UNITED
EMIRATES HISTORY
The UAE
was formed from the group of tribally organized Arabian Peninsula
Sheikhdoms along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the
northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman. This area was converted
to Islam in the 7th century; for centuries it was embroiled in
dynastic disputes. It became known as the Pirate Coast as raiders
based there harassed foreign shipping, although both European
and Arab navies patrolled the area from the 17th century into
the 19th century. Early British expeditions to protect the India
trade from raiders at Ras al-Khaimah led to campaigns against
that headquarters and other harbors along the coast in 1819. The
next year, a general peace treaty was signed to which all the
principal sheikhs of the coast adhered. Raids continued intermittently
until 1835, when the sheikhs agreed not to engage in hostilities
at sea. In 1853, they signed a treaty with the United Kingdom,
under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms") agreed
to a "perpetual maritime truce." It was enforced by
the United Kingdom, and disputes among sheikhs were referred to
the British for settlement.
Primarily
in reaction to the ambitions of other European countries, the
United Kingdom and the Trucial Sheikhdoms established closer bonds
in an 1892 treaty, similar to treaties entered into by the U.K.
with other Gulf principalities. The sheikhs agreed not to dispose
of any territory except to the United Kingdom and not to enter
into relationships with any foreign government other than the
United Kingdom without its consent. In return, the British promised
to protect the Trucial Coast from all aggression by sea and to
help out in case of land attack.
In 1955,
the United Kingdom sided with Abu Dhabi in the latter's dispute
with Saudi Arabia over the Buraimi Oasis and other territory to
the south. A 1974 agreement between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia
would have settled the Abu Dhabi-Saudi border dispute; however,
the agreement has yet to be ratified by the UAE Government and
is not recognized by the Saudi Government. The border with Oman
also remains officially unsettled, but the two governments agreed
to delineate the border in May 1999.
In 1968,
the U.K. announced its decision, reaffirmed in March 1971, to
end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Sheikhsdoms
which had been, together with Bahrain and Qatar, under British
protection. The nine attempted to form a union of Arab emirates,
but by mid-1971 they were unable to agree on terms of union, even
though the termination date of the British treaty relationship
was the end of 1971. Bahrain became independent in August and
Qatar in September 1971. When the British-Trucial Sheikhdoms treaty
expired on December 1, 1971, they became fully independent. On
December 2, 1971, six of them entered into a union called the
United Arab Emirates. The seventh, Ras al-Khaimah, joined in early
1972.
The U.A.E. sent forces to help liberate Kuwait during the 1990-91 Gulf War. U.A.E. troops have also participated in peacekeeping missions to Somalia, Lebanon, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, and Kuwait.
In 2004, the U.A.E.'s first and only president until that time, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, died. His eldest son Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan succeeded him as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. In accordance with the Constitution, the U.A.E.'s Supreme Council of Rulers elected Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as U.A.E. Federal President. Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan succeeded Khalifa as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. In January 2006, Sheikh Makotum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, U.A.E. Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, passed away and was replaced by his brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MbR), Ruler of Dubai and U.A.E. Minister of Defense. On February 9, 2006, the U.A.E. announced a cabinet reshuffle. Several ministries were eliminated or renamed, while others were created.
