The
United Arab Emirates (UAE), transliteration: Dawlat
al-Imarat al-‘Arabiyah al-Muttais a federation
of seven states situated in the southeast of the
Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian
Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. The seven
states, termed emirates, are Abu Dhabi, Ajman,
Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm
al-Quwain.
The UAE, rich in oil and natural gas, has become
highly prosperous after gaining foreign direct
investment funding in the 1970s. The country has
a relatively high Human Development Index for
the Asian continent, ranking 31st globally, and
had a GDP purchasing power parity of $200.5 billion
in 2009 according to the IMF.
Before 1971, the UAE were known as the Trucial
States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a nineteenth-century
truce between Britain and several Arab Sheikhs.
The name Pirate Coast was also used in reference
to the area's emirates in the 18th to early 20th
century.
History
of the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates was originally formed
from tribally-organized Arabian Peninsula sheikhdoms
along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and
the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman. It
had been part of Oman and was then called Oman's
Gulf. The UAE was established in 1971 when the
emirates bonded together and became one united
country. It has since evolved into a modern, high-income
nation.
Portuguese
Portuguese expansion into the Indian Ocean in
the early sixteenth century following Vasco da
Gama's route of exploration saw them battle the
Ottomans up the coast of the Persian Gulf. The
Portuguese controlled the area for 150 years in
which they conquered the inhabitants of the Arabian
peninsula. It is noteworthy to mention that Vasco
da Gama was helped by Ibn Majid, an Arab from
Julphar (now known as Ras Al Khaimah, one of the
UAE emirates), to find the route of spices.
See also: Economic history of Portugal#15th century
and History of Oman
British and Ottomans
Then, portions of the nation came under the direct
influence of the Ottoman Empire during the 16th
century. Thereafter the region was known to the
British as the "Pirate Coast", as raiders
based there harassed the shipping industry despite
both European and Arab navies patrolling the area
from the 17th century into the 19th century. British
expeditions to protect the Indian trade from raiders
at Ras al-Khaimah led to campaigns against that
headquarters and other harbours along the coast
in 1819. The next year, a peace treaty was signed
to which all the 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. (Credit:
Wikipedia).
