Ras al-Khaimah

Ras al-Khaimah (Arabic: رأس الخيمة‎) which also mean The Top of the Tent in English 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 of Musandam. The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah covers an area of 1,700 square km. 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. Apart from the northern part where the city of Ras Al Khaimah is situated, it also has one large enclave in the South near Hatta, and a few small islands on the Persian Gulf. Ras Al Khaimah's climate is hot and arid with very hot summers and mild winters. The average temperature is 16-25 °C from October to April and 33-42 °C from May to September. However, temperatures often reach 45 or even 50 °C in the summer. Humidity level is usually high in the summer months. Rains and thunderstorms occur seldom and always in the winter. Snow was reported twice in 2004 and 2009 in the high mountains of Ras Al Khaimah.

Important towns, settlements and areas include:

• Jazirat Al Hamra - an old coastal town with numerous real estate projects and industrial zone
• Rams – a coastal town, in the past a typical fishermen and pearl diver village
• Khor Khuwair - an industrial zone, with the largest port in Ras Al Khaimah and numerous companies such as cement factory
• Diqdaqah – a village known for agriculture activities
• Khatt - a village surrounded by the mountains, famous for its thermal springs and palm gardens
• Masafi – a town in the southern part of Ras Al Khaimah, well known for drinking water
• Huwaylat - a central village in the southern part of Ras Al Khaimah