Ras al-Khaimah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The current statehood is the result of the 1909 appanage from Sharjah.
Its name could be taken to mean "headland of the small huts", which can be attributed to the indigenous buildings that existed along the coast.
The emirate is in the northern part of the UAE, bordering Oman's exclave of Musandam.
It covers an area of 1,684 square kilometers.
The capital city and home of most residents is also called Ras Al Khaimah.
The city has two main sections, Old Ras Al Khaimah and Nakheel, on either side of a creek. It is served by the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. It consists of a northern part (where the city of Ras al-Khaimah is situated), and a large inland exclave in the south (near Hatta), and a few small islands in the Persian Gulf.
Ras al-Khaimah has the most fertile soil in the country, due to a larger share in rainfall and underground water streams from Omani mountains.
