GOVERNMENT OF RAK AND THE UAE
The UAE is a constitutional federation of seven states: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman. Together, they are called the Emirates. The political system of the UAE is two-fold and consists of the federal government for all of the seven emirates and a local government of each emirate.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
The federation was established in December 1971; however, Ras Al Khaimah did not join the union until February 1972. Abu Dhabi was chosen as the capital of the UAE and its ruler H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the first president. After his death in 2004, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, succeeded his father and became president.
The highest federal authority is the Supreme Council of Rulers whose members are the rulers of the seven emirates. The second institution of the federal government is the Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister. Traditionally, the ruler of Dubai is appointed as prime minister and at the time of writing, the prime minister of the Emirates is H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Other bodies of the federal government include the Federal National Council (the country’s parliament with 40 members selected proportionally from each emirate) and the Supreme Court. Foreign affairs, security, education, public health, labour relations and currency are just a few examples of areas of responsibilities stated in the UAE Constitution and assigned to the federal authorities.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Apart from the federal government, each of the seven emirates has its own local government headed by its own ruling family. Each emirate’s government can pass laws relevant to that individual emirate. However, federal law is applicable to the UAE as a whole and overrides the provisions of local legislation. The local governments differ in size, structure and assembly depending on population, area and local economy. The local government of Ras Al Khaimah consists, among others, of a municipality, department of public works, water and electricity, finance, agriculture, labour, economy, and commerce departments.
RAK e-government: www.rak.ae
RAK RULING FAMILY
Ras Al Khaimah is ruled by the Qasimi family, which became a prominent tribe in the Emirate already back in the 18th century.
RULER OF RAK - H.H. SHEIKH SAQR BIN MOHAMMED AL QASIMI
Sheikh Saqr was born in 1918, became the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah in 1948. Sheikh Saqr being 91 years old is the world’s oldest reigning ruler, and second, after the king of Thailand, longest serving ruler. In 1948, after a bloodless coup, which was fully supported by the Qawasim family, H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi became the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and continues to rule to this day. Under his leadership, Ras Al Khaimah has gone through a period of change and growth.
At first, the Emirate turned to its strongest asset, agriculture. Sheikh Saqrimproved water supplies, encouraged cultivation of crops and livestock farming. In 1955, he built an experimental farm and an agricultural research station. From the small annual fee that Sheikh Saqr received from an oil company for its prospecting rights, Sheikh Saqr improved the life of the Ras Al Khaimah’s population. One of his priorities was education and thus by the 1960s Ras Al Khaimah had, apart from the traditional Qur’an centres, ten public schools. A second hospital in the Trucial States, supported by a network of clinics was also opened in the Emirate. Additionally, Ras Al Khaimah was provided with electricity and telephones, and a number of roads were constructed. It was also a time when the first quarries were opened. Sheikh Saqr was assisted by the oldest son, Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, in the process of developing the sheikhdom. In the 1970s, the first cement companies and more quarries were launched; and they continue to be the leading industries of the Emirate. Additionally, Saqr Port opened and RAK Airport was built.
Sheikh Saqr also played an important role in the region, and he was twice elected as a chairman of the Trucial State Council, between the years 1965-1971. Although he supported the idea of a federation between the different states, he chose not to sign the treaty forming the UAE on the 2nd of December 1971, as at that time he was dealing with the so-called ‘Tunb crisis’. The crisis started on 30th of November 1971, when Iran invaded Ras Al Khaimah’s Greater and Lesser Tunb islands claiming that historically they belonged to them. The other emirates promised support in resolving this issue and then Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed announced a wish to join the federation. He was immediately accepted as its seventh member.
CROWN PRINCE AND DEPUTY RULER OF RAK - H.H. SHEIKH SAUD BIN SAQR AL QASIMI
Sheikh Saud in 2003 he replaced his oldest brother H.H. Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi (appointed in 1974) as the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi was born on 10th February 1956 as the fourth son of H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and Sheikha Mahra, a daughter of a prominent Dubai businessperson Ahmed Al Ghurair.
Sheikh Saud undertook his elementary and secondary schooling in Ras Al Khaimah. In 1972, he started his higher education at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, where he studied economics. However, due to the internal conflicts in Beirut, he did not complete his degree in Lebanon but continued his education and graduated from the University of Michigan in the USA.
Upon his return to Ras Al Khaimah, in 1978, he was appointed as the new Director General of the Ruler’s Office to assist his father Sheikh Saqr in the administration of the government. Sheikh Saud’s knowledge about business, economy and administration, obtained through his study, influenced the way he operated and gave him the means to lift Ras Al Khaimah into a new level of growth. Over the years, he expanded and developed RAK Rock Company, Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries and RAK Ceramics. All these became, among many others, prominent business enterprises of the Emirate.
Recognized for his leadership qualities and efforts, Sheikh Saud was chosen by his father as the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah on 14th June 2003. Since that time, he has introduced numerous organizational and economic reforms that have spear headed development of Ras Al Khaimah. By expanding Free Trade Zone, establishing the RAK Investment Authority and creating suitable conditions for business, he has encouraged foreign investments. Ras Al Khaimah under the leadership of Sheikh Saud has witnessed development and growth in the spheres of tourism, real estate and industrialization. Following his father’s lead Sheik Saud has continued to improve health care and schooling facilities. Testimony to this is the newly opened RAK Hospital, numerous schools and universities supported by him.
Sheikh Saud has led Ras Al Khaimah to be recognized as an important economic player, on both national and international stage.
LEGAL SYSTEM
Ras Al Khaimah, as a member of the UAE, has the same legal system as that of the other emirates. The initial source of legislation in the UAE is Sharia Law, based on the Qur’an, which mainly deals with religious and family affairs.
The commercial growth of the country brought a new range of subjects such as labour relations, trade transactions, intellectual property and industrial development. Therefore, Ras Al Khaimah, together with other emirates, had to create distinctive civil laws that deal with business related matters. Most of these civil laws rely on European legislation. As a result, in the UAE, a dual system is maintained and secular courts have the same position as religious courts. Interestingly, in a situation in which both laws, civil and Islamic, have no reference to a particular matter, legislation of another Arab country is considered.
