The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is one of the seven states of the United Arab Emirates and covers an area of 1,700 square kilometers (656 square miles). It is located in the northern most region of the country, along the western coast and shares borders with Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah. It is the second emirate in the UAE to permit foreign ownership of property in the UAE and the first to pass a freehold ownership law in November 2005.