Ras Al Khaimah is one of the seven emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and played an important role in the establishment of its union. Ras Al Khaimah is located in the far north of UAE, with a coastline that extends 64 kilometers. It is bordered from the south and the northeast by Oman and it shares a border with the emirates of Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Sharjah, and is considered one of the important historical cities as investigations in the recent past have revealed that the human habitation in this region can be traced back to the 3rd millennium BC.
The length of the distance from the coast to deep inside the land in Ras Al Khaimah is 128 kilometers. The area of Ras Al Khaimah is about 1684 square kilometers, which is equivalent to 2.17% of the total area of the country, and make it the fourth largest Emirate in terms of area and population in the UAE, as the total population of Ras Al Khaimah was around 250,000 people according to estimates made in 2007, including citizens who mostly descended from various tribes, in addition to expatriates of different nationalities.
Its capital is the city of Ras Al Khaimah, which is divided by a coastal water inlet known as RAK Khor into two parts: the western section which is known as Ras Al Khaimah city, and the eastern section which consist of several districts such as Oraibi, Al Nakheel, Al Hudayba, Al Maereed, Al Maa’moura, Golan and Shaa’biat Rashid, and the two sections of the Emirate are connected by a bridge.
Ras Al Khaimah, under the umbrella of the union is witnessing a great cultural transformation in all fields and aspects of public life thanks to the union which helped convert the fishermen houses and villages to modern houses and cities and large villages provided with all public facilities such as schools, hospitals, mosques, cultural and sports clubs and different cultural facilities. However, what distinguishes Ras Al Khaimah from the rest of the cities of the state is its rich local heritage and unique character, beautiful nature, and fertile agricultural land.
The Emirate has recently started executing many ambitious development projects, including investments in infrastructure, tourism, and shopping, and many efforts are being made to attract commercial and industrial projects to the Emirate.
Ras Al Khaimah takes the first place among other emirates in many fields, and it has succeeded in maintaining its position. In 1955, the first agricultural experiment in the UAE was established in Ras Al Khaimah, and in 1968, the first limestone quarry was opened behind Khor Khuwair. A year later, the first cattle farm was opened in Digdaga area, then Saqr Port was built in 1977, which is the first port in the Arabian Gulf, and in 1980, the first Museum of Natural History was opened, which is also considered the first museum in the Northern Emirates.
Since the Union of United Arab Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah has seen significant progress in several areas including education, health and infrastructure development. Today, the Emirate focuses on the future in the field of economic development with the establishment of industrial and residential areas and free trade zones, in addition to many tourism projects.
The location of the Emirate in the far north of the country nearby the strategic Strait of Hormuz makes it the first Emirate to oversee the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, giving it an amazing geographical and natural privilege. The relative length of its coastline made it a center for maritime navigation and commercial activity since ancient times.