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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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