Ras Al Khaimah In January 1820 on the shores of the bustling port of Ras Al Khaimah, Arab tribal chiefs and British naval officers inked a new maritime peace accord to keep goods flowing on the trade routes of the Gulf, ushering a new era of high-seas prosperity in the Middle East.

In August 1851 at England’s Isle of Wight, US racing schooner America beat 14 yachts in the All Nation’s Race to clinch the 100 Guinea Cup – a shining silver mug that would evolve into the world’s oldest international sporting trophy known as the famed America’s Cup.

Proud heritage

Key figures on both occasions could never have imagined that the two unrelated threads of history would some day be tied together as the storied maritime emirate of Ras Al Khaimah prepares to host the 33rd America’s Cup sailing series in February 2010.

A world away from the stodgy yacht clubs of the West – once the exclusive domain of America’s ultra wealthy – the UAE’s newfound fame as the host of the “Auld Mug” signifies a change of the old guard to host world sailing’s most prestigious race.

An emerging Middle East elite, backed by black gold from beneath the desert dunes, believes its proud maritime heritage will provide a fitting backdrop for the global showdown of the world’s wiliest wind warriors.

“Two hundred years ago, we used to have about 20,000 sailors here,” said Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, in an exclusive interview at his residential palace. “They were hard times. Our grandfathers were great men who made a lot out of adversity. They relied on trading as a way of life.”

Maritime roots

Two centuries ago, Shaikh Saud told XPRESS, 2,000 sailing ships routinely dropped anchor at Ras Al Khaimah, a port of call where Arabian privateers, traders, fishermen and pearl divers eked out a meagre living in hard times.
Not far from the Strait of Hormuz and the outlying East-West ocean trade route, the port was firmly entrenched as a marine hub at a time of swashbuckling adventures on Gulf waters.

As Ras Al Khaimah evolved over the years into an industrial centre known more for its ceramics, cement and quarries, its people have never forgotten the waters it once depended upon for almost everything.

“Forging toward the future does not mean forgetting our past,” Shaikh Saud said, noting the emirate is rich in sailing heritage “with really great history”.

It is the first time the America’s Cup – watched by billions of television viewers – will be held in the Middle East and is expected to bring a new tide of prosperity and renew an invincible seafaring pride along the former Trucial Coast.

Hundreds of millions of dirhams are now being invested in the emirate’s Al Hamra lagoon – the venue for the America’s Cup – with the hope and promise of generating a new maritime venue for generations to come.

A giant crane, diggers and an army of dump trucks can be seen daily building the 22-hectare purpose-built island while two giant dredgers nearby plumb the depths of the harbour ringed by 3,500 villa and apartment residences.
The south side of the island has been linked with a newly completed bridge for easy access when the America’s Cup officially sets sail on February 8.

Historic showdown

A three-dimensional rendering of the completed venue shows three large America’s Cup buildings, a giant crane for vessel lift-outs and plenty of green areas for thousands of spectators, journalists and support staff.

It is here where the 189-year-old America’s Cup will be decided in a best-of-three sailing match between two $10-million (Dh36.7 million) multi-hulled racing yachts helmed by bitter rival teams, two-time Swiss defending champion Alinghi and American BMW Oracle Racing.

“We’re developing the lagoon, developing the island and the facilities for these two competing teams,” Shaikh Saud said.

He declined to discuss the cost of building the America’s Cup infrastructure, but there are reports that the bill could be as high as $500 million (Dh1.83 billion).

Shaikh Saud said the activity is a boon for regional businesses as heavy machinery extracts quarried materials from Ras Al Khaimah to build the new Al Hamra Island.

“That’s the good thing about Ras Al Khaimah, we have the building materials. We have the largest quarries in the Middle East,” he said.

“That’s why we can do it so quickly and efficiently. We are a country where we live not a dream but a reality,” he said, noting the UAE is a place of “people of different religions and ethnicity working together”.

The watershed event

The economic impact of Ras Al Khaimah playing host to the America’s Cup may never be fully measured given its sheer global scale, says a UAE economist and academic.

The exposure to billions of global television viewers, internet and print readers will make Ras Al Khaimah a household name, said Dr Cedwyn Fernandes, Professor of Economics and International Business at Middlesex University, Dubai.

“The America’s Cup will give Ras Al Khaimah the international exposure that no advertising spend could buy. The UAE will reap the benefits of being on the tourist map for many years to come,” said Fernandes.

In 2007, the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, drew four billion television viewers and generated an estimated 240 million euros (Dh1.3 billion) in revenues.

“The immediate impact on the GDP will be that which is generated by current expenditures, and the hospitality industry will be the main beneficiary. At the last America’s Cup, 500,000 visitors were said to have visited the venue in Valencia,” Fernandes said.

Pressed for an approximate estimate on the impact of 10,000 visitors, for example, Fernandes said the multiplier effect in the hospitality industry alone would be enormous. And hotels in other emirates such as Dubai and Ajman will also enjoy the economic spin-offs.

“Since the Ras Al Khaimah event is a one-time affair, 10,000 visitors will be a conservative estimate. Assuming an average spend of Dh500 per day for an average stay of seven days, the event will generate Dh35 million,” he said.

Erwin Bamps, Executive Manager of Gulf Craft luxury yacht builders, said the UAE is extremely fortunate to be at the epicentre of the next Cup. “There is no doubt it will influence boating in the UAE.”

The Cup, he said, will give UAE-based companies rare exposure.

“It gives you a bit of the prestige of being seen,” said Bamps. “Being offshore and anchored not only gives them [yacht owners] a front-row seat, they can also show off. It beats coming in your Bentley.”

Michael Loubser, Rear Commodore of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, likened it to landing the hosting rights for the Olympics. “Any country that gets the Olympics benefits for years afterwards,” he said.