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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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