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Analysis

Ready to roll: Connecting the emirates by rail is set to provide a raft of benefits
OBG
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Existing links such as the Emirates Road carriageway and Ras Al Khaimah’s five seaports may very well be joined by another attractive mode of transportation in the near future: a railroad network. The project is called Etihad Rail (etihad means “unity’’ in Arabic), and it aims to connect all of the UAE’s seven emirates by train, as well as eventually link to a wider GCC network. It will be…

Analysis

Building blocks: Many key industries are pursuing downstream efforts
OBG
plus

Although Ras Al Khaimah’s economy is increasingly diversified, its roots lie in extracting natural resources for use as construction materials. This remains a core strength of the emirate’s economy and an important driver of future growth, as RAK’s producers will continue to quarry and export products like aggregate, cement and ceramic tiles. However, attention is turning to the development of…

Analysis

Looking for alternatives: Exploring sustainable ways of diversifying the energy mix
OBG
plus

With strong industrial growth and demand for electricity on the rise, Ras Al Khaimah’s energy needs are expanding at such a rate that it requires the exploration of a number of alternatives to ensure production continues apace. Though the emirate has access to electricity and petrol at lower-than-market prices thanks to supply from its fellow emirate, Abu Dhabi, developing domestic production is…

Analysis

Taking to the skies: Measures are being taken to improve airport efficiency and support the growth of tourism
OBG
plus

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport stands out as a crucial piece of infrastructure given the emirate’s focus on boosting tourism’s contribution to the economy. Tourism currently accounts for about 2% of GDP, according to the RAK Tourism Development Authority, and RAK’s officials believe they can increase that proportion to 9% within four to six years. While RAK has the fortune of being less…

Analysis

Filling in the gaps: Reforms are being made to improve teacher training and boost results
OBG
plus

Following a significant push to increase the number of schools and education options available, Ras Al Khaimah is now embarking on a series of reforms to improve the quality of education. Most schools and universities identify English, basic maths and communications as weaknesses in the student population, and see these as barriers to their employment after college. According to some reports, only…

Analysis

Powering on: Initiatives to increase electricity generation capacity are under way
OBG
plus

As the largest supplier of electricity in Ras Al Khaimah, the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA), works to meet increasing electricity demand across the UAE, authorities in RAK are developing plans of their own to meet growing local demand. Abu Dhabi provides power and water to residential customers throughout the country, but it does not, nor does the FEWA, typically provide services to…

Analysis

Securing the future: Ensuring a steady supply of water is a regional priority
OBG
plus

Water security is an economic, social and political priority for the Middle East. Soaring demand and limited natural reserves have pushed the region toward severe water scarcity. The GCC countries are particularly vulnerable; indeed, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are ranked as the most water-stressed countries in the world, and yet they are facing soaring demand from their water-intensive…

Analysis

Future innovation: Creating a centre for research and high-tech production
OBG
plus

In 2013 Ras Al Khaimah finds itself at a crossroads similar to many other manufacturing-based economies: taking stock of initial successes and contemplating how to add more complex products to the mix. Manufacturing accounts for more than a quarter of RAK’s GDP, and while there is no desire to shift away from the activity, government authorities remain confident that the emirate’s essential foreign-investment…

Analysis

Set in stone: Regional leaders in building materials plan to expand
OBG
plus

Early investments that leveraged Ras Al Khaimah’s natural resources have attracted a number of private and public operators to the building materials industry. Indeed, the emirate is home to a number of global and regional players in the cement and ceramics segments. RAK has vast limestone deposits in the Hajar Mountains, the site of the largest quarry in the Middle East. These resources have provided…

Analysis

Right from the start: Expanded services are aimed at improving preventive care and increasing access
OBG
plus

The health care sector in Ras Al Khaimah is going through rapid changes as the government invests in infrastructure to support expansion. A growing population has led to soaring demand for new facilities and services. At the same time, rapid economic growth combined with longer life expectancy and a change in lifestyles has shifted the burden of disease, leading to a greater need for targeted strategies…