Ruler:

Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al Qasimi, born: April 9th, 1918, was the Emir untill he died on October 27, 2010.

At the time of his death he was the world's oldest reigning monach at age 90.

Biography:

Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qasimi became the ruler of the Sheikhdom 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 Sheikhdom of Sharjah. Shaykh Saqr appointed his oldest son, Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, as the Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah 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 is one of the longest serving rulers in the world today, but no longer actively rules Ras Al Khaimah because of poor health. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr currently plays the most active role in ruling Ras Al Khaimah.

Shaykh Saqr refused to permit Ras Al Khaimah to join the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when it was formed on 2 December 1971, because he claimed Iran had invaded two Ras Al Khaimah islands and one Sharjah island on November 30, 1970, and Shaykh Saqr wanted guarantees from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed 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.