History of Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah has a rich historic past. It is believed that the earlier name of the city was Julfar. The medieval site of historic Julfar, a major centre of international trade, was 4 km towards north of present day Ras Al Khaimah. The Azd occupied that region during the 8th and 9th centuries AD. The shift in the focus of urban settlement was a continuous process. The actual location of Julfar had moved at least once before in its history. An original (older) site, now called Kush was occupied at various times between the 2nd and 14th centuries AD.

The place on the coast that is now called as Julfar, which was inhabited between the 14^th and 17^th centuries AD. Julfar was also the birthplace of Ibn Majid, one of the most celebrated of the Arab navigators during the middle Ages. The Portuguese constructed a fort at Julfar, depicted in several Portuguese manuscripts. Many Dutch and English sources have mentioned about Julfar as a thriving port.

However, by the second half of the 18^th century, the centre of activity had shifted to the present site. Ras al Khaimah was the home to the Qawasim or Qasimis whose descendents are ruling the emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. By the 19^th century, Qawasims had built a fleet of over 60 large vessels with nearly 20,000 sailors, drawing from centuries of maritime experience. They gradually established control of large sections of the Arabian Gulf along with Batinah Coast from Sharjah to Kalba and of the opposite shore. Their strength posed a serious challenge to the British, which was emerging as the dominant power in the Indian Ocean. In 1819, the British sent a strong naval and land force from Bombay to Ras al-Khaimah, which demolished the Qawasim fleet, burned the entire town and captured the forts in the area, thereby consolidating British influence in the Gulf.

Following this, Ras Al Khaimah suffered a period of decline for several years. After British occupation from December 1819 to July 1821, Sheikh Sultan Bin Saqr al-Qasimi signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain in 1822. They accepted the protectorate status to keep out the Ottoman Turks.

In 1869, Ras Al Khaimah became fully independent from Sharjah. However, from September 1900 to July 1921, it was once again incorporated into Sharjah. On 11^th February 1972, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi joined the United Arab Emirates.

Since then the emirate had flourished and developed itself into a popular tourist destination. H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has been the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah since 1948. His son, H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi was appointed Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler in June 2003.