SAUD BIN SAQR AL QASIMI / BIOGRAPHY / A PROMISING YOUNG MIND
A PROMISING YOUNG MIND
His Highness Sheikh Saud is a passionate believer in the power of education to help unlock potential.
His own educational journey has been integral to forming his vision for Ras Al Khaimah and his leadership philosophy.
His Highness Sheikh Saud attended Al Qassimiya Primary and Al Siddique Secondary schools, both in Ras Al Khaimah. During his early teens, His Highness was sent by his father to Worthing, in southern England, to learn English. The young man immersed himself in the language and would devour English newspapers, searching for new words to expand his vocabulary.
Throughout school, His Highness Sheikh Saud demonstrated an appetite for academia, and it was clear that his bright and scholarly mind was destined for further education. In 1973, he started studying economics at the American University of Beirut, at a time when Lebanon was a center for culture, politics and business. However, the outbreak of civil war in 1975 necessitated a transfer to the University of Michigan, in the United States of America, where his eyes were quickly opened to new worlds of opportunity. The extensive university library fed his vociferous appetite for knowledge and allowed him to see the world through the eyes of others. The US, His Highness would later recall, taught him that there is no ceiling to what can be learned and to what can be achieved through dedication to hard work.
His Highness Sheikh Saud graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics.
Further study was on the cards for His Highness but an expansive development agenda across the UAE meant an increased workload for Sheikh Saqr – a situation that ultimately resulted in the return of His Highness Sheikh Saud to his homeland. Armed with an education and a drive to make a difference to his fledgling nation, he traveled back to Ras Al Khaimah in 1978 and was appointed Chief of the Ruler’s Court. In 1986, he became the Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Municipal Council, continuing his work to improve the Emirate’s infrastructure and governance. His Highness would later state that his main desire during this time was to support his father and to enact tangible change in Ras Al Khaimah. With the worldly knowledge gained from his international experiences and his keen interest in business and commerce, he quickly earned a reputation as a shrewd businessman with a bright future.
Summary
Biography
Born in Dubai in 1956, His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, was educated in Ras Al Khaimah before going on to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Michigan, in the United States.
Chapter 1
BEGINNINGS: A RULER IN THE MAKING
From a young age, His Highness Sheikh Saud learned the value of compassion and humanitarianism, two virtues that were always prominent in the mind and actions of his father, the late Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi…
Chapter 3
A STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS
His Highness Sheikh Saud has led Ras Al Khaimah through a period of unprecedented growth, across economic, industrial, tourism and commercial sectors. His vision for sustainable development has been the driving force for greater prosperity for the Emirate’s people and the holistic development of Ras Al Khaimah as a hub of activity across multiple business sectors…
Chapter 4
DRIVING PROSPERITY
Since becoming Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Saud has devised a vision and correlated strategies to improve the overall sustainable development of Ras Al Khaimah, with a focus on delivering high-quality education, healthcare and social services to the people.
His Highness has also sought to improve governance and the ease of doing business to strengthen cross-sector investment and ensure a bright future for the Emirate’s economy.