Ras Al Khaimah translates as "the top of the tent" and, appropriately, located at the north end of the coast of the Arabian Gulf, is one of the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. It covers an area of 656 square miles and is arguably the most scenic Emirate. Ras Al Khaimah is located between the Hajjar Mountains on the East and the Arabian Gulf on the West and shares mountainous borders with the Sultanate of Oman.

H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has been the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah since 1948. His son, H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi was appointed Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler in June 2003.

RAK economy is mainly based on natural topography, consisting of 65 km of coastal crystal clear beaches, Majestic Mountains on the eastern side for hill resorts, unspoilt desert plain in the central region for commercial & industrial projects and green belt in the southern side for agriculture developments. RAK is indeed blessed with abundance of natural beauty on one hand and unique location on the other which has allowed to strategize the economic development on two pillars, namely, Tourism & Industry

Ras Al Khaimah is on the cusp of becoming a lucrative investment destination. With a diverse landscape, as well as a vast supply of natural resources, RAK is aiming to become a regional leader in tourism, real estate and industry by implementing a development program that has achieved 50% GDP growth over the last four years. Since 2000, $25 billion of domestic and foreign investment has poured into Ras Al-Khaimah. By 2006, 2,400 companies had already registered with the FTZ, the largest, most effective and most environmental friendly free zone in the Gulf Region.

RAK has developed a reputation as a business-friendly environment that is open to both local and foreign players, resulting in a strong and relatively diverse economy. While many economic policies come from the federal government, RAK's local offices play a key role in determining how the emirate should develop. Several sectors have recorded excellent growth in recent years, with tourism, construction, manufacturing, real estate and financial services accounting for 57% of GDP in 2005. While oil has never factored heavily in RAK's economy, recent years have seen an increase in exploration activity on- and offshore. Imports and exports are also experiencing positive growth and this trend should continue as expansion to the emirate's airport and port facilities is expected to boost trade figures further. Meanwhile, the CSEM-UAE Innovation Centre, located in RAK, will introduce technical innovations that will not only improve building materials for current development, but will also reduce costs, emissions and waste in the emirate's infrastructure.