Monday 17 , March 2025

His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, reviewed the strategic development of the Al Rams area, which aligns with the Emirates Council for Balanced Development’s long-term vision focused on the Emirates Villages projects. The initiative is designed to enhance the infrastructure, economy, and quality of life in UAE’s villages and areas making them between the best tourism and development destination in the country. This came at a meeting, held at Saqr bin Mohammed Palace, and addressed the project’s details, updating plan, and development objectives, in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, and H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Families Affairs and Chairman of the Emirates Council for Balanced Development. Also, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Chairman of RAK Public Service Department, Sheikh Khaled bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Vice-Chairman of RAK Investment and Development Office, and number of senior officers attended the meeting. H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi affirmed the commitment of President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to achieving comprehensive and sustainable development across all emirates with the ultimate goal of ensuring social stability for UAE citizens and their families while enhancing the quality of life in the UAE community. Sheikh Saud praised the efforts of Emirates Council for Balanced Development, chaired by HH Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the resulted comprehensive development and developing villages and areas in UAE through development initiatives that improve the country’s future renaissance and orientations. The initiatives also support UAE’s comprehensive development journey towards a sustainable community that covers all the life elements. In return, H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan noted the UAE leadership's commitment to supporting all initiatives that enhance social stability, improve quality of life, and meet the needs of UAE citizens across all regions of the country. This commitment, he said, strengthens the path of sustainable development nationwide, ensuring its benefits are directly reflected in the lives of citizens, families, and individuals throughout the UAE community. His Highness added that Emirate Villages project, since its early launching, is a successful model for developing targeted villages. Sheikh Theyab expressed his thanks to HH Sheikh Saud for the significant support he pays to Rams development plan. HH Sheikh Theyab reaffirmed that the coherence of governmental and private sector establishments and working jointly with the developed areas are the foundation of achieving the objectives of development and other projects adopted by Emirates Council for Balanced Development that basically target the people of the areas to achieve sustainable development.” Rams development project is a part of Emirates Council for Balanced Development strategy that aims to create new tourism destinations by adopting creative methodology supporting miniature economies in UAE villages and areas. The plan includes two main parts including meeting the development’s basic needs that were identified by Rams people using interactive workshops which resulted in development thoughts and proposals from them. The maritime heritage is the basic identity of the area. The development foundations shall highlight such identity taking into account the particularity of its environment, landmarks, and natural resources, as well as meeting the people of the area’s requirements, and the objectives of improving the quality of life and developing the landmarks to create attractive tourism destinations. The first phase includes building majlis for the people as a part of the social initiatives launched by Sheikh Theyab in the annual government meetings. The phase also includes the development of Rams entrance and Corniche alongside developing and enhancing fishers’ marina “Rams port” and developing “Bayt Al Lolo” to strengthen the area’s maritime identity legacy. The second phase includes the development of a comprehensive plan for environmental tourism in Rams to connect all its mountains, beaches, and agriculture areas. The plan shall include the development of paths to Daya castle, activate businesses in Daya farms, and create investment opportunities through transforming them into strategic locations attracting tourists. Such sustainable belt aims to support environmental tourism in the area. Rams development project targets major positive results with positive impacts on citizens and residents in terms of social, economic, and environmental aspects. The project aims to increase the quality of life, support the existing projects, and create employment and investment opportunities. At the economic level, the project aims to attract investors and entrepreneurs and create a tourism destination that harmonizes and integrates with other tourism projects, as well as contributing to creating new economic tributaries. At the environmental level, the project aims to provide overall vision about the environmental heritage of the area and how to utilize and preserve such. It also seeks the creation of a unique model of tourism, environment, and investment sectors as well as integration with the roles of the country’s bodies to implement environmental orientations. Emirates Council for Balanced Development also organized Rams festival in winter to highlight the area’s cultural, social, and economic diversity. The festival is a strategic platform that aims to highlight the UAE’s national identity and strengthen the community bonds while focusing on promoting the local economy and developing. It is also a distinguished step for supporting emerging projects and activating the national economy, thus contributing to achieving sustainable economic development. It is worth noting that Emirate Villages project was launched in 2022, aiming to develop a sustainable development model and create economic and investment opportunities that achieve social stability and decent life. The project of developing Qidfa in Fujairah, in 2023, was the first in Emirate Villages Projects. Such projects are part of Emirates Council for Balanced Development’s strategy and efforts to develop the remote areas using a sustainable development model. The project of developing Masfout in Ajman was launched in June of the same year as a part of the package of initiatives launched by HH Sheikh Theyab in 2024. Also, there are many social initiatives and programs were launched by the Council.