Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi

Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi

Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi (1920 – 2010) was the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah , from 17th of July 1948 to 27th of October 2010 . Soon after becoming ruler on the 17th of July 1948 , Sheikh Saqr worked on setting up rules and regulations of national unity among the tribes in the emirate. he worked also for the reunification of these tribes and for building interrelations that changed them into a cohesive community. Believing in the role of education in building people and communities , and in creating the awareness of civilization , Sheikh Saqr focused a lot of attention on education and knowledge , and emphasized on building schools and encouraging the scientific scholarship missions for the dissemination of education all over the Emirate.

In the health field , he endeavoured to provide comprehensive health care for everybody in the emirate , he opened the Kuwaiti hospital , and established three modern hospitals in the emirate . In the infrastructure and transportation sector , in the year 1969 Sheikh Saqr launched the paved road between Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah .

In 1976 , he inaugurated the RAK International Airport and the Saqr Port in 1977. Economically , the Emirate has attracted many successful industrial enterprises , that contributed to the process of progress , covering a wide range of industries , like cement , medicine , ceramics and iron . on February 10th 1972 Sheikh Saqr announced Ras al-Khaimah as an member-emirate of the UAE.