ʃˈeɪk sˈækɚɹ ɪnˈɪʃəli dɪdnˌɑːt səpˈoːɹt ɹˈɑːz ˈæl kˈɑːɪməz ɐksˈɛʃən tə ðə jˌuːˌeɪˈiː wɛn ɪt wʌz fˈɔːɹmd ˌɔn tˈuː dᵻsˈɛmbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn, dˈuː tʊ ɐ dɪspjˈuːt wɪð ɪɹˈæn ˌoʊvɚ pˈɜːʒən ɡˈʌlf ˈaɪləndz ðæt hæd pɹˈaɪɚ tə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ dˌɑːmᵻnˈeɪʃən ʌvðə ɹˈiːdʒən bˌɪn ɐdmˈɪnɪstɚd baɪ ðə ɹˈuːlɚz ʌv ɹˈɑːz ˈæl kˈɑːɪmə ænd ʃˈɑːɹdʒə.
Sheikh Saqr initially did not support Ras Al Khaimah's accession to the UAE when it was formed on 2 December 1971, due to a dispute with Iran over Persian Gulf islands that had prior to British domination of the region been administered by the Rulers of Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.