Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi was born on 10 February 1956 in Dubai, the fourth son of the previous ruler, Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. He has ruled Ras Al Khaimah since 27 October 2010 and represents the emirate on the UAE Federal Supreme Council. He studied economics at the American University of Beirut from 1973, then moved to the University of Michigan after the Lebanese civil war began, graduating in economics and political science. He became Chief of the Ruler's Court in 1979, chaired the Ras Al Khaimah Municipal Council from 1986 and became Crown Prince in June 2003. After 2010 he shifted the emirate's economy from debt-fuelled growth to austerity, and Fitch and S&P are reported to rate it A/A-1 with a stable outlook. The Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone hosts more than 40,000 companies, and GDP per capita rose from AED 35,000 in 2001 to AED 118,621 in 2025. He founded the emirate's Tourism Development Authority in 2011, and the emirate reported a record 1.35 million visitors in 2025. He is married to Hana bint Juma Al Majid and they have six children.

• 1979 · Chief of the Ruler's Court · Ras Al Khaimah
• 1986 · Chairman, Ras Al Khaimah Municipal Council · Ras Al Khaimah
• 2003 · Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler (June) · Ras Al Khaimah
• 2010 · Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (27 October) · Ras Al Khaimah
• 2011 · Established the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority · Ras Al Khaimah

• Bachelor's degree in economics and political science, University of Michigan
• Studied economics at the American University of Beirut (from 1973)

• Visionary Leader of the Year, Arabian Business Awards (2018)
• Honorary doctorate, University of Bolton (2010)
• Honorary fellowship, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (2013)
• Honorary doctorate in economics, Incheon National University (2018)