National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah

The museum occupies the fort in the old town of Ras Al Khaimah, which served as the ruler's residence until 1964 and then as police headquarters before opening as the emirate's museum. Rooms around the courtyard cover the archaeology of the northern emirates, which is unusually rich here: Umm an-Nar tombs, Wadi Suq material, and finds from Julfar, the medieval port that traded across the Indian Ocean. Other rooms cover pearling, weapons, natural history and traditional building.

What you actually see

• The Julfar material - finds from the medieval Indian Ocean trading port.
• The archaeology rooms - Umm an-Nar and Wadi Suq period tombs and objects.
• The fort courtyard - the residence plan with its wind tower and rooms.
• The pearling display - equipment and records from the diving economy.

When to go

October to April for comfortable walking outside; the rooms are only partly air conditioned. It closes on Tuesdays and opens late on Fridays. Mornings are quietest.

Honest expectations

Display cases and labelling are dated in places. Only part of the museum is air conditioned and summer visits are hot. The old quarter around it has little else open.

Nearby

Shimal is north, and Jazirat Al Hamra is south.