Home
Politics
Sheikh Khaled bin Saqr al-Qassimi with his late father
In official recognition of Sheikh Saud's succession to the post of emir, the UAE's Federal Supreme Council "expressed its full support for Sheikh Saud as ruler of Ras al-Khaimah," in a statement carried by WAM.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan also praised Sheikh Saud saying he had "inherited much of his father's wisdom."
"This qualifies him to take part, with merit, in the leadership of the federation," he said according to WAM.
Sheikh Saqr, who had been suffering from failing health, had ruled the emirate on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which some 40 percent of the world's oil is shipped, since 1948.
Sheikh Saud's elder brother, Sheikh Khaled, had proclaimed himself emir in a video message posted on his website soon after his father's death.
The two brothers have been caught in a power tussle since 2003 when their father demoted Sheikh Khaled and appointed Sheikh Saud as crown prince.
No reasons for the change were ever made public.
"On (my father's) passing away, I should assume his duties and obligations as the ruler of Ras al-Khaimah in accordance with the law and constitution of the United Arab Emirates," Sheikh Khaled said in the video.
Sheikh Khaled did not attend his father’s funeral, a source close to the sheikh's entourage said. Three cousins asked him to attend alone, but he said he wanted to go with security and other supporters, the source said.
Hundreds of people, among them Dubai ruler and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, gathered at the Sheikh Zayed mosque for Sheikh Saqr's funeral.
It was guarded by police with M-4 and M-16 assault rifles, with a military helicopter circling overhead. Blue and white camouflage-painted vehicles, some carrying heavy machine guns, were deployed near the mosque.
Riad Kahwaji, head of the Dubai-based think-tank INEGMA, said Sheikh Khaled's bid for the throne would amount to little more than a "media campaign" unless he gets the consent of UAE leaders.
"If the tribal leaders in Ras al-Khaimah and the rest of the UAE support the current crown prince as a ruler, then the situation will not escalate," Kahwaji said. "Until now we have not heard any voices in Ras al-Khaimah calling for the return of Sheikh Khaled."
Sheikh Khaled accuses his brother of turning the emirate into a "rogue state" that Iran uses to circumvent UN sanctions.
In Wednesday's message, he said: "I have watched with growing concern as Ras al-Khaimah has recently strayed from my father's lifelong mission of always putting the people first."
Sheikh Khaled had some time ago employed US firm Mercury Public Affairs to support his efforts to return to power.
Mercury has claimed in a report that there are numerous small companies with close ties to Iran in Ras al-Khaimah's free trade zone, which are used to bypass sanctions, and that Iranian agents are deployed in the emirate.
But Kahwaji says the allegations are groundless.
"There were international bodies which came here to investigate this matter but they found nothing."
Since becoming crown prince, the US-educated Sheikh Saud has steered the development of important ceramics, pharmaceutical, and cement industries in Ras al-Khaimah which, unlike wealthier emirates, boasts no oil reserves.
Ras al-Khaimah, which has a population of about 300,000 people, is one of the seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates. The others are Abu Dhabi, which also serves as the capital, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm al-Qaiwain.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan also praised Sheikh Saud saying he had "inherited much of his father's wisdom."
"This qualifies him to take part, with merit, in the leadership of the federation," he said according to WAM.
Sheikh Saqr, who had been suffering from failing health, had ruled the emirate on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which some 40 percent of the world's oil is shipped, since 1948.
Sheikh Saud's elder brother, Sheikh Khaled, had proclaimed himself emir in a video message posted on his website soon after his father's death.
The two brothers have been caught in a power tussle since 2003 when their father demoted Sheikh Khaled and appointed Sheikh Saud as crown prince.
No reasons for the change were ever made public.
"On (my father's) passing away, I should assume his duties and obligations as the ruler of Ras al-Khaimah in accordance with the law and constitution of the United Arab Emirates," Sheikh Khaled said in the video.
Sheikh Khaled did not attend his father’s funeral, a source close to the sheikh's entourage said. Three cousins asked him to attend alone, but he said he wanted to go with security and other supporters, the source said.
Hundreds of people, among them Dubai ruler and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, gathered at the Sheikh Zayed mosque for Sheikh Saqr's funeral.
It was guarded by police with M-4 and M-16 assault rifles, with a military helicopter circling overhead. Blue and white camouflage-painted vehicles, some carrying heavy machine guns, were deployed near the mosque.
Riad Kahwaji, head of the Dubai-based think-tank INEGMA, said Sheikh Khaled's bid for the throne would amount to little more than a "media campaign" unless he gets the consent of UAE leaders.
"If the tribal leaders in Ras al-Khaimah and the rest of the UAE support the current crown prince as a ruler, then the situation will not escalate," Kahwaji said. "Until now we have not heard any voices in Ras al-Khaimah calling for the return of Sheikh Khaled."
Sheikh Khaled accuses his brother of turning the emirate into a "rogue state" that Iran uses to circumvent UN sanctions.
In Wednesday's message, he said: "I have watched with growing concern as Ras al-Khaimah has recently strayed from my father's lifelong mission of always putting the people first."
Sheikh Khaled had some time ago employed US firm Mercury Public Affairs to support his efforts to return to power.
Mercury has claimed in a report that there are numerous small companies with close ties to Iran in Ras al-Khaimah's free trade zone, which are used to bypass sanctions, and that Iranian agents are deployed in the emirate.
But Kahwaji says the allegations are groundless.
"There were international bodies which came here to investigate this matter but they found nothing."
Since becoming crown prince, the US-educated Sheikh Saud has steered the development of important ceramics, pharmaceutical, and cement industries in Ras al-Khaimah which, unlike wealthier emirates, boasts no oil reserves.
Ras al-Khaimah, which has a population of about 300,000 people, is one of the seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates. The others are Abu Dhabi, which also serves as the capital, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm al-Qaiwain.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
