The Middle East

In a region where most economies are dominated by oil or gas, Ras Al Khaimah stands out because it is one of the few without significant domestic reserves. Instead, a resource-based economy has developed around RAK’s limestone, clay and silica, with a well-established industry and manufacturing sector making use of these raw materials. The...

The past few years have seen a major expansion of retail options in Ras Al Khaimah, with new malls, new neighbourhoods and numerous new strategies emerging. The year 2013 was shaping up as a period of consolidation, as major retail developers refine their offerings and fill their space.

The global insolation map has three notable patches of dark red: one in western Australia; another in southwest US; and perhaps the largest stretching from Algeria across North Africa all the way to the Arabian Gulf. It is in these regions where the most sun hits the ground, creating the greatest potential for solar energy. The large swathe in...

links such as the Emirates Road carriageway and Ras Al Khaimah’s five seaports may very well be joined by another attractive mode of transportation in the near future: a railroad network. The project is called Etihad Rail (etihad means “unity’’ in Arabic), and it aims to...

A number of factors are converging to create a positive outlook for the insurance sector in Ras Al Khaimah. They include the emirate’s strong growth trajectory, a low penetration rate for insurance and the increasing sophistication of RAK’s economic approach. With opportunities come challenges, however: the prospective nature of the market means...

Gulf region signed maritime treaties with the British empire, which was considered to be a major defeat for the Ottomans at the time. By the early 20th century the British had concluded agreements with most of the local tribes and other authorities in the Gulf, shoring up their influence over a wide area that today includes all or part of the...