A Short History of the UAE

The UAE is a confederation of seven independently ruled Emirates established in 1971. Before becoming independent, these Emirates were tribally organized sheikhdoms which ruled by the authority of the main power in the region, Britain. These sheikhdoms became known as the Trucial States for the numerous treaties the prominent families signed in the 19^th century with the British, handing over control of defense and foreign affairs for the region to the foreign power. The British had an interest in controlling the Arabian, or Trucial Coast in the late 18^th and early 19^th century to protect their trading interests in nearby India.

In the late 1960’s Britain decided to sever its treaties with the sheikhdoms, Bahrain, and Qatar. In 1971 these nine attempted to form a union of Arab emirates, but were unable to agree on suitable terms. As a result, Bahrain and Qatar announced their independence and the six remaining sheikhdoms formed the United Arab Emirates in 1972 (Ras al-Khaimah, originally part of Sharjah, joined as the seventh a year later).

The UAE is organized on the state, or Emirate level, with each ruling family maintaining control over the internal affairs of their Emirate. The power at the federal level is weak, but works to serve the interests of collective security, economic prosperity, and in the case of foreign affairs, political negotiation on behalf of the combined Emirates. The federal government has a Supreme Council of Rulers, made up of the seven individual rulers of the Emirates. The President and Vice President (often also the Prime Minister) are elected by this council every five years in accordance with the constitution, however in practice the Presidency always goes to the Al-Nahyan family of the capital, Abu Dhabi, and the Vice Presidency to the Al-Maktum ruler of Dubai. This derives from the fact that most of the oil, and therefore the wealth and economic resources of the state are found in the Emirates of those two rulers. Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan is the current President, and only the second in the history of the confederation.

The UAE is a member of the GCC, or Gulf Cooperation Council, formed in 1981 as a reaction to the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war which threatened regional security. The council seeks to enhance cooperation in the areas of security and trade, and includes five neighboring Gulf states; Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The Presidency rotates yearly between the members.

The seven Emirates and their ruling families include: Abu Dhabi (Al-Nahyan), Dubai (Al-Maktum), Sharjah (Al-Qasimi), Ajmann (Al-Nuaimi), Ras al-Khaimah (Al-Qasismi, different branch), Fujairah (Al-Mualla), Umm al-Qaiwain (Al-Sharqi).

Interesting facts:
*Oil was first discovered in 1958 in Abu Dhabi.
*The UAE’s exact boarders are unknown to everyone except the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is therefore unclear where the boarders between the two countries, as well as the boarder between Oman and the UAE lie.
*According to the CIA’s figures, only 19% of the population are native Emiraties. This has several repercussions for issues including democracy, human rights, and stability (foreign born workers easily outnumber the native Muslim Arabs).
*Every year the country hosts two European Tour events (golf), and the richest horse race in the world, the Dubai World Cup.
*Al Fujayrah, and Umm al Qaywayn are relatively small, poor, and dependent on their wealthier neighbors for development grants.