Cleaning up Khaimah

Not long ago, the wild wild western emirate of Ras Al Khaimah was fretting about its negative image in the media. This appears to have kickstarted a Clean Up Khaimah! campaign, with a rush of positive stories in the local press.

First, farewell to perversion: an intensive undercover operation has closed down intensive under-the-covers operations taking place at eighteen deviant massage parlours:

"It can now be claimed that Ras Al Khaimah is free of this malpractice," Najeeb Al Shamsi, Director-General of the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Department, said.

Secondly, goodbye to gambling: with Al Shamsi also shutting down a Masafi games centre, after finding it had become a gambling den for schoolchildren:

"The owners of games centres should realise that they damage the heart of Ras Al Khaimah society when they facilitate gambling," he said.

Thirdly, adieu to "shady" dealings: with small shops ordered to destroy unauthorised shaded areas created out front to sell goods or "allure more clients":

“Such activities mar the city's beauty and pose a serious threat to the public safety and well-being,'' a top municipality official told Khaleej Times on condition of anonymity.

So there we have it. Ras Al Khaimah - The Clean Emirate. There may be nothing left to do there, but at least it's spick and span.