Abu Dhabi/Ras Al Khaimah: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday offered his heartfelt condolences in a phone call to His Highness Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, on the passing of the Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi.
Shaikh Khalifa wished Shaikh Saud success in his future duties as Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
Shaikh Khalifa and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received condolences from Arab Presidents and Rulers on the death of Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, who died yesterday morning.
Shaikh Mohammad and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi of Sharjah, Shaikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla of Umm Al Quwain and Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajmanyesterday performed funeral prayers for Shaikh Saqr.
General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, Crown Princes, Deputy Rulers, shaikhs, ministers and senior officials were also present.
The prayers took place in the Eid Musallah in the Khuzam area in Ras Al Khaimah.
Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates also attended the funeral, where Shaikh Saqr's body was laid to rest in the ruling family's graveyard in Al Oraibi.
History will show that during the more than six decades since Shaikh Saqr acceded to power in 1948, he added rich pages to the achievements of the nation, displaying honourable attitudes that had a major effect on the political and social life in his emirate.
Known for his courage, wisdom and his ability to establish security, peace and order, he also paid great attention to education and, in governing, devoted himself to all aspects of the emirate's affairs, in particular everything that would ensure a decent life for its citizens.
Shaikh Saqr was the great-great-great-great grandson of Shaikh Rahma Bin Mattar Bin Qayed, the founder, in 1760, of Al Qasimi state in what is now the northern emirates. He was born in Ras Al Khaimah city in 1920, and was brought up in an Islamic Arabic environment under the care of his father, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Salem, who had been Ruler of the emirate from 1917 to 1919.
Benefiting from devoted parental care, Shaikh Saqr was given a religious and academic education from an early age. Growing up in the company of his siblings, he memorised many verses from the Quran and the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet [PBUH]) and also absorbed the fundamental principles of Islam. He was taught to read and write before the age of 10 by a number of eminent local scholars, among whom was Fatima, the wife of Hamad Al Ragabani, who was known as "The Moroccan".
Shaikh Saqr became Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah on July 17, 1948, and worked since that time to lay the foundations of national unity among the various tribes in the emirate and to unite them. He was also keen to develop the emirate and to work to achieve its progress in various economic and social fields.
At the national level, Shaikh Saqr was elected in 1965 as Chairman of the Trucial States Council, comprising the Rulers of the emirates, a post he retained until the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. During his chairmanship, much was achieved.
The establishment of the UAE federation faced many obstacles. Eventually, however, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the other Rulers were able to overcome all obstacles and on December 2, 1971, the UAE was formed, becoming the 18th member of the Arab League and the 132nd member of the United Nations.
Ras Al Khaimah joined the Federation of the United Arab Emirates on February 10, 1972. On that day, Shaikh Saqr noted: "Although we build a union in this part of the Arab world, this union is merely a brick in the edifice of the Arab nation-building from the ocean to the Arabian Gulf".
Outside the UAE, Shaikh Saqr enjoyed strong relations with leaders of the region and visited many Arab and foreign countries. At an internal level, he was a wise ruler with a broad vision, constantly looking to the future.
He was deeply interested in education and in the dissemination of knowledge, believing that this had a fundamental role to play in the development of the emirate.
Supporting the development of trade, industry and the economy in general, as well as the provision of housing and the offering of entertainment for residents, Shaikh Saqr was eager to ensure that the people of the emirate enjoyed access to proper health care.
Timeline: Memorable moments
- 1920 Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi is born in Ras Al Khaimah
- February 12, 1948 Becomes Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah
- February 9, 1972 Shaikh Saqr declares that Ras Al Khaimah will join the UAE Federation
- December 1, 1997 Opens new Dh105 million water desalination plant
- May 9, 1998 Inaugurates the etisalat tower
- August 25, 1998 Bans hunting of birds and hares
- April 27, 1999 Issues a decree to establish environment protection and industrial development authority
- May 9, 2000 Issues two laws establishing Ras Al Khaimah Radio and Television Corporation and creating a free trade zone
- June 14, 2003 Appoints Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi as Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah
- April 13, 2005 Issues a decree establishing Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority
- February 13, 2006 Issues a decree establishing RAK Airways as the emirate's airline with Dh850 million in capital
- February 17, 2006 Grants clearance to Space Adventures Ltd to operate a sub-orbital vehicle from the emirate
- February 18, 2006 Establishes the RAK Education Company (EDRAK), a Dh1.5 billion education firm, to invest in "all educational opportunities of all types and at all levels anywhere."
— Gulf News Archive
