Welcome to the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah
United Arab Emirates
Ras Al Khaimah invites visitors to discover this gem of the Middle East. Positioned near the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf, RAK prospered for centuries at the crossroads of the trade routes linking Europe with India and China. Today, these traditions of cultural exchange, commerce and business are alive and well. They come across in the warm hospitality shown to visitors to its captivating mountains, shimmering coastline resorts and desert spa retreats, and in RAK's innovative reforms promoting trade and investment opportunities.
The Government has forged ahead with an ambitious program to empower the private sector and improve the lives of residents. It has done so under the guidance of His Highness Crown Prince Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, appointed by his father His Highness Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed al Qasimi to bring the business lessons he learned creating successful industrial concerns, to the management of the emirate.
With his own health failing, HH Sheikh Saqr, the world's longest serving ruler, named HH Sheikh Saud in 2003 to assume the title of Crown Prince. The position was previously held by Sheikh Khalid, who fell out of favor with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates over his foreign policy objectives. Since becoming Crown Prince, he has fostered a diversified, open economy, with transparent and stable institutions. Despite lacking the oil that is in such abundance in some of its UAE neighbors, the economy of Ras Al Khaimah has grown 200%.