Question: What Is Ras el Khaima?

Answer:

Ras el Khaima, Arabic for "top of the tent," is one of the seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates. It is about twice the size of New York City and has a population of 300,000. It is a lesser known and far less influential member of the emirates that include Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

True to its name, the city state formerly known as Julfar is perched near the top of the UAE's peninsular jut into the Persian Gulf, near the border with Oman.


Like its sister emirates, Ras el Khaima is an absolute monarchy. Its single-greatest distinction is its ruler: Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi, in power since he overthrew his uncle and father-in-law in a bloodless coup in 1948, is the world's longest-serving monarch. The monarch is no longer actively involved in the emirate's leadership, ceding that role to Shaikh Saud bin Saqr (who himself had ousted Crown Prince Shaikh Khalid bin Saqr al-Qassimi from his role as heir apparent in 2003, sending him into exile in Oman.)

"We as leaders of the Muslim world need to take responsibility for ourselves and our citizens," said Sheik Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi, the crown prince and deputy ruler of Ras al-Khaimah during a large conference organized by Malaysia and Indonesia on changing the world's attitudes toward the Muslim world. "We need to make sure that our young people can find jobs."

Bereft of oil or gas, Ras el Khaima appeals to companies looking to establish off-shore operations to evade taxation or other forms of financial regulation and oversight.

Foreign companies may not conduct business with local customers, but they are exempt from taxation and welcome to invest locally.