Page 347 - UAE Truncal States_Neat

Chapter Eight

aid began with single donations channelled through the Political
Agency in Dubai, the Agent supervising the execution of such
projects. Gradually the Trucial States Council which was set up
under the chairmanship of the Political Agent in 1952 earmarked
development projects and suggested priorities. Some of the British
political officers serving on the Trucial coast were eager to encourage
the Rulers and the people in positions of responsibility to become
more involved themselves in planning a long-term development
strategy. To this end a committee of local delegates was formed in
1964. Its task was to formulate in detail suggestions for the most
urgent projects and advise the members of the Trucial States Council
in this respect.117
During 1965 several steps were taken to separate planning and
execution of development from the Agency in Dubai. On 1 March the
21sl meeting of the Trucial Slates Council was held and the Rulers
approved the following resolution: “The Council welcomes un­
conditional aid from any source for the development of the Trucial
States and is grateful for the interest shown by the Arab League and
others in contributing to this development. In order to avoid
duplication of effort and in order that the Governments of the Trucial
States may jointly plan the development of the area for the common
good, the Council resolves:
(a) to open an account in the name of the Trucial States Develop­
ment Fund to which all sums contributed, whether from outside
or inside the area, in addition to those already received, should
be credited;
(b) to appoint additional staff as required to its central Development
Office, so that the Office, under the Council’s control, may be
capable of handling the Fund and carrying out development
programmes approved.’’118
This meant that not only was future development to be co-ordinated
by an administrative body set up for this purpose and to be super­
vised by a number of specialists hired specifically for this work, but it
also meant that all prospective donors including the British Govern­
ment could turn to a single organisation through which to channel
their assistance to these relatively poor and backward States. As
expected, aid from the richer neighbouring countries flowed in more
readily when the Development Office was established. Abu Dhabi,
the only member to be exporting oil, contributed £100,000; Qatar and
Bahrain gave £250,000 and £40,000 respectively to help set up the

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