Al Qasimi Foundation

The Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research was established in 2009 by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, in the UAE. It is a nonprofit think tank focussing on education, community development, health and well being, and arts and culture. The foundation also gives funding to community initiatives and offers grants and scholarships for students and researchers.

Related sustainable development goals

  • Good Health and Well-Being
  • Quality Education
  • Gender Equality
  • Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Reduced Inequalities
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Partnerships for the Goals

Focus areas

Focus sectors

  • Arts
    • Arts exchange
    • Performing arts
    • Humanities
    • Visual arts
    • Arts services
    • Arts education
  • Development
  • Education
    • Adult education
    • Higher education
    • Educational management
    • Graduate and professional
    • Education services
    • Student services
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Philanthropy

Focus populations

  • Academics
    • Researchers
  • Artists and performers
  • Caregivers
  • Government employees
  • Orphans
  • Parents
  • Retired people
  • Self-employed people
  • Students
  • Teachers
  • Unemployed people

Focus geographies

  • Middle East
    • United Arab Emirates

Programmes

  • Arts and culture

    The foundation seeks to cultivate grassroots artistic collaborations and expression in RAK and the UAE. It hosts the annual RAK Fine Arts Festival, the Creative Dialogue series, and provides studio and gallery spaces with funding to support local and emerging talent through an artist-in-residence programme and other grant opportunities.

  • Community engagement

    The Al Qasimi Foundation is committed to meeting the needs of all members of the Ras Al Khaimah community, including marginalised members of the community, such as the prison population and elderly, and seeks to identify new communities in the emirate that could benefit from professional development support.

  • Research
    The foundation focuses on conducting and promoting high-quality research, both in-house and supporting external researchers, that will help inform policymakers in Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and broader Gulf region.
  • Student development

    The student development department works with local Emirati students to help them realise their passions, become more fully engage in school, explore future career pathways through work experiences, and apply to competitive universities in the UAE and abroad.

Financials

Funding model

  • Foundation-administered programme awards
  • Grants to Individuals
  • Grants to organisations

Primary funders

  • Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi

Operations

Key staff

  • Natasha Ridge, executive director

Board members

  • Mohammad Omran Al Shamsi, chair

Contact details

More

Resources

Women leaders: Natasha Ridge is executive director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, tasked with supporting progress in Ras Al Khaimah and the wider UAE. Read more