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 ease of doing business to strengthen cross-sector investment and ensure a bright future for the Emirate’s economy.

In his time since becoming the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, His Highness Sheikh Saud has maintained his focus on improving education and healthcare, while ensuring sustainable growth for the Emirate and continued prosperity for its people. His mantra has never wavered in that time – have a vision, build a team that understands and keeps targets straightforward and attainable, as overcomplication leads to failure, while simplification leads to success. 

His Highness is a keen proponent of investing in human capital to achieve long-term objectives. In addition, he views the development of young people through education as fundamental to Ras Al Khaimah’s prospects.

As the Emirate’s tourism sector became more prominent, thanks to the increasingly diverse offerings available across Ras Al Khaimah, so too did the business environment, with the formation of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone in 2017.

In recent years, His Highness Sheikh Saud’s continuous efforts have been recognized with a series of awards and accolades. In 2010, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bolton, United Kingdom, and in 2013 an Honorary Fellowship of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in India. His Highness received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Economics from Incheon National University, South Korea, in 2018, the same year he was named Visionary Leader of the Year by Arabian Business.

Under his strategic vision, Ras Al Khaimah is growing holistically and sustainably, with key businesses going from strength-to-strength and more global investors realizing the huge benefits of being part of the Emirate’s journey to greater prosperity. His Highness Sheikh Saud takes it upon himself to ensure that Ras Al Khaimah is constantly improving its governance and capabilities so that the Emirate continues to flourish, now and in the future. 

The people of Ras Al Khaimah remain the key beneficiaries of this innovative strategy, which puts them at the heart of development plans, such as improving the education system, providing healthcare to international standards, enriching communities across the Emirate and adopting initiatives that enhance the environment where they live.

As Ras Al Khaimah continues to grow, there is one constant amid a sea of change – His Highness Sheikh Saud’s unwavering commitment to the wellbeing and livelihood of his people and his Emirate.