United Arab Emirates History

Online Resources

 * Arab Culture - TOTA, gives general information about Arab Culture

History
The Islamic age of the United Arab Emirates dates back to the expulsion of the Sasanians and the subsequent Battle of Dibba. The United Arab Emirates long history of trade led to the emergence of Julfar, in the present day emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, as a major regional trading and maritime hub in the area. The maritime dominance of the Persian Gulf by Emirati traders led to conflicts with European powers, including the Portuguese and British.

Following decades of maritime conflict, the coastal emirates became known as the Trucial States with the signing of a Perpetual Treaty of Maritime Peace with the British in 1819 ratified in 1853, and again in 1892, which established the Trucial States as a British Protectorate. This arrangement ended with independence and the establishment of the United Arab Emirates on 2 December 1971, immediately following the British withdrawal from its treaty obligations. Six emirates joined the United Arab Emirates in 1971, the seventh, Ras Al Khaimah, joined the federation on 10 February 1972.

Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates oil reserves are the seventh-largest in the world while its natural gas reserves are the world's seventeenth-largest. Sheikh Zayed, ruler of Abu Dhabi and the first President of the United Arab Emirates, oversaw the development of the Emirates and steered oil revenues into healthcare, education and infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates economy is the most diversified in the Gulf Cooperation Council, while its most populous city of Dubai is an important global city and an international aviation and maritime trade hub. Nevertheless, the country is much less reliant on oil and gas than in previous years and is economically focusing on tourism and business. The United Arab Emirates government does not levy income tax although there is a system of corporate tax in place and value added tax was established in 2018. 

Timeline
1819 - Following decades of maritime conflict, the coastal emirates became known as the Trucial States with the signing of a Perpetual Treaty of Maritime Peace with the British ratified in 1853, and again in 1892, which established the Trucial States as a British Protectorate 1971 - A British Protectorate ended with independence and the establishment of the United Arab Emirates