The History and Tradition of Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics

Approximately one kilometer inland from the modern-day coast of the Arabian Gulf, a 50-square-meter archeological site (i.e., JH57) in the Ras Al Khaimah town of Jazirat Al Hamra yielded the remains of marine mollusks, the bone fragments of sheep/goat and dugong, and flint flakes, blades, and tools. More importantly, archeologists also found potsherds — i.e., shards of broken pottery.

Characterized by geometric designs in dark paint over a cream base, the ceramics were identified as Mesopotamian pottery from the Ubaid Period. It’s significant because it confirmed that the human settlement history of Ras Al Khaimah extends at least as far back as the 5th millennium BCE and that Ras Al Khaimah has been continually inhabited for at least 7,000 years.

Those fragments of broken pottery also highlight two important facts. First, there was active trade among the upper and lower Gulf settlements. Second, Ras Al Khaimah was a maritime trading town that actively participated in the flow of goods in the Gulf region.

The inhabitants of Ras Al Khaimah exported pottery themselves. In Shimal, approximately eight kilometers north-east of the modern-day city of Ras Al Khaimah, a prehistoric tomb contained not only Mesopotamian but also local pottery – proof that in Ras Al Khaimah, ceramics crafting was an indigenous industry.

The History of Ceramic in Ras Al Khaimah

Ceramics refer to pottery, tiles, sanitaryware, tableware, coatings, insulators, cutting tools, etc., made by shaping an inorganic, non-metallic material (e.g., clay, sand, silica) and firing it or applying intense heat to it. The high temperature causes a series of chemical reactions that irreversibly change the raw material’s chemical and physical characteristics, creating something much stronger, harder, smaller, and denser.

Pottery is a traditional Ras Al Khaimah ceramics craft. The early inhabitants of the emirate made pots, jars, bowls, and cups, including:

• mahrasa for preserving milk and cooking
• hib for keeping water cool
• chirr for storing dates and dried fish
• khars or large storage jar
• mirzab or water pipe

The archeological remains of local pottery and pottery kilns suggest pottery production thrived in Ras Al Khaimah, particularly in Ghailan, Shimal, and Wadi Haqil for 700 years. The traditional earthenware ceramic of Ras Al Khaimah was known as Julfar ware (also Julphar or Julphur ware). Traders distributed Julfar ware far and wide, throughout the United Arab Emirates, the rest of the lower Gulf region, westward across the Indian Ocean, the upper Gulf states of Iran, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the eastern coast of Africa.

Pottery remains a popular craft in Ras Al Khaimah. Ceramic artists utilize either (or a combination of) red clay from the mountains and green clay from underground, their hands and a potter’s wheel to make earthenware, stoneware tableware, and other objects.

Some knowledge of the ancient Ras Al Khaimah pottery techniques persists today, although the last Julfar ware potter died decades ago. The son of the last Wadi Haqil potter demonstrated these techniques, including:

• combining different types of clay;
• refining and smoothing them by pummeling the clay mixture with large sticks;
• sieving to remove stones and other impurities;
• dampening or moistening with water;
• using a primitive pottery wheel to make clay coils, and
• alternately piling clay coils and using a shell to smooth the interior and exterior walls of the vessel until the potter achieves their desired shape.

Once the vessel is ready, it is fired in a kiln.

The archeological site of Shimal, where Julfar ware was excavated and made (e.g., tombs and pottery kilns), is one of the places to visit in Ras Al Khaimah for anyone interested in Ras Al Khaimah’s culture and history. Just remember to arrange your Julfar pottery archeological site tour with the Department of Antiquities and Museums.

RAK Ceramics in Ras Al Khaimah

Traditional Ras Al Khaimah pottery aside, the emirate has carved a firm place for itself in the global ceramics industry through its homegrown brand, RAK Ceramics.

RAK Ceramics, a UAE public joint stock company listed in the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange with a market capitalization of AED 2.45 billion, is one of the biggest ceramics manufacturers in the country.

RAK Ceramics began with a dream. Ras Al Khaimah has high-grade sand and silica, and the emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, believed it was enough to catapult Ras Al Khaimah into the global stage as a world-class producer of ceramics.

He commissioned a study to investigate the feasibility of this idea, and the result confirmed that Ras Al Khaimah had sufficient resources to start commercial ceramics production. That was all the Sheikh needed to hear. He proceeded to invest the funds and land needed to build Ras Al Khaimah’s ceramics manufacturing plant and infrastructure.

The RAK Ceramics factory in Ras Al Khaimah opened its doors in Jazirah Al Hamrah in 1991, at least 10 years before the UAE building boom began. That initial ceramic tiles plant was followed by a sanitary ware plant in 1993.

That was just the beginning. RAK Ceramics started working towards getting a share of a global market dominated by manufacturers from China, Italy, and Spain.

To accomplish this, RAK Ceramics expanded operations beyond the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula, filling gaps wherever they found them in various foreign markets. This strategy increased order volumes sufficiently that by 2005, RAK Ceramics had become the 10th largest ceramics exporter globally.

The company grew from strength to strength. By 2015, it had a 60% share of the UAE’s ceramic tile and sanitary ware market and was exporting 85% of its local production. Fuelled by visionary leadership, a keen understanding of the global ceramics market, an appreciation for the value of research and development, and a culture of innovation, today, RAK Ceramics has:

• 23 plants in the UAE, India, Bangladesh, and Europe;
• three brands (RAK Ceramics, RAK Porcelain, and KLUDI);
• a substantial share of the global ceramics market;
• presence in over 160 countries, and
• registered a cumulative gross revenue of AED 3.45 billion for fiscal year 2023.

The Ras Al Khaimah RAK Ceramics Campus is now a significant center of industry and commerce in the emirate.

Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics: Past, Present and Future

The shards of Ubaid-period pottery excavated from archeological sites, the fragments of local ceramics uncovered from prehistoric tombs in Shimal, and the remains of pottery kilns in Wadi Haqil all speak of the rich history of ceramic in Ras Al Khaimah. Meanwhile, the sandy coastlines, desert dunes, fertile alluvial plains, wadis, and rugged rocky mountains of the emirate ensure an abundant supply of raw materials for a thriving ceramics industry.

Today, Ras Al Khaimah is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of ceramic tiles and sanitary ware. You’ll see RAK Ceramics tiles on the floors and walls of some of the world’s most iconic buildings, including the Burj Khalifa (Dubai), Wembley Stadium (Wembley), Heathrow Airport (Hounslow), and Grand Hyatt Washington (Washington, DC).

Expect the continued growth of the ceramics sector. RAK Ceramics’ plans – including the upgrade of its production facilities, the expansion of capacities in existing plants, and the construction of new production facilities – indicate the future is bright for the Ras Al Khaimah ceramics industry.

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority provides essential information about Ras Al Khaimah to help you plan your vacation and make the most of your time in the emirate. We list the attractions, outdoor activities, malls, restaurants, and hotels in Ras Al Khaimah. Don’t forget to buy local tableware. Shopping for RAK Ceramics porcelain dishes is one of the top things to do in Ras Al Khaimah.

Explore the Visit Ras Al Khaimah website now.