The watchtower at Rams is a familiar landmark in Ras Al Khaimah. It was built in the middle of the 19th century, and looks very much the same today as it did 40 years ago, when this picture was taken.
The photographer was Peter Jackson, then a young architecture student working for a company involved in the construction of Dubai's Rashid Hospital.
Mr Jackson, who still lives and works in Sharjah, was a keen photographer and captured what on the surface looks like a tranquil scene of life in RAK, complete with a Brahman cow.
Jackson recalls: "My father and I drove up to Ras Al Khaimah for our Friday fish and chips lunch at the Ras Al Khaimah Hotel, a favourite family outing, this time while my mother had gone briefly back to the UK. After lunch we explored up the coast as far as the fishing village of Rams.
"I was especially taken with the architecture of the watchtower, with its regular patterns of slots and holes to shoot from, its pointed crenellations and the projecting noses - all so different to the European forts that I was used to. It was though the juxtaposition of the zebu, the tower and the flag caught my eye to take the photograph, and it was always one of my favourites from that first trip."
In fact, this image records one of the most dramatic periods in the history of the UAE. The clues are all in the photograph, taken in late January 1972.
Flying from the top of the tower is the flag of Ras Al Khaimah, a red square with a white border. At the time, RAK remained outside the federation, having decided to go it alone when the other six emirates joined to form the UAE on December 2, 1971.
The isolation was short-lived. By January 11, 1972, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, had already signed up for the union, but the six did not formally become seven until February 11 that year.
Now look more closely at the flag. It is at half mast, in mourning for Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah.
On January 24, 1972, Sheikh Khalid was killed during an attempted coup by a former ruler. Order was restored with assistance from Dubai and the new Union Defence Force. Sheikh Khalid was succeeded by his brother, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who rules the emirate to this day.
Time Frame is a series that opens a window into the nation's past. Readers are invited to make contributions to yourpics@thenational.ae
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
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Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
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Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
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- not be younger than 25 years old
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
The bio
Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales
Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow
Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades
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Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga
Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
