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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
Zabbaa 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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