Journey of the Union: Students revel in delights of RAK

From big business in the form of RAK Ceramics and the pharmaceutical giant Julphar, to the deserted pearling town of Jazirat Al Hamra, 28 young Emiratis continued their tour of the country with a mix of culture, progress and history, Thaer Zriqat reports.

Journey of the Union student Moza Adel Al Oud is dwarfed by the facilities at RAK Ceramics on her 10-day trip round the country. Reem Mohammed / The National

RAS AL KHAIMAH // The Journey of the Union students began the eighth day of their road trip by visiting Shurooq, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority.

Marwan Al Sirkal, the head of Shurooq, welcomed the students and briefed them about the history of the authority, which helped to transform the face of Sharjah into a more modern emirate.

He spoke about the hardships the authority faced when it started. He also told the students how they had made the biggest human flag representing the UAE’s colours.

The pupils left Sharjah and headed to Ras Al Khaimah where they were taken to RAK Ceramics, the world’s largest ceramics manufacturer, where they were greeted by Abhishek Tiwari, the product marketing manager.

During their visit they were taken on a tour of the showroom. Mr Tiwari told them that RAK Ceramics was the largest exporter in the Mena region and had worked on major projects in many of the UAE’s most famous landmarks including the Burj Khalifa, Ferrari World and Dubai International Airport.

The next step was taking the students to the MC9 factory where they were shown how tiles are made.

“This is the first time I have ever seen this place from inside,” said Hameed Mohammed Al Shamsi, 16.

“Although I am from RAK I was amazed by the huge size of the place, with more than 22 square kilometres with over 8,000 employees buzzing around.”

Naser Abdulrahman, 15, from Dubai, said: “This is the first time that I am inside a factory, I never thought machines like this existed.”

The students next moved on to Julphar pharmaceuticals, where young girls dressed in the colours of the UAE flag met them and performed traditional dances.

Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi, chairman of Julphar group, was also among the welcoming committee.

“This is a great initiative that boosts the spirit of unity and patriotism,” said Sheikh Faisal of the students’ journey.

A video presentation of Julphar’s accomplishments was shown to the students and they also got to see how the company prepares and packages its medicines. A lunch was thrown for the students and their accompanying guests at the canteen of the factory.

For Ruaa Al Sahehhi, 16, from RAK, a tour of the Julphar plant was a particular source of pride.

“They told us that they make more than 800 kinds of medications in the factory, which is amazing,” she said.

Saif Humaid Al Qayidi, 16, from Sharjah, said that he enjoyed his day’s experience. “I can’t describe my joy and pride at everything I saw until now, and my happiness of the achievements that many of our local companies and entities have done in so little time.”

Ruaa Alshehhi 16, from RAK, said he was very proud of his hometown. “I never knew that my emirate had such big companies. I’m so proud to be from RAK and the UAE.”

The students will visit Umm Al Quwain on Friday.