Ras Al Khaimah Ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi honoured 12 students from Guangzhou schools during a visit to Guangdong Province in China on October 23, 2026, recognising their success in the “My Ras Al Khaimah – Where Mountains Meet the Sea” art competition, according to the Emirates News Agency. The students created artworks that drew on what they had read and imagined about the emirate, incorporating elements such as mountains, the sea, forts, traditional sailing boats, pearls, falcons, gazelles, deserts, mangroves and hot air balloons. Their pieces also featured scenes of local life, heritage and culture, offering a distinctive perspective that captured the spirit of Ras Al Khaimah.
The competition winners received their awards at an event that underscored the power of art to foster connections, the Emirates News Agency reported. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi stated, “The artwork allowed me to see Ras Al Khaimah through the eyes of a new generation of our friends in China. Art is a language that connects us before we even meet, and what these young artists have created marks the beginning of a friendship that starts with children and grows with them.” The recognition emphasised how cultural initiatives can strengthen relations between the UAE and China as well as between Ras Al Khaimah and Guangdong Province.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi’s visit to Guangzhou coincided with the inauguration of Ras Al Khaimah’s first business consultancy in China, multiple reports including one distributed via Business Wire indicated. Nearly 200 students aged 11 to 15 from Guangzhou participated in the related Ras Al Khaimah 2027 Calendar Sketches Competition, which invited depictions inspired by the emirate’s natural landscapes, mountains, beaches, heritage, culture and traditions. The 12 winning entries will appear in the official Ras Al Khaimah calendar for 2027.
The art competition formed part of a wider cultural exchange programme designed to build lasting connections among younger generations, the Emirates News Agency stated. Organisers from the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Culture and Information collaborated on the initiative with partners in China. Such programmes align with ongoing efforts to promote people-to-people ties alongside economic cooperation.
During the same trip, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi met Wang Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee, according to coverage of the visit. The discussions focused on expanding collaboration across sectors of mutual interest between Ras Al Khaimah and the province. The consultancy opening and associated events, including the student competition, served as platforms to advance these partnerships.
Ras Al Khaimah has pursued various cultural outreach activities in recent years to enhance its international profile, with similar student-focused art programmes contributing to tourism and heritage promotion, figures from emirate authorities show. The Guangzhou event built on established UAE-China relations that encompass trade, investment and cultural domains. Winning students’ works are expected to feature prominently in future Ras Al Khaimah promotional materials.