HISTORY OF UAE

 

The sheikhdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates, as they are known as today, became Islamic in the 7^th century, and were known for being the home of many friends of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. 

 

The region’s most documented history is based from the time of the rule and influence of the Ottoman Empire during the 16^th century, when the region became known as the Pirate Coast, due to the increasing number of raiders basing themselves along the coastline causing great disruption to the shipping industry of the time. Despite European and Arab navies patrolling this area, piracy was rife in the region throughout the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries. 

 

Eventually in 1820 a peace treaty was signed between the British Government and the sheikhs of the 7 emirates, and the area became known as the Trucial States or Trucial Coast. The treaty’s sole aim was to suppress piracy along the Gulf Coast. This was successful and the region only experienced intermittent raids until 1835. 

 

In 1853 the Trucial States and the United Kingdom agreed to a “perpetual maritime truce” which was enforced by the UK, and any disputes among the separate states were referred to the British Government for settlement. Then in 1892 closer ties were established between Britain and the Trucial States when another exclusive agreement was reached. Each state agreed not to enter into any relationship with any other foreign government without prior consent from the United Kingdom, and not to dispose of any land except to the United Kingdom.  The British Government in return promised protection to the states along the coast by any outside aggression either via land or sea. The agreement also gave Britain control over their foreign affairs and each separate state had control over its internal affairs. This agreement was tested in 1955 when the United Kingdom sided with Abu Dhabi in their land dispute with nearby Oman.

 

A Trucial Council was formed in 1952 between the 7 states which aimed at promoting increased cooperation among each of them. This council was successful in coordinating matters with regard to a development office which was originally set up by the British.

 

It was in 1968 when the UK announced its decision to end the treaty relationships with the Trucial States and remove the British forces from the region by 1971. In this year a treaty of friendship between the 7 states and Britain was signed and the United Arab Emirates was formed. When the earlier treaty expired on 1^st December 1971 the Trucial states became independent. It was under leadership of the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai that the UAE as it is known today was created. On 2^nd December 1971 the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm al-Qaiwain entered into a union, later joined by Ras al-Khaimah in February 1972.  Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, was named President of the UAE Federation, with Sheikh Rashid
Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, ruler of the emirate of Dubai, as Vice-President.

 

Throughout the next decade a number of governmental councils were established to further aid development and growth of the UAE, including the joining of the Arab League. In Abu Dhabi, the headquarters for the government of the UAE, also established the Abu Dhabi National Consultative Council and the Cabinet. The Executive Council was then established in 1973 to replace the Abu Dhabi Cabinet. And in 1981 the Gulf Cooperation Council was formed with surrounding Arab countries, with the aim of promoting and developing a variety of joint projects throughout the regions.

 

The emirates recent history includes repair of relations with the Soviet Union in 1989, support shown for Kuwait in the condemnation of Iraq’s invasion of the country in 1990, 1991 saw Sheikh Zayed, ruler of the UAE, rejecting any foreign bases being set up within any of the 7 emirates, then 1998 saw the restoration of diplomatic relations with Iraq. In 2004 a Cabinet reshuffle led to the first woman minister being appointed.