RAK develops structure plan for Southern area development

H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, today reviewed the final draft of the structure plan at a meeting attended by experts from the AUS and top officials of various RAK Government departments at the Al Dhait Palace.

During the meeting, Sheikh Saud said that the initiative was part of the overall strategy for the development of the Emirate with the view to create economic development opportunities across all its regions.

The structure plan addresses a whole set of issues like land use, development planning, efforts for stimulating economic growth, housing, transportation and tourism development for the southern areas of the emirate which covers an area of around 1300 square kilometers.

Varkki Pallathucheril, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Graduate Progamme in Urban Planning at AUS, said,

"The southern areas of Ras Al Khaimah have enormous potential for development due to its strategic location with connections from Dubai and Sharjah and to the East Coast. The structure plan intends to present a planned development programme to take full advantage of the opportunities existing in the region".

He added that the final plan document of the structure plan would be submitted to the RAK Municipality after incorporating the suggestions and recommendations made by H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

Amer Moustafa, Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Design, AUS said that the structure plan has identified development opportunities for industries, residential, tourism and mountain developments and natural preserves to be developed in the southern areas.

Dr. Mohammed R Bualhamam, Deputy General Manager of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and GIS Professor at UAE University, said that the structure plan, together with the general plan already developed for the northern region of the emirate, presents a complete outline for the future development of the emirate.

Dr. Erik Ferguson, Assistant Professor of the Urban Planning Graduate Programme, AUS, Dr. Saif Al Ghais, Executive Director of the RAK Environmental Protection and Development Authority and top officials from RAK Municipality were present at the meeting.