 Ras al-Khaima and Sharjah have identical flags. | |
The surface area of Ras al-Khaima represents 2.2% of all of the UAE, and is made up of two mountainous regions, that are divided only by a few kilometres of land belonging to Fujairah. The northernmost of these regions has a coast line on the Persian Gulf stretching for about 64 km, until the border to Omani Musandam.Shaykh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi is the longest ruling head of state in the Middle East, and has been in office since 1948.Ras al-Khaima has its own international airport.
Economy
Agriculture is the backbone of Ras al-Khaima's economy, its territory to the west of the Hajar Mts being among the greenest in the United Arab Emirates. In recent years a petrochemical plant as well as tourism has become increasingly important. Also, the emirate is a long time exporter of aggregate which is the stone used for production of concrete. Also, there are industries producing explosives, pharmaceutical products, cement and asphalt.
History
3rd millennium BCE: Earliest traces of settlement.
Around 600 CE: The local town, known as Julfar, is an important port belonging to the Sassanid empire of Persia.
Around 630: Julfar is taken by Muslim Arabs.
1819: Ras al-Khaima, as it now is known, is occupied by the British.
1820: The local shaykh signs an agreement with the British, agreeing to form a protectorate, thereby achieving safety from the Ottomans.
1869: Ras al-Khaima's links to Sharjah are cut.
1900: Ras al-Khaima becomes part of Sharjah.
1921: Ras al-Khaima regains its independence.
1972 February 11: As the last emirate outside the United Arab Emirates, which had been formed more than 2 months earlier, Ras al-Khaima joins the federation.
1976: Oil discovered on Ras al-Khaima's territory, but not commercially exploitable.
1981: New oil finds, at Saleh, and small oil production begins.