H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi – Biography

The Al Qassimi family has an impressive history, stretching back to the 18th century. And the current head of state, HH Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has reined the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah since 1948.

His fourth son, His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi was appointed the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of the Emirate in June 2003 after serving in its administration for 17 years as Director of Ras Al Khaimah Ruler’s Court. As much a pragmatist as a visionary, Sheikh Saud’s policies have created an economically sound Ras Al Khaimah with characteristic appeal and visible synergy between tradition and modernization.

Sheikh Saud has implemented vast organizational and economic reforms which were needed to ensure the success of local businesses while simultaneously attracting a steady flow of foreign investment. Committed to realizing the latent potential of Ras Al Khaimah, he turned his attention to economic sectors in which the Emirate had a comparative advantage, such as tourism, real estate, and manufacturing.

Drawing from the experience of his private sector successes, such as the rejuvenation of Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julfar) and the creation of the world’s largest ceramics manufacturer, RAK Ceramics, Sheikh Saud’s economic insight and business savvy have helped bring about unprecedented development and growth across the Emirate.

Government and semi-private organizations, such as RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA), and the Investment and Development Office (IDO), RAK Properties, RAKEEN, EDRAK were established to implement and manage Ras Al Khaimah’s vigorous developmental and infrastructural overhaul.

The launch of RAK Airways and the development of Al Hamra Resort, which consists of two luxury hotels, have contributed to attracting tourists and new residents to Ras Al Khaimah.

In addition the creation of two large real estate development companies RAKEEN and RAK Properties is expected to bring more hotels and residential properties to Ras Al Khaimah in the future.

Among the many large-scale infrastructure and development initiatives undertaken to thrust Ras Al Khaimah into a robust 21^st century economy was the building of Emirates Road in cooperation with Abu Dhabi only two years after his appointment as Crown Prince.

The road radically enhanced the Emirate’s connectivity to Dubai and Abu Dhabi thereby boosting Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism, allowing easier transport of goods and products, and making the Emirate a living alternative for those working in Dubai and Sharjah.

The project of increasing the Emirate’s connectivity is supported by continued improvement of road networks and the international airport, and most recently a $1 billion investment to expand Ras Al Khaimah’s main ports.

His holistic approach to making Ras Al Khaimah a comfortable home for its native Emirati population as well as people working in the Middle East directed Sheikh Saud’s attention to education and healthcare.

Ras Al Khaimah English Speaking School (RAKESS) which opened its doors in (DATE) now enjoys the enrollment of over 1,000 students undertaking a primary and secondary level education. With the opening of a George Mason University campus (GMU-RAK) in Ras Al Khaimah, local youth are now able to obtain an American-quality college degree without leaving the Emirate.

RAK Hospital, a joint Swiss-US investment was inaugurated in the winter of 2007 and boasts cutting edge medical technology and first rate patient orient services.

HH Sheikh Saud is greatly respected and admired by all the ruling families of the Emirates. He is widely viewed as an economic reformer and admired for his active involvement in bringing industrial development into fruition in a wide range of projects.

Currently, he is the Chairman of RAK Gas Commission and is actively involved in many of the successful shareholding companies beginning to gain regional and international recognition such as RAK Ceramics, RAK Rock and Steven Rock. He is a driving force behind increasing the capacity of both Union Cement Company & Gulf Cement Company in recent times.

Sheikh Saud was born in Al Maktoum Hospital in Dubai on 10 February 1956, he was an observant and studious youth.

He completing secondary school in Ras Al Khaimah and was sent abroad by his father, His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, in preparation for his role in building Ras Al Khaimah’s future. He began his higher education at the prestigious American University in Beirut in July 1973.

The young sheikh obtained his undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan. The University of Michigan is the oldest public policy institution in the United States. It was here that Sheikh Saud gained his Master’s degree in Economics and Public Policy.

Upon completing his Master’s in 1978, Sheikh Saud was considering the continuation of his education at the Yale Department of Economics or Columbia University in New York. However, his plans were quickly changed when he received a phone call from his father, Sheikh Saqr, requesting him to return immediately.

On his return to Ras Al Khaimah in 1979, Sheikh Saud was appointed as Chief of the Ruler’s Court to assist his father with the administration of the government of Ras Al Khaimah. He was instrumental in putting in place most of the management systems that make the Government’s Administrations operations run smoothly.

In 1986, he became the Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Municipal Council. On 14 June, 2003, a decree issued by the Ruler’s Diwan announced Sheikh Saqr’s appointment of Sheikh Saud as the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler.

Sheikh Saud married Hana, the daughter of the notable Dubai merchant Juma Al Majid. The couple’s six children are Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikha Amna, Sheikh Ahmed, Sheikh Khalid, Sheikh Saqr and Sheikha Mahra.