Al Falayah Fort is the second of the Qawasim ruling family's strongholds, built in the 18th century inland from the coast on the edge of the palm groves. It was here that Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi signed the General Maritime Treaty with the British in 1820 — the agreement that began the long process by which the Trucial States eventually became the United Arab Emirates.
The fort is square, single-storey, with corner watchtowers and a small courtyard, and has been carefully restored. There is little inside to see, but a quiet walk around the walls in late afternoon, with the palm shadows lengthening across the gravel, is a good antidote to RAK's coastal resort strip. Free entry; no facilities.