Ras
al-Khaimah is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the
east side of the Persian Gulf. Its name means
"Top of the Tent". The emirate is in the northern part of the UAE,
bordering Oman's
exclave of Musandam. It covers an area of 1,700 square km. The capital city and
home of most residents is also called Ras al-Khaimah. The city has a population
of 263,217 as of 2008. The city has two main sections, Old Ras al-Khaimah and
Nakheel, on either side of a creek. It is served by the Ras al-Khaimah
International Airport. It consists of a northern part (where the city of Ras al-Khaimah is situated), a large exclave in the south
(near Hatta), and a few small islands in the Persian Gulf.