His Highness Sheikh Saud has a steadfast belief in the power of governments to create the environment for people and businesses to thrive; he sees government as an enabler to unlock potential. His philosophy, embedded with the values of integrity, dedication, empathy and vision, is that strong governance and a strong economy pave the road that the people must drive to achieve both individual and collective success. His Highness’s vision is being built upon four pillars: empowered citizens who are shaping their own future; a natural environment that safeguards Ras Al Khaimah’s historical and cultural identity; an engaged government that builds bridges for prosperity and progress; and a vibrant, sustainable economy that can serve as a key to a better tomorrow. His principles of governance have been the catalyst for building responsible and innovative institutions that keep up-to-speed with the pace of a fast-changing world.

A commitment to creating mechanisms to coordinate the work of government institutions, enhancing public policymaking and ensuring the implementation of laws and government policies, led His Highness Sheikh Saud to establish, in 2012, Ras Al Khaimah’s Executive Council, which is chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah. The council is the body that oversees the executive branch of government, responsible for providing government services and organizing public life, aligning with the best international practices. In addition, His Highness has overseen the restructuring of areas of the government sector, leading to the formation of numerous public authorities and institutions, the modernization of government systems and the adoption of the best organizational structures, in line with the Emirate’s strategic development objectives.

Under His Highness Sheikh Saud’s direction, Ras Al Khaimah Government has been undergoing a digitalization process to reduce bureaucracy for service users and to enhance people’s happiness. To date, about 700 e-services from 12 government departments are now available online via RAK Digital, with over 170 services available on the mRAK app.

At the heart of His Highness Sheikh Saud’s vision for government modernization lies an understanding that achieving excellence is a constant pursuit, requiring individuals and departments to continually seek improvement to ensure that public services deliver the best results. As an incentive to keep driving positive change, His Highness established the annual Government Excellence Awards, honoring entities and individuals that excel in their fields of work.