Souvenirs |
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Untill recently, Ras al Khaimah did not have a souvenir shop. Nowadays, you can find a few places that offer, among other items, localy produced goods. Still, in most of the shops, products sold as regional souvenirs are in fact often from India or Pakistan, and do not represent local culture. There are plans to open a truly local souvenir shop at the RAK National Museum in the future. Until then, there are several products related to local culture and traditions that can be purchased as a gift from Ras Al Khaimah.
Gulf House Antiques Location: RAK Main Rd, north from Pearl R/A Phone: 07 2337607 Open: 10am-1pm, 5pm-9pm, Fri 5pm-9pm Items from Arabia and India. Rummage around for copies of old photos of Ras Al Khaimah's people and the ruling family. _______________________________ Hdaya – RAK Souvenirs Shop Location: Corniche Rd Phone: 050 1980480 Open: 11am-midnight, Sundays closed This shop is located in Akoya, a Japanese restarant. Apart from some typical Arabic/Indian items, it sells RAK Ceramic products and beautiful pearls that come from the local pearl farm. _______________________________ Turathyat Ajdade (Grandparents’Antiques) Location: Near the RAK National Museum Phone: 050 9791881 Open: 9am-1pm, 4.30pm-10pm Opened in April 2011, this government shop offers a variety of local and regional antiques and items. Old ceramics, furniture, rifles, pots and carpets can be find there for reasonably good prices.
PERFUMES AND PERFUME BOTTLES
Perfumes are one of the 'visible' signatures of the local people. The smell of the rich, strong and oriental perfumes will accompany you during your stay in the Emirates. Nowadays, internationally well-known perfume brands are widely available in Ras Al Khaimah; however, many local people are still loyal to the traditional oil perfumes. Perfumes in beautiful bottles can be purchased in the souqs, Manar Mall, and other stores around the city. The price of perfume varies from 15dhs up to hundreds of dirhams for a more unique scent. Bottles, if purchased separately, cost anywhere from 5dhs to 200dhs.
INCENSE
In the past, incense was one of the most valuable and luxurious products; available only to the wealthiest of this world. Oud, a rare, scented wood is highly valued amongst the Arabs and is often burned on special occasions such as weddings. Pure oud is rather expensive as it costs anything from 1,000dhs up to 40,000dhs a pot. A more affordable option is bukhoor, which is a mixture of woodchips soaked in fragrant oils, and a price for that product is between 100dhs and 800dhs. To burn incense you need a traditional burner (medhan), which, together with incense, makes a superb gift. The burners nowadays are often electrical, but traditional ones made of pottery are also available. You can find these items in the RAK Old Souq or sometimes in the perfume shops.
JEWELLERY
In the past, jewellery represented personal status and it was a form of dowry and financial investment. Jewellery was usually made of silver and sometimes of gold. It is still a valuable and important gift presented at the weddings and on other occasions, although these days, gold has almost completely replaced silver. The design of local jewellery originated from India and is ethnic and rich. Yet small and simple pieces can also be found. Jewellery is usually sold by its weight and bargaining is expected. Precious gems and pearls, along with a selection of costume-made jewellery are also available. Next to Waha Centre in the RAK Old Souq, there are some shops that sell gold, therefore this area is sometimes called the Gold Souq of Ras Al Khaimah. There are also some shops selling jewellery at Manar Mall, Lulu Centre and in Al Nakheel.
To purchase old traditional silver jewellery visit one of a few shops along Main RAK Road, north of Pearl Roundabout. The choice is rather poor, but occasionally a unique and traditional piece can be found. Those shops also sell other silver items such as daggers, swords and a variety of traditional metal objects.
SHISHA (WATER PIPE)
Shisha, or water pipe, which is originally from the Indian subcontinent, has been popular in the Arab world for centuries, but in the UAE only recently. Today, shisha is smoked on a daily basis, at parties and family gatherings. Water filtration and indirect heating of the tobacco-fruit mixture are the essences of a shisha operation. Shisha comes in different designs and sizes, therefore, the price also varies. You have to expect to pay somewhere between 50dhs and 250dhs for a larger shisha together with all the necessary parts. Smaller shisha is often bought by tourists, rather as a decorative piece, and it can cost anything from 25dhs to 150dhs.
NOTE: Smoking shisha creates health risk comparable to smoking cigarettes, but even if you do not use it can make a decorative piece in your home.
What do you need to smoke shisha? Shisha consists of a shisha bottle, hose, valve, plate, tobacco bowl and grommets that will tightly seal the components of shisha. Additionally, you need to purchase charcoal, pliers to hold hot charcoal, tin foil to separate the tobacco from the coal, and few filter tips, in case you want to share your shisha with others. Last, but not least, you need tobacco, locally known as ma’sal, which is available in a variety of fruit tastes.
How to use shisha? Fill the bottle with a sufficient amount of water, so the main pipe is below water level. Seal the valve tightly onto the bottle and attach the hose. Put the plate on top of the valve. This will serve as a protection against the hot charcoal. Now you are ready to place the tobacco in the bowl, which should be attached to the top of the valve. Then cover the bowl with tin foil, make a few small holes in the foil, and put the hot charcoal pieces on top of the foil. Your shisha is now ready to smoke!
DATES
Date palm gardens have existed in the area for thousands of years. The gardens provided shelter and cooling, and the fruits of the palms were a valuable source of food for the locals. Different kinds of dates are produced in Ras Al Khaimah, especially the district of Khatt is very famous for its plantations. Once you have savoured local dates, you should try the wonderful date honey that is perfect for pancakes or ice creams. Most supermarkets sell packed dates and jars of date honey. At Carrefour you can also choose from a fine selection of dates, which are sold by weight. Ask the shopkeeper to give you some dates for tasting, so you can buy those that you like the most. The Khatt Dates Factory has a small shop next to the Khatt Roundabout and sells its range of dates.
DATE PALM PRODUCTS
Products such as baskets, mats, food covers or fans, all made of date palm leaves, are probably the most traditional souvenirs you can bring from Ras Al Khaimah. They are handmade and there is a chance that they were actually produced in the Emirate. You can find them in several shops in the RAK Old Souq. Remember to bargain, as the asking price for these items is often ridiculously high. A basket should cost anything from 20dhs to 50dhs depending on the size, and a large mat usually costs around 30dhs to 60dhs, not 150dhs as is sometimes requested.
SPICES
Spices are one of the nicest gifts you can bring from Ras Al Khaimah and usually this gift is very welcome. You can buy spices in a bag or by weight. Try some of the following spices: saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, dry lime, za’atar, or mixes of masala. Spices can be purchased in almost any shop; however, Carrefour, Kerala Supermarket and the RAK Old Souq have the best choice and spices there can be purchased by weight.
Al Noor Roastery Location: RAK Old City, north from the RAK Museum Phone: 07 2333646
FABRICS AND TEXTILES
The selection of fabric in Ras Al Khaimah is incredible and usually of good quality. Numerous shops selling textiles and fabrics are located in the RAK Old Souq and Al Nakheel. You may also want to purchase the traditional local dresses, but you should remember that even though foreign women wearing abbaya is seen as a gesture of cultural adaptation, foreign men wearing dishdasha is not appreciated by the local people.
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