STRENGTH THROUGH DIVERSITY
TBY talks to Capt. Cliff Brand, Group General Manager of RAK Ports, on streamlining management, expansion strategies, and thriving during low oil prices.
BIOGRAPHY
After an early career in the British Merchant Navy in which he progressed to Master aboard bulk carriers, AHTS, and other specialist vessels in the offshore oil and gas industry, Cliff Brand joined the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch as an Accident Investigator. In 2004 he took up the post of Maritime Administrator for the Government of Gibraltar, becoming Chief Executive of Gibraltar Port Authority. He was appointed Marine Director for the Ports Development Company in Jeddah Saudi Arabia before taking up his current post as Group General Manager of RAK Ports. Brand is a Fellow of the Nautical Institute, and a Younger Brother of Trinity House.In 2010 all the ports in RAK were brought under the umbrella of the Saqr Port Authority. What was the reasoning behind this?
This was to streamline the management and increase efficiency and profitability. Saqr Port and RAK Maritime City were already profitable but the other ports needed to be improved.
What is the importance of Saqr Port for RAK and the wider region?
The port was constructed in 1975 to serve RAK's quarries. Today, it is the biggest bulk port in the MENA region by far and throughput is about 55 million tons per year. Around 80% of that is composed of aggregate products and the remaining 20% falls into the other products category. These are being exported to various parts of the world, including the Gulf, but mainly to areas with a high level of ongoing infrastructure projects, like Kuwait, Qatar for the World Cup, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and India, amongst others. We also import products, such as coal, to serve the industries here in the northern Emirates, and all the fuel for the northern Emirates' petrol stations. Our business is predominantly the export of commodities derived primarily from the quarries here in RAK.
What regulatory changes should be made to boost RAK's maritime industry?
RAK's maritime industry already has a bright future. I do not see any need to change the regulatory procedures as everything runs smoothly. Saqr Port, RAK Maritime City, and the other ports are operating profitably but we are definitely exploring various diversification options, especially in light of the downturn in oil prices.
Can you outline the Emirate's port facilities and their expansion prospects?
We have five ports. Next door to Saqr Port we have RAK Maritime City, a free zone from which we lease parcels of land to major companies. Then we have Ras Al Khaimah Port as an extension of RAK Maritime City, which is for vessel repairs, warehouse storage, and part of it is a free trade zone. Al Jazeera Port is predominantly for shipyard repair, cargo, and cross quay work. Then we have Al Jeer Port, which is currently dormant, though we expect to open that in the next few months for marine, leisure, and small cargo vessels. With Al Jeer Port, we embarked on an expansion program to develop one or two deepwater berths. The output of the quarries justifies expanding the capacity and catering to much larger ships. We also seek to revitalize the container industry by bringing the import and export of containers back to RAK and hope that will come to fruition in the next 12 months. At RAK Maritime City we have made an agreement with a company to construct a large fertilizer plant. It will import the product, manufacture, and then export. We also explore the possibility of a refinery and a large tank farm with various partners at the moment. RAK Maritime City sits on 6 million sqm of land. 3 million sqm of that land is surrounded by exclusive access to the quayside, which is full, while the other 3 million is earmarked for large projects, tank farms, refineries, fertilizer plants, and a power station.
What are your prospects for the year ahead?
As far as RAK Ports is concerned, it will be another successful year, and we will achieve the targets that we have set for ourselves. We predict growth this year to be 3 or 4% higher than 2015. Over the last 10 years growth at this particular port has more than doubled, but we can only grow within the current constraints. When we complete our new berths and boost capacity, growth will speed up again.
STRENGTH THROUGH DIVERSITY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: India Relations
The Indy 100
Ras Al Khaimah is already home to 6,000 Indian-owned companies operating within the Emirate's free zones. With UAE-India trade exchange looking set to reach USD100 billion in less than five years, more investors will be drawn into the Emirate's stable environment and low operating costs.<br>
read articleForeword
HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Federal Supreme Council and Ruler, Ras Al Khaimah
HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Federal Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, on what makes the Emirate such a great place to visit, do business, and invest.
read articleInterview
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Ras Al Khaimah
TBY talks to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, on the fundamentals behind the Emirate's strong growth and the work that goes into improving the economic outlook for the next generation.
read articleGuest Speaker
Masood Ahmed, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF
TBY talks to Masood Ahmed, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF, on how the UAE is balancing public spending amid low oil prices and reaping the benefits of a diversification drive.
read articleInterview
HH Sheikh Ahmad bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman, RAK Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) & RAKIA
TBY talks to HH Sheikh Ahmad bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the RAK Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) & RAKIA, on the establishment of the free zone, the benefits of operating in the zone, and attracting international clients.
read articleFocus: Free Zones
Strong pillars
If diversification is the mantra, economic stability is the endgame. RAK Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ) embodies that drive, offering bargain prices for companies to set up within its borders. Over the years it has worked hard to attract a melting pot of businesses from a widening pool of investors.
read articleFocus: SME's
The Best Things Come in Small Packages
With loan defaults of up to US1.7 billion in the UAE and skip cases well documented, the challenge for the RAK government is to stimulate appropriate financing for the SME segment, boosting the economy with a flow of capital while making the segment more attractive for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
read articleInterview
Richard Menezes, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Utico
TBY talks to Richard Menezes, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Utico, on what the first private joint venture in the Middle East means for the company and how it is set to transform the landscape for years to come.
read articleFocus: Solar Energy
Using the Bright Light
When it comes to clean energy solutions, Ras Al Khaimah is just as active as its neighboring Emirates. Through investment in research centers and the promotion of private investment opportunities, Ras Al Khaimah's government is focusing its efforts on engaging industry and academia to push solar into a stronger position in the energy economy.
read articleInterview
Dr. Saif M. Al Ghais, Executive Director , Environment Protection & Development Authority (EPDA)
TBY talks to Dr. Saif M. Al Ghais, Executive Director of the Environment Protection & Development Authority (EPDA), on the importance of safeguarding the environment, its biggest achievements, and its efforts to regulate growth in the industrial sector.
read articleFocus: Raw Materials
Rocking All Over The World!
The development of the Gulf would have never been possible without the rocks and cement that came from Ras Al Khaimah. The Emirate's mountains have long provided the necessary materials to support the development all of the GCC's megaprojects and icons such as Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Khalifa.
read articleFocus: Manufacturing
Solid Backbone
Manufacturing accounts for 53% of non-oil trade in Ras Al Khaimah, making it a key driver of the Emirate's economic development. Its diverse pool of manufacturers helps the market maintain its resiliency amidst a landscape of turbulent commodity prices.
read articleInterview
HE Sheikh Eng. Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah (RAKDCA)
TBY talks to HE Sheikh Eng. Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah (RAKDCA) & Chairman of RAK International Airport, on the role of the organization and the development of aviation in RAK.
read articleFocus: Low-cost Carriers
Low-cost Hero
At its 40th year anniversary, RAK Airport has set a clear strategy to become the major hub for low-cost carriers in the Middle East. Having experienced a 36% growth in aircraft movement and a 17% rise in passenger traffic in 2015, the airport is hungry for new deals that could bring further growth in the upcoming years.
read articleFocus: Medical Tourism
The secret recipe
The rapid globalization of tourism and healthcare, the increasing dependence on technology, the unequal access to health resources, and the privatization of healthcare have led to an unprecedented growth in medical tourism. The UAE, unable to compete on price with the leading medical tourism destinations, has capitalized on quality, no queues for treatments, and English-speaking medical staff.
read articleInterview
Dr. S Gurumadhva Rao, Vice Chancellor , RAK Medical & Health Science University (RAKMHSU)
TBY talks to Dr. S Gurumadhva Rao, Vice Chancellor of the RAK Medical & Health Science University (RAKMHSU), on the main achievements of the institution over its first decade and the state of higher education in the Emirate.
read articleInterview
Prof. Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President , American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK)
TBY talks to Prof. Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), on its emphasis on quality education, its expansion plans, and attracting more universities to the Emirate.
read articleFocus: Labor Market
Earning Full Marks
One side effect of Ras Al Khaimah's efforts to further diversify its economy is the growing need for specialized skills and talented individuals. This leaves a huge opportunity for new universities to fill in the market's needs and push existing institutions to develop courses that are closely aligned with the demands of the labor market.
read articleInterview
Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director , Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research
TBY talks to Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, on the foundation's work in social research, applications of its findings, and upcoming projects in the pipeline.
read articleInterview
Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAK TDA)
TBY talks to Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAK TDA), on developing the Emirate's new tourism strategy, attempts to improve air connectivity, and efforts to meet its future targets.
read articleFocus: Eco-tourism
A Distinctive Combination
Ras Al Khaimah is focusing on promoting its natural assets, history, and culture, with a range of activities to showcase its authentic Arabian heritage. Investors looking into eco-tourism will most definitely benefit from the highest mountains in the UAE, expansive beaches, and desert wildlife reserve.
read article
