Umm Al-Qaiwain Tours

Umm Al-Qaiwain is one of the United Arab Emirates. It is in the north of the country, and is ruled by Sheik Rashid ibn Ahmad Al Mu'alla .

The emirate had 49,000 inhabitants in 2000, and has an area of 750 square kilometers. The emirate is famous for liqueur trading.

Accepted alternative spellings include Umm al Qiwain (used on its former postage stamps) as well as Umm al-Qawain, Umm al-Qaywayn, Umm el-Qiwain, and Umm al-Quwain.

The name Umm Al Quwain is derived from Umm Al Quwatain, which means "Mother of two powers", a reference to the powerful seafaring tradition of this emirate. The modern history of Umm Al Quwain dates back some 200 years when the Al Ali tribe moved their capital from Al Sinniyah Island to its present location in the mid 18th century, when the sweet water supply dried up.

Traditional occupations of fishing and date cultivation are still important, but a mariculture research centre and a free zone have helped to develop the emirate whose main attraction lies in its small size, relatively remote location, and long clean beaches.