Country Profile

RAK is ruled by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, who has ruled since the passing of his father, Sheikh Saqr, in 2010. The emirate’s population has grown significantly over recent years, rising from 267,000 in 2009 to 413,000 in 2010. Despite its relatively small geographic size, the emirate nevertheless boasts a varied landscape and considerable natural resources. Indeed it is home to the largest rock quarry in the Gulf, while the high-quality deposits of limestone and clay found in the emirate underpin RAK’s thriving cement and ceramics industries. Meanwhile the various industrial free zones remain core pillars of the emirate’s growth, with attractive incentives in place for foreign companies continuing to attract international players.

This chapter contains an interview with Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; and a viewpoint from Tony Abbott, former Prime Minister of Australia.