Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi
Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi (Arabic: سعود بن صقر القاسمي; Dubai, February 10, 1956) is the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and member of the United Arab Emirates' Federal Supreme Council since October 27, 2010.
Contents
Early life and education
Saud bin Saqr was born in Dubai on February 10, 1956.[1] He is the son of Saqr bin Mohammad Al Qasimi.[2] After completing primary and secondary studies in Ras Al Khaimah, he enrolled at the American University of Beirut in July 1973 to continue his studies in economics. When the civil war broke out in Lebanon in 1975, Sheikh Saud enrolled at the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in economics and political science.
Career
Entrepreneurship
Upon his return to Ras Al Khaimah in 1979, Sheikh Saud was appointed Chief of the Ruler's Court to assist his father, Sheikh Saqr, in the administration of the Emirate. In 1986, he became President of the Ras Al Khaimah City Council. In 1989, his team developed industrialization plans for Ras Al Khaimah. Recognizing the potential to utilize the emirate's raw materials, RAK Ceramics was created.[3] Since its creation in 1991, the company has become the largest producer of its kind in the world for over 20 years. As of December 31, 2012, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr continues to be the largest individual shareholder (39.88% per cent of the total shares), while 4.98% of the shares belong to the Ras Al Khaimah government.[4]
Appointment as crown prince
Saud became Crown Prince and Vice Governor of Deputy Ruler on June 14, 2003. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi demonstrated its support for the new Crown Prince by deploying armored vehicles in Ras Al Khaimah.[5]
Accomplishments as crown prince
Sheikh Saud has implemented extensive organizational and economic reforms that have transformed Ras Al Khaimah into an attractive destination for foreign investment (certified by Standard & Poor's and Fitch).[6]
Sheikh Saud has played a leading role in the unprecedented development and growth of the emirate. Immediately following the accession of Sheikh Saud as Crown Prince, RAK asked the World Bank to conduct a study on foreign investment avenues available to the emirate and to formulate a comprehensive overall development plan.[7] In 2005, RAK and the World Bank organized the global investor’s conference to help attract investors to the emirate.[8]
Sheikh Saud's reform initiatives led to rapid growth in the emirate's per capita GDP from AED 35,000 in 2001 to AED 52,000 in 2006.[9]
Training and health initiatives
In addition to maintaining a solid record of good governance, Sheikh Saud has also been deeply involved with the social development of the emirate, focusing in particular on improving education and health. Considering education to be an important part of the sustainable development of Ras Al Khaimah, the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research offers scholarships to encourage and enable Emirati students to continue their higher education at domestic and international universities. In addition, the American University of Ras Al Khaimah was established to facilitate access for Emirati students to American universities.[10]
At the end of 2007, the Ras Al Khaimah Center for Advanced Materials (RAK-CAM) was founded under the patronage of Sheikh Saud. RAK-CAM was founded to address critical issues in areas such as alternative energy, construction, water purification and environmental conservation.[11]
Saud also sponsored the construction of Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU) to train future generations of UAE doctors, nurses and pharmacists. In 2007, RAK Hospital was opened. As a Swiss-Emirate joint venture, it was the first private hospital in the emirate.[12]
Economic leadership
In the years leading up to 2010, Sheikh Saud greatly expanded the economy of Ras Al Khaimah, promoting businesses and initiatives such as RAK Ceramics company, the Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resort, and the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone.
References
- ↑ Profile: Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi. Gulf News.
- ↑ Saud is Ras Al Khaimah Ruler as UAE mourns Shaikh Saqr. Gulf News.
- ↑ RAK Ceramics.
- ↑ RAK Ceramics Corporate Governance Report.
- ↑ Succession Politics in the Conservative Arab Gulf States: The Weekend's Events in Ras al-Khaimah. The Washington Institute.
- ↑ Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah 'A/A-1' ratings affirmed on membership of the UAE; outlook stable.
- ↑ RAK asks World Bank to conduct study on foreign investment.
- ↑ Global Investors’ Conference starts off in RAK.
- ↑ RAK GDP grows by more than 50 % over the last four years.
- ↑ University of Bolton awards honorary doctorate to RAK Crown Prince. Emirates News Agency.
- ↑ RAK Begins Building of Research Centre for Materials. Khaleej Times.
- ↑ Dh100m multi-specialty RAK Hospital opened. Gulf News.
