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National
Museum
RAK National Museum has been established in 1987 according
to an ordinance from His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed
Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of RAK in Al Hisin. This Hisin was
built in the middle of the 18th century. It is located
in the old RAK town after maintenance.
The
Museum consists of so many parts most important of which
is the Qawasim Room on the first floor. It contains documents,
manuscript and treaties between the ruling family and
the U.K. Government, and also some traditional weapons
belonging to the Ruling Family.
The
other important part is the one allotted for the antiquities,
which were found in different parts of the Emirate. Age
of some of these antiquities refers to 5000 BC, and some
of them refer to the Islamic age. These antiquities are
exhibited on the ground floor of the museum and they are
arranged in historical order. There is also a room for
silverware used by women for decoration.
Al
Hisin
It was built in the middle of 18th century, during the
Persian occupation between 1730- 1749. Most of the modern
buildings inside it were built in the last 100 years.
It was used previously as a residence to the ruling family
up to 1964, after wards it was used as a location to the
general directorate of RAK Police, and later as a central
jail up to 1984.
In
1987 His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi decided
to use Al Hisin as Ras Al-Khaimah National Museum after
maintaining it and reconditioning it using the original
Local raw materials.
Ras
Al Khaimah national Museum contains many antiquities explored
in the emirate. It is considered to be one of the richest
museums in UAE. There are so many annexes added to the
museum, one of which belongs to the ruling family named
Al-Qasimi annex.
There
are also the heritage annex and rooms for the jewelleries,
clothes (dresses), traditional weapons and native history.
It has a section for archaeology, which contains a Lab
rotary for classification and determination of the ages
of the findings in co-operation with some European universities.
Shamal
Shamal soil is considered to be the most fertile in the
Emirate. Some tombstones were left in Shamal since last
thousand years. Many important Locations were found back
to the oasis near the mountain. It is easy to reach there
using Shamal main road. Beside the new road a big grave
has been found which refers to Um Al Nar age, its date
is about 4500 years. This grave is circular with a diameter
of 14.5 meters. It is considered to be the Largest found
in UAE. It was built with decorated walls; it was full
of findings, which have been shifted to the museum. These
findings show the Um Al Nar civilization was very rich
and her people were skilful.
Wadi souk culture left behind a large graveyard containing
so many graves from 4000 years back. They are very rare
graves and unique in the Emirates. These graves were found
only in RAK. Some of these graves contain Maglethian characteristics,
already excavation of these graves is over and the sight
can receive visitors. On the mountain, on the high point
of new Shamal village there is a palace which reverts
to the middle ages and it is the only palace found in
UAE This palace is known in the mythology science as (Al
Zabba’a Palace), although that queen lived in prior
period to that palace building time.
Water
tanks and defending walls were built on the hill at Shamal,
but the palace was built in the front side of the hill.
It has a look out on the Shamal fertile valley.
So
many rooms and water tanks are available there. The original
roofs are still there as a sign of the brilliant and skilled
past. This palace had connection with Julfar trading town,
Julfar was the name of RAK previously.
Al
Falaya
The houses of Al Fillaya were built in the 18th century
as summer lodging for Al Quasim Family. These houses were
surrounded with palm gardens; also the locals from RAK
to spend the summer time there used some houses.
Historically
this location is considered to be important because the
peace treaty between the Quasim and the Oman's British
armed forces was signed there in the year 1819.
In
the year 1820 a peace treaty was signed between the Sheikhs
of the Arab Gulf Coast and the British Government at Al
Fillaya. Due to this treaty and after a small period UAE
has been established.
Watchtowers
Everywhere in the fertile valley of RAK a visitor can
find signs of the past where fighting was something normal
between the people. The watchtowers are about 60 towers,
most of them have been maintained and reconditioned and
the rest are still as they are.
These
remaining towers are the evidence for the strong defence
net which protected the lands, palm trees gardens and
the village of RAK. On the hills, highlands and some times
in the centre of palm oasis these watchtowers were built
with the hands of skillful soldiers as a protection from
any enemy they can face.
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