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His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi is the eldest son of His Highness Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost Emirate of the United Arab Emirates, since 1948. His Highness Sheikh Khalid was named Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah in 1958, continuing until June 2003. Despite Skeikh Khalid's repeated claims that he has in his possession a decree re-instating him as Crown Prince, such a document has never been produced, much less officially recognized by the Government or Ras Al Khaimah or the United Arab Emirates. For this reason, the official UAE informational website, www.uaeinteract.com lists HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi as Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ra's al-Khaimah. UAE Political Leadership While Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Khalid oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Ras Al Khaimah Government and served as principal contact with all foreign governments, including the United States. He served as Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah, the Ras Al Khaimah National Oil Company, RAK Gas Commission and RAK Cement Company. His Highness also led high-level diplomatic missions to the United States during Nixon, Reagan and Clinton Administrations. In 1999, he was received by President Clinton in the White House.
During his tenure as Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Khalid promoted economic development that benefits all of the people of both Ras Al Khaimah and the United Arab Emirates, including the expansion of both the International Airport and Saqr Port, the promotion of environmental, energy and agricultural initiatives, cement manufacturing and investment in healthcare.
His Highness has been called a reformer for his efforts to promote changes that would lead to greater popular participation in society in both the Emirates and the region as a whole. As the Arabic news network Al Jazeera noted, the “eform minded Sheikh Khalid had asked for democratic changes in his Emirate and the Country as a whole which have later been fully accepted and integrated policies of the Federal Government of the United Arab Emirates.”
Sheikh Khalid has also called for a clean, sustainable and independent energy future for Ras Al Khaimah and for increased educational opportunities, including a rapid expansion of international and cross-cultural student exchanges.
On Sovereignty and security matters, His Highness is a strong supporter of the efforts of the United Arab Emirates and of the need for Ras Al Khaimah to work within the framework of the Federal Government.
In this context, Khalid has long stood against Iran’s occupation of the Greater and Lesser Tonb Islands and Abu Musa and strongly supports the United Arab Emirates efforts to bring the matter before the International Court of Justice and the United Nations. These islands are of particularly strategic value because of their location at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, the only sea passage to the open ocean for most of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and through which more than 20 percent of the world’s oil supply travels every year.
His Highness has a site where he announced A Pledge For Progress: http://www.rakforthepeople.com/
It calls for:
(1) Building an economy to serve the people and not just the powerful. (2) Pursuing energy independence. (3) Preserving Sovereignty. (4) Increasing educational opportunities for the next generation. (5) Promoting the rule of law, including respect for intellectual property. (6) Encouraging greater popular participation in government.
Born on 8 October 1943, His Highness Sheikh Khalid undertook his elementary schooling in Ras Al Khaimah, his secondary education in Cairo and his higher education at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.
In 1967, Sheikh Khalid was awarded a grant by the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowships program for emerging world leaders and selected to participate in an intensive, year-long study program in the United States. That unique experience deepened his understanding and respect for American political and educational systems and broadened his international and cross-cultural perspectives.
- UAE Interact Official Website of United Arab Emirates