Page 4 - Sept Oct Issue
P. 4
Elite Investigative Journal
Overview of the United Arab Emirates, pg 4-10
©2014-2015 Press Enter Resolve, LLC
Overview of the
United Arab Emirates
By David J Stone
Photo Courtesy of travelwithchris.co.uk
By the early twentieth century, a leading source of was composed of present-day Bahrain, Qatar, UAE
economic activity was the pearl trade. However, World and Oman. Following a period of Arab nationalism
War I, the Great Depression, and the Japanese invention and anti-British activity beginning in the 1940s
of the cultured pearl resulted in a signiicant weakening and 1950s, the British eventually relinquished
of the pearling industry. The heavy taxation on pearls administration of the region in 1971.
imported from the Gulf following World War II by
India caused its irreversible decline. As a result, some On December 2, 1971, the UAE was created by
turned to ishing. But, with little education and no roads uniting seven of the Trucial States under a uniied
or hospitals, the future looked bleak. By the 1930s, Constitution: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman,
the irst oil company entered the region and began Umm al Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah.
conducting surveys around Abu Dhabi. In 1962, Abu Abu Dhabi is the largest of the former territories and
Dhabi exported its irst cargo of crude oil that would is the federal capital. Dubai is second largest of the
play an essential role in the UAE’s development. emirates and is the main port, commercial center, and
airport hub. The ive other emirates are smaller areas
Since the 1820s, the English had maintained a presence that realize political and economic beneits through
in this region. In 1853, Britain intervened in the area alliances with the larger neighbors, Abu Dhabi and
due to pirate threats and made a permanent truce to Dubai. All seven states are ruled by Sunnis.
provide protection and oversight of the foreign policy.
It was explicitly understood that Britain would not The UAE is considered by some to be an autocracy,
colonize the area. This agreement was made with which is a form of government in which one person
a group known as the Trucial States, which were a possesses unlimited power. There has been even less
collection of sheikdoms in the Persian Gulf. The Trucial political reform in this country than in other Gulf
States, also referred to as the Trucial Colony, States, even Saudi Arabia.
4
Overview of the United Arab Emirates, pg 4-10
©2014-2015 Press Enter Resolve, LLC
Overview of the
United Arab Emirates
By David J Stone
Photo Courtesy of travelwithchris.co.uk
By the early twentieth century, a leading source of was composed of present-day Bahrain, Qatar, UAE
economic activity was the pearl trade. However, World and Oman. Following a period of Arab nationalism
War I, the Great Depression, and the Japanese invention and anti-British activity beginning in the 1940s
of the cultured pearl resulted in a signiicant weakening and 1950s, the British eventually relinquished
of the pearling industry. The heavy taxation on pearls administration of the region in 1971.
imported from the Gulf following World War II by
India caused its irreversible decline. As a result, some On December 2, 1971, the UAE was created by
turned to ishing. But, with little education and no roads uniting seven of the Trucial States under a uniied
or hospitals, the future looked bleak. By the 1930s, Constitution: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman,
the irst oil company entered the region and began Umm al Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah.
conducting surveys around Abu Dhabi. In 1962, Abu Abu Dhabi is the largest of the former territories and
Dhabi exported its irst cargo of crude oil that would is the federal capital. Dubai is second largest of the
play an essential role in the UAE’s development. emirates and is the main port, commercial center, and
airport hub. The ive other emirates are smaller areas
Since the 1820s, the English had maintained a presence that realize political and economic beneits through
in this region. In 1853, Britain intervened in the area alliances with the larger neighbors, Abu Dhabi and
due to pirate threats and made a permanent truce to Dubai. All seven states are ruled by Sunnis.
provide protection and oversight of the foreign policy.
It was explicitly understood that Britain would not The UAE is considered by some to be an autocracy,
colonize the area. This agreement was made with which is a form of government in which one person
a group known as the Trucial States, which were a possesses unlimited power. There has been even less
collection of sheikdoms in the Persian Gulf. The Trucial political reform in this country than in other Gulf
States, also referred to as the Trucial Colony, States, even Saudi Arabia.
4
