Ras Al Khaimah


Ras Al Khaimah is the fourth largest of the United Arab Emirates, located at the north of the Arabian Gulf coast, between the Hajar Mountains to the East and the coast to the west. Ras Al Khamai is making great inroads into the tourist industry, with its contrasting attractions of stunning beaches and dramatic mountain scenery. Historically important, Ras Al Khaimah has been inhabited since the fifth millennium BC, with settlers attracted to the region throughout time by the varied landscape of fertile plains, mountains, coast and desert.
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Fast Facts

Capital City – Ras al Khaimah City
Population Size: 250,000
Country Size: 1680 sq km
Currency/FX rate: Emirati Dirham (current rate £1 = 7.37 dirham)
Time Zone: +4GMT
Language: Official language is Arabic, though English is widely used. 
Weather: High temperatures and high humidity throughout summer, moderate winters
Visa: British travellers to Ras Al Khaimah do not need a visa.
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What to do

Khatt Springs: Situated west of the mountains these springs are renowned for their therapeutic properties.

Ras Al Khaimah Museum: This national museum, in the city centre, charts the history of Ras Al Khaimah. Established in 1987 in the Al Husen Fort, home to the former Sheikhs of the emirate. The museum houses a variety of historical documents and antiquities excavated from all over Ras Al Khaimah.

Hiking: Ras Al Khaimah’s stunning landscape makes it the ideal destination for hiking and trekking. Take an organised hiking tours of old abandoned villages, scale the tallest peak in the Musandam, or trek through wadis (dried up river valleys).

Desert: Numerous tours operate into the desert, some including riding in jeeps over the dunes, some visiting camel and ostrich farms or date plantations.

Camel Racing: Ras Al Khaimah boasts one of the best camel race tracks in the UAE. The camel has long been an important part of emirate culture, and racing is part of the cultural legacy passed down through the ages. It is also possible to visit the camel farms where the animals are cared for by the local Bedouin tribes.

Shopping: Aside from cultural excursions, Ras Al Khaimah also offers plenty of shopping opportunities, both traditional and modern. The old souks and traditional markets provide plenty of local colour – notable amongst these is the traditional fish market, one of the oldest in the region.