Sheikh Saud bin Saqr marks 10 years as Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah

The emirate's population doubled in 10 years and its geography transformed

The Ras Al Khaimah Ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, attends a ceremony at Al Qawasim Corniche, Ras Al Khaimah in November 2019. Wam

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, greets guests before the start of the RAK Half Marathon in February 2009. Jeff Topping / The National

Sheikh Khalifa receives Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, in November 2016. Wam

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, carries a girl while visiting the family members of an Emirati soldier who died in action, in February 2017. Wam

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, cycles on at Jebel Jais in September 2020. Courtesy: Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed , Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, meets Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, at Falaj al Mu'alla Palace in Sharjah in February 2012.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, consoles a family member at the funeral of WO Rashid Ali Mohammed Al Duhouri in Ras Al Khaimah in February 2017. Wam

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, joins the leaders of the Emirates during a Commemoration Day ceremony, at Wahat Al Karama in November 2016. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

(R-L) Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attends the UAE's 43rd National Day celebrations at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre with the UAE's Rulers in December 2014. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, now Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, speaks about the future of the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah at his palace in February 2008. Ryan Carter / ADMC

Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, attends the opening of Ice Land Water Park in Ras Al Khaimah in September 2010. Amy Leang / The National

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, speaks to reporters at his palace in July 2010. Amy Leang / The National

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and the UAE's leaders attend a Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama, a memorial dedicated to the memory of UAE’s National Heroes in honour of their sacrifice and in recognition of their heroism, in November 2017. Omar Al Askar for The Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attends the Terry Fox Run in February 2019. Wam

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, speak during an Eid Al Adha reception at Mushrif Palace in August 2019. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and the UAE's leaders stands for a photograph in February 2020 during a reception to honour members of the UAE Armed Forces who participated in the Arab coalition in Yemen, at Zayed Military City. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The government of Ras Al Khaimah on Wednesday marked 10 years since the appointment of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr as Ruler of the emirate and member of the UAE’s Supreme Council, the country’s highest federal authority.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr became Crown Prince and deputy ruler in 2003.

In the decade that followed, the population more than doubled to 438,000 and its geography has been transformed.

Working closely with the federal government, the emirate completed large scale infrastructure projects, including thousands of homes for citizens and investment in roads, electricity and water supply to meet the demands of a quickly growing population.

Residential projects included the construction of the coastal Mina Al Arab and the expansion of the gated Al Hamra Village, which is home to 10,000 residents.

Additionally, two new sprawling desert suburbs, Mohamed bin Zayed City and Khalifa bin Zayed City, provided thousands of homes for Emiratis.

The emirate’s GDP grew to Dh35.1 billion by 2016, after rising between five to seven per cent annually from 2011.

Sheikh Saud guided the emirate through these changes.

Manufacturing remains Ras Al Khaimah’s largest economic sector, contributing to about a third of its GDP. In the past decade, its two largest quarries, Stevin Rock and RAK Rock, expanded their annual output from 48 million tonnes to about 80 million tonnes.

To attract entrepreneurs, the emirate’s two free zones merged in 2017 as RAK Economic Zone, which hosts 15,000 businesses.

The emirate has sought to capitalise on its natural beauty by developing its tourism sector. Visitors increased from 390,000 in 2011 to more than a million in 2019 amid the opening of new tourist sites, including the man-made Marjan Island archipelago on the south coast.

The long anticipated completion of the 20-kilometre Jebel Jais road opened up Ras Al Khaimah’s mountains and wadis as a destination for outdoor sports.

The final section of the Dh90 million RAK Ring Road, a 30-km bypass that connects the E311 to communities and quarries north of the city, is expected to open soon.

Born on February 10, 1956, Sheikh Saud was the fourth son of Sheikh Saqr and is married to Sheikha Hana, the daughter of a prominent Emirati businessman, Juma Al Majid.

Prior to becoming Ruler, he set up a number of local companies, including RAK Ceramics.

His son, Sheikh Mohammed, succeeded him as Crown Prince.

His father, the late Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed, was a founding father of the UAE and ruled Ras Al Khaimah for 62 years.

His greatest legacy was education for men and women and, from the 1950s, he appealed to Arab states such as Kuwait and Egypt to send teachers and develop some of the first modern schools in the Trucial States.

When Ras Al Khaimah joined the UAE in January 1972, many of the country’s first ministers and leaders were drawn from the emirate’s educated population.

Tuesday was the 10th anniversary of Sheikh Saqr’s death.