10 things you did not know about Ras Al Khaimah

On the occasion of World Tourism Day, Ras Al Khaimah unveiled some secrets that might have you driving down there in a hurry.

Offering an authentic insight into Arabian culture and heritage, the emirate is packed full of fun activities with something for everyone.

Here goes:

1. The Arabic name ‘Ras Al Khaimah’ means ‘top of the tent’, referring to its location in the Northernmost part of the UAE.

2. Ahmad Bin Majid was an Arab navigator and cartographer born in 1421 in Ras Al Khaimah. He is known as the first Arab seaman and became famous in the West as the navigator who helped Vasco da Gama find his way from Africa to India.

3. Ras Al Khaimah is home to the highest mountain in the UAE. Standing tall at 1,910 meters, Jebel Jais is ideal for both mountain climbing and mountain biking with impressive views from the summit.

4. Al Wahabiyyah is one of the oldest art forms in Ras Al Khaimah and is unique to this emirate. This folkdance is usually performed on special occasions, feast days and at wedding parties.

5. The emirate is home to one of the top date farms in the UAE, offering no less than 18 different types of dates.

6. The historical fishing village of Al Jazirat Al Hamra, sitting just outside Ras Al Khaimah city, features traditional coral-block architecture and is now a reminder of life before the oil boom.

7. Ras Al Khaimah boasts 62 kilometers of white sandy beaches, with clear blue water and watersports aplenty from banana boat rides and body boarding to wakeboarding and windsurfing.

8. The Ras Al Khaimah National Museum features traditional weapons, which belong to the ruling family as well as archaeological displays illustrating the earliest settlers in the area.

9. Ras Al Khaimah has a rich history dating back to the Bronze Age, which makes it one of the few places in the world that has been continuously lived in for over 7,000 years.

10. There are 18 historic fortifications, castles and towers still standing in Ras Al Khaimah.

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