On 22 December 1819, after three days of British bombardment, the last defenders inside Dhayah Fort surrendered — nearly 800 people, mostly farming families, had sheltered inside its mud-brick walls hoping to survive the assault. Its fall led directly to the General Maritime Treaty of 1820, the first in a series of agreements that eventually shaped the Trucial Coast and, much later, the UAE. It’s the only hill fort left standing in the country, a short drive inland from RAK City today.
About an hour from Dubai, it makes an easy, low-key city break, as part of our main Ras Al Khaimah guide.
Updated: July 2026 — by Monica Bonalto
Getting your bearings in RAK City
The city splits between the old town and fort on one side of the creek and Al Qawasim Corniche — named for the Al Qawasim clan who dominated regional trade through the 18th century — and the modern souqs on the other, with the mountains rising behind.
Julfar, before RAK City
Long before the modern emirate, this coastline was home to Julfar, one of the Gulf’s most important trading ports through the 14th and 15th centuries — exporting pearls, horses and dates as far as China, and mentioned by Arab geographers as a pearling centre as early as the 1150s. The archaeological site still runs for more than 4km along the coast.
Things to do in RAK City
Wander the old town, browse the souqs, visit the National Museum inside the 18th-century fort and stroll the corniche — much of the heritage is low-cost, so see free things to do across the UAE.
Where to eat in RAK City
The corniche and city centre cover everything from local eats to seafront dining, strong on value and fresh seafood.
A convenient, unglamorous base
Central and corniche hotels make RAK City a convenient, good-value base for exploring the emirate’s coast and mountains — most visitors treat it as a base camp for Jebel Jais and Al Marjan Island rather than a destination in its own right.
An hour by car, best in the evening
About an hour from Dubai by car. The cooler months and the evenings are best for the old town, souqs and corniche.
Around Ras Al Khaimah city
It’s a compact base for both history and the mountains, with Jebel Jais inland and the resorts of Al Marjan Island on the coast.
Onward across the emirate
Head back to the main Ras Al Khaimah guide to explore more of the emirate.
Top things to do in RAK City Old Town
- The National Museum, inside the 18th-century fort — browse the souqs nearby and stroll the corniche as part of the same outing.
- Dhayah Fort — the site where, on 22 December 1819 after three days of British bombardment, the last defenders surrendered; nearly 800 people, mostly farming families, had sheltered inside its mud-brick walls. Its fall led directly to the General Maritime Treaty of 1820, one of the agreements that eventually shaped the modern UAE.
- Al Qawasim Corniche — the old town’s waterfront walk.
What happened at Dhayah Fort?
On 22 December 1819, after three days of British bombardment, nearly 800 people sheltering inside surrendered. The fort’s fall led directly to the General Maritime Treaty of 1820 — a pivotal moment in the history that eventually shaped the modern UAE.