Independence United Arab Emirates

historic photo depicting first hoisting of united arab emirates flag rulers of emirates @ union house, dubai on 2nd of december 1971.



zayed bin sultan al nahyan first president of united arab emirates , recognized father of nation.

by 1966, had become clear british government no longer afford administer , protect united arab emirates. british mps debated preparedness of royal navy defend sheikhdoms. secretary of state defence denis healey reported british armed forces overstretched , in respects dangerously under-equipped defend sheikhdoms. on 24 january 1968, british prime minister harold wilson announced government s decision, reaffirmed in march 1971 prime minister edward heath end treaty relationships 7 trucial sheikhdoms, had been, bahrain , qatar, under british protection. days after announcement, ruler of abu dhabi, sheikh zayed bin sultan al nahyan, fearing vulnerability, tried persuade british honour protection treaties offering pay full costs of keeping british armed forces in emirates. british labour government rejected offer. after labour mp goronwy roberts informed sheikh zayed of news of british withdrawal, 9 persian gulf sheikhdoms attempted form union of arab emirates, mid-1971 still unable agree on terms of union though british treaty relationship expire in december of year.

fears of vulnerability realized day before independence. iranian destroyer group broke formation exercise in lower gulf, sailing tunb islands. islands taken force, civilians , arab defenders alike allowed flee. british warship stood idle during course of invasion. destroyer group approached island abu musa well. there, sheikh khalid bin mohammed al qasimi had negotiated iranian shah, , island leased iran $3 million year. meanwhile, saudi arabia laid claim swathes of abu dhabi.

bahrain became independent in august, , qatar in september 1971. when british-trucial sheikhdoms treaty expired on 1 december 1971, became independent. rulers of abu dhabi , dubai decided form union between 2 emirates independently, prepare constitution, call rulers of other 5 emirates meeting , offer them opportunity join. agreed between 2 constitution written 2 december 1971. on date, @ dubai guesthouse palace, 4 other emirates agreed enter union called united arab emirates. bahrain , qatar declined invitations join union. ras al-khaimah joined later, in 1972. in february 1972, federal national council (fnc) created; 40-member consultative body appointed 7 rulers. uae joined arab league in 1971. founding member of gulf cooperation council in may 1981, abu dhabi hosting first summit. uae forces joined allies against iraq after invasion of kuwait in 1990.