Ras al-Khaimah, Ancient port city in northern United Arab Emirates.
Ras al-Khaimah is a coastal settlement in the northern part of the United Arab Emirates, extending from mountain foothills to the Persian Gulf shore. The town divides into two sections: an older quarter on a peninsula between the sea and a tidal creek, and newer districts inland along broad avenues.
Traders used this bay as an anchorage for thousands of years on routes between Mesopotamia and the Indian Ocean. Portuguese ships reached the shore in the 16th century, before British treaties in the 19th century placed the region under protectorate.
The old town preserves its narrow lanes where merchants sell spices and textiles, while fishermen lay out their nets at the harbor each morning. Local families gather in cafés along the corniche, where coffee and dates accompany views of the water.
Visitors arriving early in the morning or late afternoon avoid midday heat and find shops and markets open and active. Comfortable shoes help when walking through the old quarter, while sun protection is advisable throughout the year.
Some streets in the old quarter still bear names referring to former trades, such as lanes of blacksmiths or cloth merchants. On windy days, traditional wooden boats called dhows sail along the coast, recalling earlier trading times.
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