Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed al-Qasimi, ruler of the Ras al-Khaimah emirate has died at the age of 92.

Sheikh Saqr died in the early hours of the morning on 27 October. Sheikh Saqr was the world’s longest serving ruler after assuming control of the emirate in 1948 after a bloodless coup.

The UAE Presidential Affairs Ministry has issued a statement saying that the Federal Supreme Council has expressed support for Sheikh Saqr’s son and crown prince, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al-Qasmi to succeed his father as ruler, according to reports from Wam, the state-run news agency.

Sheikh Saud replaced his older brother Sheikh Khalid as crown prince in 2003 after Al-Qasimi changed his preference for his successor. The decision caused controversy as Sheikh Khalid subsequently launched a campaign to reinstate himself as heir.

Ras al-Khaimah has invested heavily in its trade zones and ports in recent years to compensate for its lack of oil and gas reserves.

The emirate has one of the largest bulk handling ports in the region with the capacity to handle 50 million tonnes a year, and the Ras al-Khaimah Investment Authority (Rakia) is currently developing two large industrial parks in the emirate to try to attract more investment from local and international firms.

The Al-Hamra Free-Zone and Industrial park covers a total area of 5.8 million square metres, and the development includes free zones and non-free zones. Al-Ghayl industrial park comprises a 3.7 million sq m free-zone and a 17.3 million sq m industrial zone.