|
Recent History |
|
|
DISCOVERY OF OIL AND THE UAE FORMATION
The beginning of the 20th century brought difficult times for the developing sheikdoms. The world economic crisis of 1929 and competition from the Japanese cultured pearls crashed the pearl market, which was the main source of income for the local population.
After many difficult years, the discovery of oil in the region, in the 1930s, brought prospect of new economic development. Ras Al Khaimah and the other emirates signed first agreements to survey their lands for oil deposits. However, the advent of the II World War slowed down the research efforts and exploitation processes. In the period after the war, the region was thoroughly examined and majority of oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi, to be exploited in commercial quantities in the 1960s. In Ras Al Khaimah, the search for oil has been a difficult quest and the amount of oil discovered was not enough to put the Emirate on the list of the oil-rich lands.
Once the oil industry started to be developed in the area, the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf became increasingly apparent. Therefore, it was important for the local sheikdoms to stay strong and united. As a result, in 1952 the Trucial Council was established, which included all the rulers of the Trucial States. Its goal was to pursuit common policy in administrative matters. Discussions on the formation of a federation began in 1968, when Britain announced its intended withdrawal from the Persian Gulf region by 1971. In November 1971, six emirates Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman signed an agreement establishing the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, who had convinced other rulers that uniting was the only way to go in the changing world, was chosen as the first president of the UAE. Ras Al Khaimah, facing problems concerning Iran occupation of the Emirate’s islands, joined the federation in February 1972, after assurance of assistance and support from the other emirates. This newly created country, enhanced with the revenues from oil exploitation, experienced unprecedented social, political and economical development.
TIMES OF CHANGE IN RAS AL KHAIMAH
H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi 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 Saqr improved 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.
In his sixty years as ruler he has wisely and caringly led Ras Al Khaimah from a small impoverished emirate into a modern thriving 21st century state. In 2003, Sheikh Saqr nominated his son Sheikh Saud as the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and with this decision Ras Al Khaimah entered into yet another phase of development.
21st CENTURY RAS AL KHAIMAH
H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi 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. |
 |