Explainer: The UAE’s Different Emirates Moreover Dubai And Abu Dhabi

Past the hovering trendy skyscrapers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi lies an historical land of sand dunes, mountains and mosques that make up the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The worldwide financial and cultural hub located within the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula was a gaggle of tribal confederations that turned impartial of Britain in 1971, with six of the seven emirates instantly forming a federation, and Ras Al Khaimah becoming a member of the next 12 months.

The UAE’s seven emirates are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain.

Every emirate is dominated by a special royal household. 

His Highness (HH) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected president of the UAE on Might 14, a day after the demise of president HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at age 73, though he was already the de facto chief.

Sheikh Khalifa was additionally ruler of Abu Dhabi, which incorporates the nation’s capital metropolis on an island within the Persian Gulf. Sheikh Mohammed, 61, assumed this position as properly upon his half-brother’s passing.

Sheikh Mohammed holds one other title of deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces.

The ruler of Dubai, which incorporates the nation’s most populous metropolis on the coast of the Persian Gulf, is HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He holds the positions of vice chairman, prime minister and protection minister.

Here’s a take a look at the lesser-known emirates — from Fujairah’s Al Bidya Mosque to the white sand seashores and coral reefs of Sharjah’s Khor Fakkan.

Sharjah

The UAE’s third largest emirate Sharjah is changing into extra of a vacationer vacation spot with the announcement in Might that 4 extra luxurious lodges will likely be opening.

The Sharjah Funding and Improvement Authority (Shurooq) introduced the a number of lodge initiatives at Arabian Journey Market 2022, which passed off at Dubai World Commerce Centre Might 8 to 11.

One of many initiatives will remodel the historic village of Najd Al Meqsar right into a luxurious resort vacation spot. Visitors will have the ability to guide an evening on the 300-year-old Meqsar Fortress.

Close by Khor Fakkan is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot on the Gulf of Oman, that includes white sand seashores and coral reefs. Town additionally options the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal — the area’s solely pure deep-sea port and a serious container port.

Sharjah can be notable as the one emirate to share two coastlines with each the Persian Gulf on the west and the Gulf of Oman on the east and as house to the UAE’s largest variety of pure reserves.

Sharjah is dominated by HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi of the Al Qasimi dynasty. The crown prince is HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Bin Sultan al-Qasimi.

Ajman

The smallest of the seven emirates is dominated by HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi. The crown prince is HH Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi. They’re members of the Na’im Arab tribe which can be current in Bahrain, Qatar and different Gulf international locations.

Ajman lies between the emirates of Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.

Ajman Fort is likely one of the UAE’s historic landmarks, relationship again to the 18th century. It was previously the residence of the ruler of Ajman and in addition a police station. It was transformed right into a museum in 1991.

Fishing is a vital occupation in Ajman, and in April Sheikh Humaid introduced a grant of $1.77 million to help fishermen and their households.

Tourism can be huge in Ajman and on the Arabian Journey Market, the Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) signed 4 agreements with Fairmont Resort Ajman, Bahi Ajman Palace Resort, Zoya Well being & Wellbeing Resort Ajman and Altayar Journey & Tourism. Particular charges will likely be supplied to AFZ’s enterprise companions at these institutions.

Fujairah

Fujairah was an essential Islamic heart traditionally and there aren’t any scarcity of heritage websites to discover. Nonetheless, the emirate is embracing the long run as properly.

The UAE’s highest railway bridge is presently underneath development in Al Bithnah. The practically 2,000-foot bridge that cuts by means of the Hajar Mountains is a part of Etihad Rail’s plan to hyperlink all the emirates through a complicated passenger and freight rail community.

Etihad Rail’s objective is to move 36.5 million passengers per 12 months by 2030.

Fujairah is the one emirate within the UAE whose shoreline is completely alongside the Gulf of Oman — extending some 43 miles. It shares a world border with the Sultanate of Oman.

The present ruler is HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi and the crown prince is HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi.

The emirate can be house to the Al Hajar Mountains — the very best mountain vary within the japanese Arabian peninsula, which can be positioned in Oman.

Fujairah is house to the Al Bidya Mosque, which is likely one of the oldest identified mosques within the nation. Estimated to this point to the fifteenth century, the mosque continues to be in use and notably options 4 domes however with no minaret.

Ras Al Khaimah

The northernmost emirate Ras Al Khaimah means “prime of the tent” in Arabic and it goals to be a prime world vacation spot for journey tourism with a objective to welcome 3 million guests by the tip of the last decade.

Additionally identified by its acronym RAK, the emirate final September opened a tourism bureau in Israel, profiting from the 2020 Abraham Accords that normalized relations between the UAE and the Jewish state.

The fourth-largest emirate is house to Jebel Jais Mountain within the northwestern Hajar vary, which is the UAE’s tallest peak at an elevation of 6,207 toes above sea degree. 

Thrill seekers reaching the summit have the choice of grabbing a zipper wire or hopping on a toboggan.

Jebel Jais Flight is the world’s longest zipline at 9,290 toes that opened in 2018 and the newest addition for adventure-minded vacationers is the February opening of the area’s longest toboggan journey — the 1.17-mile Jais Sledder reaching speeds of as much as 25 miles per hour.

Ras Al Khaimah can be house to about 1,000 archaeological websites, 4 of which have been added to the UNESCO Tentative Checklist for World Heritage.

The emirate is dominated by the identical household that controls Sharjah — the Al Qasimi clan. The present emir is HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi and the crown prince and deputy ruler is HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

Umm Al Quwain

The second smallest and least populated emirate is dominated by HH Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla and the crown prince is HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla. The household descend from the Al Ali tribe.

The emirate borders the Persian Gulf and is named a middle of fishing with notable deep-sea fishing factors.

Umm Al Quwain can be a key a part of the UAE’s ambitions to speculate extra in renewable power initiatives and particularly in water sustainability.

Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAE’s minister of power and infrastructure, in Might introduced that the worth of funding in new desalination crops in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Umm Al Quwain amounted to $2.07 billion.

In December of final 12 months, the UAE launched Section 1 of the $600 million Umm Al Quwain desalination plant which is predicted to be commercially operational within the third quarter of 2022.

Dreamland Aqua Park is the UAE’s largest water park.

Moreover trendy points of interest, Umm Al Quwain is house to Ed Dur, which is likely one of the largest archaeological websites within the UAE. Excavations have revealed human habitation relationship to completely different historic durations stretching way back to the Neolithic interval of the Stone Age.

Ed Dur is probably greatest identified for a 2,000-year-old pre-Islamic temple that was excavated there 30 years in the past. The location is the temple of Shamash, the pre-Islamic solar god.