Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi
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Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi (born 1918) became the monarch of Ras al Khaimah (now one of the United Arab Emirates) on 17 July 1948, when he overthrew his uncle and father-in-law Shaykh Sultan Bin Salem (or Salim) al-Qassimi in a bloodless coup. Shaykh Saqr exiled the Sultan to Sharjah. He was born in Ras Al Khaimah.
[edit] Overview
Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qasimi became the ruler of the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah on 17 July 1948 after a bloodless takeover from his uncle and father-in-law Shaykh Sultan bin Salim al-Qassimi who was exiled to the Emirate of Sharjah. Shaykh Saqr appointed his oldest son, Shaykh Khalid bin Saqr, as the Crown Prince of RAK in 1974. Shaykh Khalid was replaced by Shaykh Saud bin Saqr on 28 April 2003, and Khalid chose the Omani capital Muscat for his unconditional exile. The elderly Shaykh Saqr no longer actively rules RAK because of poor health. Shaykh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi is one of the longest serving rulers in the world today.
Shaykh Saqr refused to permit RAK to join the United Arab Emirates when it was formed on 2 December 1971 because Iran had invaded two RAK islands and one Sharjah island on 30 November 1970, and Shaykh Saqr wanted guarantees from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saed Al Maktoum of Dubai that the new UAE Federal Government would not relinquish claim to those islands (Abu Musa & the Greater and Lesser Tunbs). When the guarantee was granted, RAK joined the Federation of the United Arab Emirates on 24 February 1972.
[edit] Rise to power
Shaykh Saqr had to face the Bedouins (the Peoples of the Deserts) from the south, the low land Mountaineers from the east and a combination of High lands Shihhis and other tribes from the north who had disagreed with the takeover. Sheikh Saqr had to gather the whole people of Ras Al Khaimah under his ruling to RAK, which caused his followers to fight those who opposed his ruling of Ras Al Khaimah.
During that period of 1948, many people died fighting without knowing with whom they were fighting as they did not know that Shaykh Sultan Bin Salem Al Qassimi had been exiled to Sharjah.
Then finally Shaykh Saqr gained complete control on the whole country of Ras Al Khaimah, and in order to avoid further bloodshed among the Tribes, appointed a Shaykh (a Head of a Tribe) on each Tribe to keep each people within their area, and the tribal Shaykh was the coordinator between the Ruler and the people of Ras Al Khaimah so as to ease the previous tensions and facilitate the Affairs of the Tribes with the government, and none of the Tribes had the Right to meet the ruler without the permission of the Head of the Tribe.
After the United Arab Emirates was formed on 2 December 1971 and Ras Al Khaimah was the last Emirate to join in 1972, the Tribes' influence has been weakened; nevertheless, the local Government still respects the Shaykhs of the Tribes for their loyal roles.
Sheikh Saqr is no longer active as a ruler due to his age and health, and the Crown Prince Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr al Qassimi, who replaced his brother Sheikh Khalid Bin Saqr in 2003, is the most active person as both ruler and Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah. The name Ras al Khaimah means a "Head of a Tent" in Arabic.
