Ras al-Khaimah mines a variety of seams

Ras al-Khaimah, the mountainous northern outpost of the United Arab Emirates, never had much oil, rather like Dubai, its more famous neighbour. But rather than basing its economy on trade, it chose to look underground for mineral wealth and to adopt an industrial strategy.

That has led to a large ceramics factory – RAK Ceramics – cement factories and quarrying in the Hajar mountains becoming the chosen vehicles for developing the emirate.

RAK Minerals & Mines Investments, a joint venture between RAK Ceramics and Trimex, an Indian minerals group, has taken that strategy international. The partners are investing in and developing raw materials for the industries that underpin the emirate’s fortunes.