Ras Al Khaimah's Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler His Highness Sheikh Khalid Announces U.S. Friendship Tour

LOS ANGELES (Map) - LOS ANGELES, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, The Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost Emirate of the United Arab Emirates, today launched a friendship tour through the United States where he will be meeting with key government officials, business leaders and dignitaries while participating in important political forums.

"I am very excited to be back in the United States, particularly during this important time in the country's history, to spend some time with key leaders from the government, business and philanthropy sectors," said H.H. Sheikh Khalid. "I just recently announced A Pledge For Progress, a comprehensive vision for the people of Ras Al Khaimah, and I intend to use this trip to explore ways I can work with leaders in the United States to support the 'Pledge for Progress', including fighting for Ras Al Khaimah's economic independence."

His Highness Sheikh Khalid's trip will take him from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. While in Los Angeles Sheikh Khalid will attend the Los Angeles Business Council's Annual Sustainability Summit, and RAND Corporation's prestigious "Politics Aside" Conference, meet with a number of energy and development companies and tour the Getty Center and J. Paul Getty Museum.

Earlier this month, H.H. Sheikh Khalid launched his website and announced A Pledge For Progress, a comprehensive vision for the people of Ras Al Khaimah. The launch of the website and release of A Pledge For Progress came on the heels of H.H. Sheikh Khalid's publication of an Open Letter To The American People following Barack Obama's election as the 44th President of the United States.

"I am anxious to work with the United States and the incoming Administration to help create economic opportunities for the people of Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. During my meetings I intend to inform business leaders and decision-makers of the need to create a model of renewable energy use in the Gulf Region, protect our respective natural resources and expand educational opportunities for our children," concluded H.H. Sheikh Khalid.

Background on Sheikh Khalid

His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi is the eldest son of His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), the northernmost Emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), since 1948. His Highness Sheikh Khalid was named Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah in 1958, continuing until June 2003.

During much of that period, His Highness Sheikh Khalid oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Ras Al Khaimah Government and served as principal contact with all foreign governments, including the United States. He served as Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah, the Ras Al Khaimah National Oil Company, RAK Gas Commission and RAK Cement Company.

His Highness also led high-level diplomatic missions to the United States during Nixon, Reagan and Clinton Administrations. In 1999, he was received by President Clinton in the White House.

In 2004, His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi re-affirmed by legally recognized written decree that His Highness Sheikh Khalid is the true Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

In his capacity as Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Khalid has aggressively promoted economic development that benefits all of the people of both RAK and the United Arab Emirates, including the expansion of both the International Airport and Saqr Port, the promotion of environmental, energy and agricultural initiatives, cement manufacturing and investment in healthcare.

His Highness has been called a reformer for his efforts to promote changes that would lead to greater popular participation in society in both the Emirates and the region as a whole. As the Arabic news network Al Jazeera noted, the "[r]eform minded Sheikh Khalid had asked for democratic changes in his Emirate and the country as a whole which have later been fully accepted and integrated policies of the Federal Government of the United Arab Emirates."

His Highness Sheikh Khalid has also called for a clean, sustainable and independent energy future for RAK and for increased educational opportunities, including a rapid expansion of international and cross-cultural student exchanges.

On Sovereignty and security matters, His Highness is a strong supporter of the efforts of the United Arab Emirates and of the need for Ras Al Khaimah to work within the framework of the Federal Government.

In this context, His Highness has long stood against Iran's occupation of Greater and Lesser Tonb Islands and Abu Musa and strongly supports the United Arab Emirates efforts to bring the matter before the International Court of Justice and the United Nations. These islands are of particularly strategic value because of their location at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, the only sea passage to the open ocean for most of the Arabian Gulf states, and through which more than 20 percent of the world's oil supply travels every year.

In early November of 2008, His Highness announced A Pledge For Progress that calls for (1) Building an economy to serve the people and not just the powerful; (2) Pursuing energy independence; (3) Preserving our sovereignty; (4) Increasing educational opportunities for the next generation; (5) Promoting the rule of law, including respect for intellectual property and (6) Encouraging greater popular participation in government.

Born on 8th October 1943, His Highness Sheikh Khalid undertook his elementary schooling in RAK, his secondary education in Cairo and his higher education at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

In 1967, Sheikh Khalid was awarded a grant by the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowships program for emerging world leaders and selected to participate in an intensive, year-long study program in the United States. That unique experience deepened his understanding and respect for American political and educational systems and broadened his international and cross-cultural perspectives.