Encyclopedia
Ras al-Khaimah is one of the emirates
of the United Arab Emirates
(UAE), in the east of the Persian Gulf
. It is in the northern part of the UAE bordering Oman
's exclave. The capital city and home of most residents is also called Ras al-Khaimah. The city has a population of 263,217 as of 2008. The city has two main sections, Old Ras Al Khaimah and Nakheel, on either side of a creek. It is served by the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
in Al Jazirah Al Hamra
.
The city was historically known as Julfar. Archaeological evidence has demonstrated that the settlement known as Julfar shifted location over time as harbour channels silted up. Excavations of a sizable tell, which revealed remnants of a Sassanid Era fortification indicate that early Julfar was located in the Shamal area, not far from other sites of historical/archaeological interest such as Sheba's Palace and the largest Umm Al Nar tombs found on the Arabian Peninsula. Sources say that Julfar was inhabited by the Azd
(They were a branch of the Kahlan tribe, which was one of the two branches of Qahtan (the aboriginal Arabs), the other being Himyar.) during the eighth and ninth centuries AD, and that the houses of the Azd were built of wood.
In the early 18th century the Qawasim clan established itself in Ras al-Khaimah.
In the early 19th century a British naval force attacked and occupied Ras al Khaimah to put a stop to the powerful hold of the maritime powerful Quwasem tribe. The Quwasem served as a threat to the British imperialism, and endangered the ships in the Indian Ocean
.
After British occupation (18 December 1819 - July 1821), Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi signed in 1822 the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like Ajman
, Dubai
, Umm al-Qaiwain and Sharjah, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state
.
In 1869 Ras al-Khaimah became fully independent from neighbouring Sharjah. However from September 1900 to 7 July 1921 it was re-incorporated into Sharjah; the last governor became its next independent ruler.
On 11 February 1972, Ras Al Khaimah, under the leadership of Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, joined the United Arab Emirates.
Its rulers were:
The official language of the UAE is Arabic, although English is widely used in business circles. A significant portion of the expatriate population also speaks Hindi
, Malayalam, Tamil
, Urdu
, Bengali
, Persian
and other languages of the subcontinent.
, which has become the world's largest ceramics producer, and Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar)
, the Persian Gulf
region's first pharmaceuticals company. It is trying to emerge as an investment destination par excellence. However it suffers from great electricity shortages, which has caused some residential buildings to be abandoned.
The annual Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
, first held in 2007, has called the attention of the world's sporting media to the region. The organisers invest much in the IAAF-label race in order to attract the world's top athletes, resulting in a world record from Samuel Wanjiru
in 2007 and the second fastest run of all-time from Patrick Makau Musyoki
in 2009.
, Kerala State-Board (Indian Syllabi), Dhaka Board (Bangladeshi Syllabi) etc.
There are also a number of higher education institutions including some branches of foreign universities:
A cheap local bus service in Ras Al Khaimah city was due to be launched by June 15, 2010 to ease transport for low-income earners. The first will be between the jumbo intersection in Al Nakheel and Sha’am village. It will have eight stops and buses will take 80 minutes to cover the distance. The second route will start from Al Nakheel and go via the airport road, Digdag and Khatt and turn south to Al Tawain and Adhen on the Fujairah-Ras al-Khaimah border. The third route going to the industrial areas — from the city to Jazeera Al Hamra and Ras al-Khaimah Industrial Area and the Al Ghail Industrial Area — would be opened in July, 2010.
Ras Al Khaimah is connected to other emirates like Dubai
, Sharjah, Ajman
, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah
by taxis which often embark from the taxi-stand located south of Al Dhaid town near the new Ras al-Khaimah Police Headquarters.
Three dual-carriageways link Ras Al Khaimah with the other emirates and beyond. One follows the coast with beaches on one side and stretches of desert on the other; the other, new route runs out towards the airport in the direction of Khatt
, Masafi
, Fujairah
and Dhaid
and further onto Oman.
The newly constructed Emirates Road (E311 Highway) traverses the emirates of Umm Al Quwain, Ajman
(60 km) and Sharjah (71 km) to finally end up in Dubai
(87 km). The new highway allows journeys from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai in under 45 minutes.
Saqr Port, located in the industrial area of Khor Khuwair, is the Emirate's main port, providing bulk and container services. It has eight deep water berths, each 200 m long, is dredged to 12.2 m and has two ro-ro ramps plus specialised berths for handling bulk cement and aggregate. Other services include ship handling, crew changes and 40,000 m2 of covered storage together with a vast open storage area. It is also the closest port in the UAE to Bandar Abbas
in Iran
, however there is no shipping from Saqr port to Bandar Abbas.
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
is currently undergoing an upgrade. It operates cargo and passenger services to a variety of destinations covering the Middle East, North & East Africa, Central Asia, India and the Far East.
On February 17, 2006, Space Adventures
announced its plans to develop a $265 million commercial spaceport in Ras Al-Khaimah
for space tourism.
) and winter months.
No income, sales or wealth taxes are payable by individuals. No corporate taxes are charged. In addition, there are no exchange controls, no withholding nor import or export taxes.
of the past centuries, and archaeology.
Emirates of the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is composed of 7 emirates :-References:...
of the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
(UAE), in the east of the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. It is in the northern part of the UAE bordering Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
's exclave. The capital city and home of most residents is also called Ras al-Khaimah. The city has a population of 263,217 as of 2008. The city has two main sections, Old Ras Al Khaimah and Nakheel, on either side of a creek. It is served by the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is away from the city of Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*...
in Al Jazirah Al Hamra
Al Jazirah Al Hamra
Al Jazeerah Al Hamra is a town in the United Arab Emirates occupied by Ras al-Khaimah since 1970. Its last Al-Zaab Sharif was Hussein Bin Rahma Al-Zaabi, who is now the Sharif of Al-Zaab area in Abu Dhabi. His eldest son Rahma is the United Arab Emirates ambassador to Lebanon...
.
History
Ras Al Khaimah has been the site of human habitation for several millennia and there are many historical and archaeological sites throughout the emirate dating from different time periods, including remnants of the Umm Al Nar Civilisation (3rd Millennium BC).The city was historically known as Julfar. Archaeological evidence has demonstrated that the settlement known as Julfar shifted location over time as harbour channels silted up. Excavations of a sizable tell, which revealed remnants of a Sassanid Era fortification indicate that early Julfar was located in the Shamal area, not far from other sites of historical/archaeological interest such as Sheba's Palace and the largest Umm Al Nar tombs found on the Arabian Peninsula. Sources say that Julfar was inhabited by the Azd
Azd
The Azd or Al Azd, are an Arabian tribe. They were a branch of the Kahlan tribe, which was one of the two branches of Qahtan the other being Himyar.In the ancient times, they inhabited Ma'rib, the capital city of the Sabaean Kingdom in modern-day Yemen...
(They were a branch of the Kahlan tribe, which was one of the two branches of Qahtan (the aboriginal Arabs), the other being Himyar.) during the eighth and ninth centuries AD, and that the houses of the Azd were built of wood.
In the early 18th century the Qawasim clan established itself in Ras al-Khaimah.
In the early 19th century a British naval force attacked and occupied Ras al Khaimah to put a stop to the powerful hold of the maritime powerful Quwasem tribe. The Quwasem served as a threat to the British imperialism, and endangered the ships in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
.
After British occupation (18 December 1819 - July 1821), Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi signed in 1822 the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like Ajman
Ajman
Ajman , also spelt Ujman, is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates . With an area of just 260 square kilometres , Ajman is the smallest emirate by area...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Umm al-Qaiwain and Sharjah, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state
Salute state
A Salute state was a princely state in India during the time of British rule which had been granted a gun salute by the British Crown ; i.e., the protocollary privilege for its ruler to be greeted - originally by Royal Navy ships, later also on land - with a number of gun shots, as recognition of...
.
In 1869 Ras al-Khaimah became fully independent from neighbouring Sharjah. However from September 1900 to 7 July 1921 it was re-incorporated into Sharjah; the last governor became its next independent ruler.
On 11 February 1972, Ras Al Khaimah, under the leadership of Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, joined the United Arab Emirates.
Its rulers were:
- 17?? - 17?? Sheikh Rahma Al Qasimi
- 17?? - 174? Sheikh Matar bin Rahma Al Qasimi
- 174? - 1777 Sheikh Rashid bin Matar Al Qasimi
- 1777 - 1803 Sheikh Saqr bin Rashid Al Qasimi
- 1803 - 1808 Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi (d. 1866) (1st time)
- 1808 - 1814 Sheikh al-Hassan bin `Ali Al Anezi
- 1814 - 1820 Sheikh al-Hasan bin Rahma
- 1820 - 1866 Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi (2nd time)
- 1866 - May 1867 Sheikh Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi
- May 1867 - 14 April 1868 Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi (d. 1868)
- 14 April 1868 - 1869 Sheikh Salim bin Sultan Al Qasimi (b. 18.. - d. 1919)
- 1869 - August 1900 Sheikh Humayd bin Abdullah Al Qasimi (d. 1900)
- Sharjah then appointed governors:
- September 1900 - 1909 Currently Unknown
- 1909 - August 1919 Sheikh Salim bin Sultan Al Qasimi (s.a.)
- August 1919 - 10 July 1921 Sheikh Sultan bin Salim Al Qasimi (b. 1891 - d. 19..), who stayed on the first of its own rulers:
- 10 July 1921 - Feb 1948 Sheikh Sultan bin Salim al Qasimi (s.a.)
- 17 July 1948 – 27 October 2010 Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (b. 1918 - d. 2010)
- 27 October 2010 - current Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al QasimiSaud bin Saqr al QasimiHis Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr al Qasimi was appointed Supreme Council member and new Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates on October 27, 2010. Sheikh Saud is the fourth son of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi,his predecessor as UAE Supreme Council Member and previous Ruler of...
- The heir apparent is Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, son of the current Emir.
Population
Exact population figures are difficult to come by, but a government census in 2005 calculated that the total population of the UAE was 4.3m. Many suspect that the actual figure is closer to 5m due to the large numbers of expatriate workers residing in the UAE, some of which may have been unaccounted for in the census. Ras al-Khaimah is estimated to have a total population of 300,000. While UAE citizens officially make up less than 20% of the population in the UAE, this figure is higher in Ras al-Khaimah. Emiratis are thought to make up at least 50% of the emirate’s population.The official language of the UAE is Arabic, although English is widely used in business circles. A significant portion of the expatriate population also speaks Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, Malayalam, Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
, Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
and other languages of the subcontinent.
Economy
Ras al-Khaimah is not a major oil producer, so it has focussed on developing its industrial sector. It opened the UAE's first cement company in the early 1970s and is now the UAE's largest producer of cement. In the 1980s, the emirate formed Ras al-Khaimah CeramicsRAK Ceramics
RAK Ceramics is a International consumer ceramics company based in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. It is one of the world’s largest ceramics producers and holds over a quarter of the sanitary-ware market and about one third of the ceramics market in Bangladesh...
, which has become the world's largest ceramics producer, and Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar)
Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar)
As the common saying goes, “Healh is Wealth.” is committed to ensuring good health for the community at large. Julphar has the distinction of being not only the first pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Arab Gulf States, but also the only pharmaceutical producer of its scale and size in the...
, the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
region's first pharmaceuticals company. It is trying to emerge as an investment destination par excellence. However it suffers from great electricity shortages, which has caused some residential buildings to be abandoned.
The annual Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.The first edition, in 2007, saw Samuel Wanjiru breaking the world record, but Wanjiru himself set a new world record only a month later in another race...
, first held in 2007, has called the attention of the world's sporting media to the region. The organisers invest much in the IAAF-label race in order to attract the world's top athletes, resulting in a world record from Samuel Wanjiru
Samuel Wanjiru
Samuel Kamau Wanjiru was a Kenyan athlete, who specialized in long distance running. He became a professional at a young age and broke the world record in the half marathon when he was 18 years old...
in 2007 and the second fastest run of all-time from Patrick Makau Musyoki
Patrick Makau Musyoki
Patrick Makau Musyoki is a runner from Kenya. He holds the world record in the marathon with a time of 2:03:38, set at the 2011 Berlin Marathon. He is also notable for his half marathon performances, having won a number of prominent competitions in Europe...
in 2009.
Education
Ras al Khaimah has a large number of government-run Arabic-medium schools—primary, elementary and higher secondary. There are also English-medium schools which offer varied curricula to suit the expatriate community, with syllabi such as GCSE, IGCSE, A Levels, O Levels, CBSECentral Board of Secondary Education
The Central Board of Secondary Education is a Board of Education for public and private schools, under the Union Government of India.-History:...
, Kerala State-Board (Indian Syllabi), Dhaka Board (Bangladeshi Syllabi) etc.
- Ras Al Khaimah English Speaking SchoolRas Al Khaimah English Speaking SchoolRas Al Khaimah English Speaking School in the United Arab Emirates was founded in 1975. The school is co-educational and covers the student ages from Playgroup to year 12/13...
- International School of ChoueifatInternational School of ChoueifatThe International School of Choueifat is a collection of international schools run by the SABIS school system in various countries of the Middle East. The first International School of Choueifat started in Choueifat, Lebanon in 1886 and later spread to various parts of the Gulf region...
- Indian School Ras Al KhaimahIndian School Ras Al KhaimahIndian School Ras Al Khaimah founded in 1979, is a Modern English Medium School. It is managed by the Indian Association.Situated in Nakheel, Ras al-Khaimah. The school is recognised by the Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates and affiliated with the Central Board of...
- The New Indian Higher Secondary School
- Indian Public High SchoolIndian Public High SchoolThe Indian Public High School, suituated in Nakheel, Ras al-Khaimah, was founded in 1986 and is run by private body. The school is recognised by the Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates and affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education in New Delhi...
- Scholars Indian School
- Bangladesh Islamia School
- Pakistani Higher Secondary School
- Ideal English Higher Secondary School
There are also a number of higher education institutions including some branches of foreign universities:
- The University of Bolton
- Ittihad UniversityIttihad UniversityIttihad University is the first-largest private university located in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah , United Arab Emirates.Founded in year 1999 according to the Emiri Decree No. 9/99 issued by H.H. Sheikh Saqr Bin Muhammad Al-Qassimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah Emirate, Member of the Supreme...
- American University of Ras Al Khaimah
- Royal College of Applied Science and Technology
- Birla Institute of TechnologyBirla Institute of TechnologyBirla Institute of Technology, Mesra , is an autonomous engineering and technology oriented institute of higher education located in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India...
- Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences UniversityRas al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences UniversityRas Al-khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University is a new medical university in Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The university was established by the Ras Al Khaimah Human Development Foundation under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, Crown Prince & Deputy...
- Ras Al Khaimah College of Dental Sciences
- George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
Ras Al Khaimah campus - Birla Institute of Technology International Centre, Ras Al Khaimah
- Higher Colleges of TechnologyHigher Colleges of TechnologyThe Higher Colleges of Technology was established in 1988, and is the largest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates with over 19,000 students. During the 2011 - 2012 academic year there were 12,217 female and 7,298 male students enrolled at 17 campuses and 92 programs...
- The University of Pune (UoP)University of PuneThe University of Pune , is a university located in northwestern Pune, India. It was founded in 1949. Spread over a campus, the university is home to 46 academic departments...
- Bharati Vidyapeeth University (BVU)
- Vatel International Business School for Hotel and Tourism Management
- Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicyGerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicyThe Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University brings together biomedical, clinical, social, and behavioral scientists to conduct research, educational, and community service programs in the field of human nutrition...
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneÉcole polytechnique fédérale de LausanneThe École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.The school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to:...
Transport
Within Ras Al Khaimah city, the main mode of transport are metered taxis, with public buses operating on long-haul routes and catering mainly to smaller towns, e.g. Sha`am, Rams, and Jazeerah-al-Hamra.A cheap local bus service in Ras Al Khaimah city was due to be launched by June 15, 2010 to ease transport for low-income earners. The first will be between the jumbo intersection in Al Nakheel and Sha’am village. It will have eight stops and buses will take 80 minutes to cover the distance. The second route will start from Al Nakheel and go via the airport road, Digdag and Khatt and turn south to Al Tawain and Adhen on the Fujairah-Ras al-Khaimah border. The third route going to the industrial areas — from the city to Jazeera Al Hamra and Ras al-Khaimah Industrial Area and the Al Ghail Industrial Area — would be opened in July, 2010.
Ras Al Khaimah is connected to other emirates like Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Sharjah, Ajman
Ajman
Ajman , also spelt Ujman, is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates . With an area of just 260 square kilometres , Ajman is the smallest emirate by area...
, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah
Fujairah
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east instead of Persian Gulf .-History:...
by taxis which often embark from the taxi-stand located south of Al Dhaid town near the new Ras al-Khaimah Police Headquarters.
Three dual-carriageways link Ras Al Khaimah with the other emirates and beyond. One follows the coast with beaches on one side and stretches of desert on the other; the other, new route runs out towards the airport in the direction of Khatt
Khatt
Khatt is a mountainous village south-east of the city of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. It is known for its long history of tribal wars between the rulers of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. It is also famous for its springs of sulphur water....
, Masafi
Masafi
Masafi is a village located on the edge of the Hajar Mountains in the United Arab Emirates. It developed along the old unpaved road which ran from Fujairah to Dubai via Sharjah. It was a trading post and refuelling stop for 4x4 vehicles and camel trains that plied the route before the modern...
, Fujairah
Fujairah
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east instead of Persian Gulf .-History:...
and Dhaid
Dhaid
Dhaid, or Al Dhaid, is the capital of the central district of the Emirate of Sharjah. It is a large agricultural town surrounded by fertile land...
and further onto Oman.
The newly constructed Emirates Road (E311 Highway) traverses the emirates of Umm Al Quwain, Ajman
Ajman
Ajman , also spelt Ujman, is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates . With an area of just 260 square kilometres , Ajman is the smallest emirate by area...
(60 km) and Sharjah (71 km) to finally end up in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
(87 km). The new highway allows journeys from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai in under 45 minutes.
Saqr Port, located in the industrial area of Khor Khuwair, is the Emirate's main port, providing bulk and container services. It has eight deep water berths, each 200 m long, is dredged to 12.2 m and has two ro-ro ramps plus specialised berths for handling bulk cement and aggregate. Other services include ship handling, crew changes and 40,000 m2 of covered storage together with a vast open storage area. It is also the closest port in the UAE to Bandar Abbas
Bandar Abbas
Bandar-Abbas or Bandar-e ‘Abbās , also Romanized as Bandar ‘Abbās, Bandar ‘Abbāsī, and Bandar-e ‘Abbās; formerly known as Cambarão and Port Comorão to Portuguese traders, as Gombroon to English traders and as Gamrun or Gumrun to Dutch merchants) is a port city and capital of Hormozgān Province on...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, however there is no shipping from Saqr port to Bandar Abbas.
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is away from the city of Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*...
is currently undergoing an upgrade. It operates cargo and passenger services to a variety of destinations covering the Middle East, North & East Africa, Central Asia, India and the Far East.
On February 17, 2006, Space Adventures
Space Adventures
Space Adventures, Ltd. is a Virginia, USA-based space tourism company founded in 1998 by Eric C. Anderson. , offerings include zero-gravity atmospheric flights, orbital spaceflights , and other spaceflight-related experiences including cosmonaut training, spacewalk training, and launch tours...
announced its plans to develop a $265 million commercial spaceport in Ras Al-Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah spaceport
The Ras Al Khaimah spaceport will be located in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. It is a joint venture between Prodea and Space Adventures, and will be used to launch suborbital tourist flights in the Space Adventures Explorer spaceplane.-External links:* * * * * -See...
for space tourism.
Shopping malls
The following are some of the major shopping centres in Ras Al Khaimah:- Manar Mall (also known as CarrefourCarrefourCarrefour S.A. is an international hypermarket chain headquartered in Levallois-Perret, France. It is one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world...
by the expatriate community) - the oldest shopping mall in Ras al-Khaimah and the most popular due to its location in the heart of the city. The mall contains one of the two cinemas in Ras al-Khaimah - Almassa Cinema - Lulu centre
- Safeer Mall - a newly installed mall as of 2009
- Al Hamra Mall - a newly installed mall as of 2009 serving the Al Hamra Jazira area
- Safeer Market
- Kerala Super Market
- Al Wafa Super Market
- Al Manama Hypermarket
Park
Saqr Park is one of the favorite destinations in Ras Al Khaimah. This park is situated in the Air Port Road. This park is clean, green and well maintained. The park sports a large crowd on national holidays (EidEid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
) and winter months.
Taxation and companies law
New legislation and regulations adopted by Ras al-Khaimah authorities favour big international interest for offshore business purposes. The combination of security and confidentiality is ensured to entrepreneurs. An international company may only have foreign customers and is not liable for paying local taxes. It can open a local bank account, make investments tax-free, obtain mortgages for investing in UAE assets. Employment visas are available. When approved, this type of company can own property in UAE free trade zones.No income, sales or wealth taxes are payable by individuals. No corporate taxes are charged. In addition, there are no exchange controls, no withholding nor import or export taxes.
Healthcare
There are two government hospitals (Saqr Hospital and Saif Bin Ghobash Hospital) and a private multispecialty hospital (RAK Hospital) which is promoted by Arabian Healthcare LLC, a joint venture between the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and the Dubai-based ETA Star Group, and managed by the Swiss healthcare provider "Sonnenhof-Swisshealth". Ras al-Khaimah Hospital has been accredited by "Joint Commission International" (JCI) and "Swiss Leading Hospitals".Tourism in Ras al Khaimah
Sights in Ras Al Khaimah Include- The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah: housed in the former palace of the ruling Al Qawasim family, it has exhibits on natural history, arts and crafts
of the past centuries, and archaeology.
- Dhayah Fort: the only surviving hilltop fort in the UAE.
- Shamal and Sheeba's Palace: tombs and ruins of a medieval palace.
- Al Falayah: the former summer residence of the ruling Al Qawasim family.
- Jazirat Al Hamra: an abandoned ‘ghost town’ showing the architecture of earlier decades.
- The Old City and Souq: an opportunity to see both traditional and modern shops as well as artisan’s workshops
- Awafi festival: It is three week event held in December or January month with the main attraction is the dramatic sand dune drives by the strongest 4-wheel drives of the UAE, there are many other reasons to visit Al Awafi. A heritage village with traditional food and dance will open on the festival, as well as shops for food and souvenirs. For the children, a petting zoo and lots of games are available. The entry is free of charge, and many families are bringing picnics to enjoy whilst watching the cars battling it out over the sand dunes.
Settlements
- 'Amqah
- Al Fay'
- 'Ayim'AyimAyim is a settlement in Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates....
- Qarat ad DulmQarat ad DulmQarat ad Dulm is the name of a settlement in Ras al-Khaimah....
Tribes
- Bani BakhitBani Bakhit-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani HuraymishBani Huraymish-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani Jum'ahBani Jum'ah-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani Kaab
- Bani RayyilBani Rayyil-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani Sa'adBani Sa'ad-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani SalimiBani Salimi-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani ShumayliBani Shumayli-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani ShutayrBani Shutayr-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani 'UdaydBani 'Udayd-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Bani ZaydahBani Zaydah-References:*Gazeteer of the United Arab Emirates. Washington, D.C. : Defense Mapping Agency, 1987....
- Al ShihuhAl-Shehhial-Shehhi is an Arabic family name originating in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. When followed by a sun letter, the l in al assimilates to the initial consonant of the following noun, resulting in a doubled consonant.-People:...
- Al ZaabAl ZaabiAl Zaabi , is the name of a tribe in the United Arab Emirates who originally lived in Al Jazirah Al Hamra in what is today the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. Some of the tribe migrated to Abu Dhabi after a clash between the tribe and Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad of Ras Al-Khaimah...
See also
- Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade ZoneRas Al Khaimah Free Trade ZoneThe Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority is one of the "free zones" of the United Arab Emirates . It is located in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the northernmost part of the U.A.E., 45 minutes by road from Dubai...
- Ras Al Khaimah Media Free ZoneRas Al Khaimah Media Free ZoneRas Al Khaimah Media Free Zone and Film City was launched 3 January 2006, by the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone authority competing directly with Dubai Media City. RAKFTZ is being developed because of the increasing cost of living in Dubai, which makes Ras Al Khaimah an alternative place to go...
- Ras Al Khaimah IT ParkRas Al Khaimah IT ParkRas Al Khaimah IT Park launched by Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone, is an economic free zone, that aims to build advanced, high tech infrastructure to attract Information Technology companies from around the world, in an effort to emulate success achieved by Dubai Internet City...
- Rak GatewayRak GatewayThe Rak Gateway or is a planned community in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. It is planned to be sustainable along the same lines as the proposed Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.-External links:**...
- UAE Awafi FestivalUAE Awafi FestivalUAE Awafi Festival The Festival is considered a pioneering and authentic Emarati annual event in Ras al-Khaimah, UAE and is one of the defining local tourist attractions in the Emirate's tourism calendar...