RAK Tourism Video

RAK Tourism

Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai – Tourism Dubai

Introduction by FBS KOTSOMITIS CORPORATE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES FZE

Ras Al Khaimah has and is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Gulf. Increasingly, it also has acquired strong international appeal…. being also so close to Dubai’s international airport. It is only a short 40-minute drive from Dubai and Oman! It is also virtually the only ‘weekend-away’ option available to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other big and busy city residents.

Ras Al Khaimah is by far the most beautiful nature spot in the UAE with amazing beaches and mountains as well as top hotels and entertainment options. The outstanding Al Hamra Village, winner of the 2013 Award as the best mixed-use development in the Middle East is the top ‘place to be’ and is home to an 18-hole championship golf course, golf club and golf academy, marina, sailing club and sailing academy, tennis courts and academy, a 50.000 square meter buzzing mall, top hotels such as The Waldorf Astoria, 2 Banyan Tree Resorts, Hilton and Palace hotel and others, as well as 1200 villas and close to 3000 apartments. Al Hamra village is not just a resort – it also is a community of permanent residents with all of the infrastructure for ‘top-end luxury village life’. Al Hamra Village is a VIP area with high security and amazing life experiences.

Bottom-line, Ras Al Khaimah with its truly authentic and friendly Arabian character has focused NOT on sports tourism or business led visitors but rather at the ‘Resort tourism’ requiring quiet and tranquil but classy holidays with access to all the top-end facilities and a focus on natural beauty away from the hustle and bustle of big city life and stresses.

Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai – Tourism Dubai

Transcript of Video

Ras Al Khaimah, with a population of 150,000, lies about 100 km from Dubai. There is no bus or train transport but pool taxis are cheap. The Hajar Mountains are also part of Ras Al Khaimah.

Thanks to the water pouring down the mountain, this is the greenest and most varied region of the same time, where dessert, seashore, mountains and watered areas form a unit.

The income of the Emirate is derived from agriculture, pearl diving, fishing and extraction of stone. Ras Al Khaimah is the only Emirate that was not a founding member of the confederation – they joined a year later. Development is also significant here but not as obvious as in Dubai. Understandably the beauties of nature dominate here and travel agencies also emphasize the possibility of optional activities.

The capital lies on the shore of a narrow gulf and, just like Dubai, is divided by a strait called Ras Al Khaimah. Here too, the Museum of Local History was established in an old fortress. Its primary treasure is the original manuscript from Vasco da Gama about Julfar, the ancient capital. Souqs shouldn’t be missed here either.

Those who would like to buy a genuine pearl are in the right place. Local pearls are famous for their even, round shape and exceptionally white colour.

We could take a trip in the area to the extraordinary beautiful Musandam Peninsular which belongs to Oman or we can sail out to watch dolphins living in the wild. The remains of the palace ascribed for the Queen of Sheba are located in Shimal, some five kilometres from the city.

There’s no shortage of shopping centres in Ras Al Khaimah either, where everything can be purchased at prices similar to those in Dubai.

Tourists can try desert vehicles in an oasis. We can take off for a jeep safari with a driver but it’s more memorable if we drive ourselves; this, of course, requires some experience. We can take sand-runners, quads or the “ship of the desert”, out-performing any all-wheel drive vehicle, particularly because it doesn’t use gas – only water once a week. The dunes can be explored on stubby but steady Arabian horses.

The car rally is not the only car race in which cars have to work their way through the sand dunes. Several other driving desert races are also held in the Emirates.

The nature of the plane determines its habitable features. Shepherd folks sleeping in tents are frequently in need of hospitality. When there isn’t any city or permanent settlement, the honour and credit of the tribe substitutes the land.

Hospitality has been a sanctuary for everyone in need. The Bedouin shared his scant bites with his guests and those eating bread and salt with him became his prodigy. Company for a migrant traveler normally lasts three days because this is the exact time it takes for the consumed food to become blood. But if the enemy asked for asylum, the Arab couldn’t deny that either and while he held on to the ties of his tent, his life was secure. A bloody battle could only affect him if he left his tent and took to the road again.

The planes produced this peculiar morality. A Bedouin didn’t acknowledge any higher powers and the chief then could thank his honour to his personal excellence only. Every noble Arab was equally poor and held the same rank in the planes. Democratic attitude, applicable to every Arab, didn’t allow the establishment of a state over the tribes. This made tribes independent from each other but at the same time prevented Arabs from uniting their forces to gain economical superiority – wrote Professor Germanas, one of the greatest orientalists.

The past few centuries have proven what these tribes are able to do if they break with their habits and join in the interests of a common aim. Past and present live side by side in the traditional Arab countries. Social relations, religion, concepts and even clothing haven’t changed very much during the past few centuries. However, architecture, transport, technology and economic life have changed.

Gold is the oldest known precious metal and was even mentioned in the Bible. In ancient times, the measure of some empires’ economy was gold and objects made of it but, due to its relatively constant value, it serves as a measure of economic life in every country, even today.

Gold is hidden in the gorges in the form of seams, mostly mixed with other minerals. It is a rather frequently found mineral but generally only a very small amount is discovered. It always played a significant role throughout history. Just think of the treasure of King Solomon, the fabulous city of El Dorado, the Spanish Treasure Galleons, the gold mines of South Africa, or the American Gold Rush.

The magnificent shiny yellow coloured metal resists the effect of air and the oxidizing power of most acids. It’s very easily worked; it’s soft, extremely resilient and melts only at very high temperatures. These characteristics make it suitable for making jewelry and works of art. The measure of gold purity is the carat; the larger the carat number, the more valuable the metal.

The Arab world has old traditions of work in gold – goldsmithing and jewelry. Even today wonderful jewels are produced in the depths of bazars, in the back corners of small hidden shops.

In Dubai’s old district at the intersection of commercial roads to the north from the arm, Deira has been the centre of local markets for centuries. The bazar in Deira has an indoor market where consumer articles are sold. Textile, technical goods, a fragrant perfume market, a less fragrant fish market but the main attraction is the gold market. In the allies winding along the Sikkat al-Khail street, we can find any kind of jewelry, from cheap Arabian jewels to Indian pieces or the finest Italian masterpieces – an astonishing quantity of objects made of gold and other precious metals and precious stones can be find in more than 300 shops.

Dubai is the largest reseller of gold in the world and tourists are not the only ones buying golden necklaces or earrings. Serious quantities are bought and sold upstairs. Here only gold bars are sold. The jewelers of numerous countries in the world purchase their raw materials here. Forgery has never occurred. Here where 22 or 24 carat gold and white gold are sold. Caution: the noted prices don’t include the fashion price but we can bargain. After all we are in an Arabian bazar. Average earrings cost US$30 but cheaper presents are also available. As for the upper limit, well…… oil Sheikhs shop here too…!

We can even design our own jewels and pieces can also be made on the basis of an example or pattern, for example, a photograph. This sparkling wonder world is so typical of Dubai and even those not planning to buy gold must also see it.

Ancient and modern articles mix inseparably in the bazars in the Emirates. According to oriental custom, jewelers, carpet traders, coppersmiths and leather craftsmen are located on several streets but it still occurs that a video camera and a copper coffee maker are sold next to each other. The small shops of some oriental streets and spice traders are also wedged in among the shops of gold and precious stone dealers.

We have already mentioned gold, souvenirs, leather goods and genuine pearls, but don’t forget four other Arab specialties. We can buy amber and ornaments made from it or minerals in original or cut form.

Ancient Arab board games are sold everywhere, the counters of which are carved from minerals or semi-precious stones and there are a lot of dessert roses which are nothing more than a gypsum crystal formation.

Incense is also an Arab specialty to be used in sensors. This is the amber-like sap of the incense tree that was already an expensive export article long ago.

The production and sale of rose water and rose oil also have a great tradition. It has always been used as a raw material for medicines, perfumes and cosmetics alike.

Magnificence and immense luxury are not only measured by gold. Car showrooms and the vehicles sold in them don’t resemble those in Europe. Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Porsche, Daimler models compete with each other. Huge American luxury limousines, steel plated car wonders and even vehicles whose names are unfamiliar in Europe. The tailor-made models, decorated with gold and precious stones are more familiar here than factory models.

Numerous entertainment facilities have been built in Dubai, much to the delight of children and families. There are several theme parks, roller coasters of various sizes and merry-go-rounds to be found in Magic Planet, Creekside, Al Mamzar or Safa. The main attraction of Mushrif Park is the World Village, displaying the famous buildings of the world in a man-sized mock up while the Creekside is famous for its Panorama Ropeway and Children’s City.

Jumeirah Beach is known for its beaches. Wonderland is the largest aqua park in the world but the Wild Wadi is not a bit less creative.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates welcome their guests with ancient traditions, real exoticisms and very special structures projecting into the future.